Item sets

• Dr. Mary Lane Cobb
  Dr. Mary Lane Cobb has been a pioneer in the area of medicine and family planning. She knew while still a student at Central High in Louisville, Kentucky that she wanted to pursue medicine as a career. She attended Indiana University and then went on to Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania where she was the only African-American in her medical school class. After graduation from medical school, Dr. Cobb moved to Westchester where she completed her internship and residency at Grasslands Hospital in Valhalla (now the Westchester Medical Center) c 1954-57. She then moved into private practice in Tarrytown as a general practioner and became particularly interested in women's health and family planning. Seeing the need and desire for contraceptive services Dr. Lane went to be trained at the Margaret Sanger Research Bureau (later part of Planned Parenthood Federation of America). Dr. Lane Cobb went on to work for the Margaret Sanger Research Bureau, becoming Clinical Director of Contraceptive Services. During this time she was invited to present before the U.S. Senate (Select Subcommittee on Small Business) to talk about on the effectiveness and safety of the pill. Dr. Lane Cobb continued her remarkable career by becoming the first African-American woman named Director of a Department of the Westchester County Government when she was named Director of Women and Youth Health Services in 1977. Although technically retired since 1992, Dr. Lane Cobb continues to tirelessly serve the community, including working as co-chair of the Westchester Women's Health Partnership.
• Hon. Lois Taplin Bronz
  Lois Bronz grew up in Louisiana and credits her interest in politics to reading the newspaper to her father, who was not able to read. She became the first in her family to finish college, obtaining her Bachelors degree from Xavier University and her Masters in Education from Wayne State University. During college, she met future husband, Edgar Taplin, with whom she had three children.  To encourage citizen participation in the political process, Lois working in voter regisration, teaching people how to answers the Voter Rights Test. Lois Bronz was a widower with three children when she met Chuck Bronz in 1966. When they decided to marry, they could not do so in Lois' native state of Louisiana. In Louisiana, and 15 other states at the time, interracial marriage was banned.  First serving on the Greenburgh Town Board from 1973-1992, Legislator Bronz was next  County Legislator for District 8, where she served for eight years, including 4 years as Vice-Chair of the Westchester County Board of Legislators. Legislator Bronz was next elected Chair of the Westchester County Board of Legislators for 2002-2004 becoming the first woman and first African-American to lead the Westchester Board of Legislators. In 2006 Greenburgh's Union Child Day Care Center (UCDCC) was renamed the Lois Bronz Children's Center to honor its long-serving Board member and fund raiser "We chose Lois Bronz for her many years on the Board of UCDCC; for founding and chairing the Phone-a-thon, our major fund raiser for 25 years; for always being a strong advocate for all children. Over the years, despite the development of her political career and stature in the community, she has never forgotten our center which proudly bares the name The Lois Bronz Children's Center." The New York State Senate recognized Lois Bronz as its 2009 Contemporary Woman of Distinction for tirelessly working for the community, citing her service with Children's Village in Dobbs Ferry, Westchester Community Opportunity Program, and the Hudson Valley Council for Senior Citizens as some of the organizations she devotes her time to.
• Mary R. Williams
  White Plains native Mary R. Williams is known in her community as an entrepreneur, a community activist and a trailblazer. Mary Silas was born and raised in White Plains, NY. While in high school she met Richard Williams at a youth social organized by the Westchester Urban League. The couple wed in 1954 and had two children Richard Jr. and Ramona. After high school graduation Mary attended the Metropolitan Hospital School of Nursing located on what was then called Welfare Island (now Roosevelt Island) in New York City. Mary became a Registered Nurse and was the first black nurse hired at Lawrence Hospital in Westchester County (now NewYork-Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital). Mary Williams’ care for others was not limited to the bedside and she has been active her community and has recognized for her volunteer work and entrepreneurship. Mary is co-founder of the Westchester Community Opportunity Program (WestCOP) which has been providing range of social services and programs to low-income and at-risk residents since 1965. She was one of the original WestCOP Board members and is still active in the organization. She is also a founding member of The Lois Bronz Children’s Center and The Theodore D. Young Community Center, both in White Plains. Mary Williams was the first black female President of the Greenburgh Chamber of Commerce and also served at the President of the Elmsford Civic League. She was honored by the Town of Greenburgh in 1998 when named “Citizen of the Month” for her numerous humanitarian activities. Through Mary’s diligence and work, she was able to get funded a “Learn to Swim” program at Massaro Park in Elmsford in the late 1960s. This culminated with a visit by Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller paying a visit and making a personal donation to the pool fund. The pool was aptly renamed “The Mary R. Williams Pool” in honor of her hard work.
• May Morgan Robinson
  May Morgan Robinson distinguished woman, Westchester and National Civil Rights Advocate, was born in New York City on May 6, 1904. When she was just one month old the family moved to Yonkers, New York where her father, the Late John Alexander Morgan MD, established his medical practice. Yonkers would become her beloved home for more than eight decades. May was a product of the Yonkers Public Schools. As the child of parents who valued and were committed to education as evidenced by their own achievement, she was expected to pursue higher education. She did so at Howard University in Washington DC where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work. Later, she pursued graduate studies in Special Education at Hunter College in New York City. These educational choices hinted at the direction of her life’s work. Indeed, her career as activist begun as a teenager when she became active in voter registration. Therefore, it was no coincidence that in 1974, the National Urban League appointed her Head of Voter Registration in Yonkers. Collaborating with like minded social justice enthusiasts May co- founded the First Black Democratic Club in Yonkers, The Nepperham Community Center, which took root in her home, and The Westchester Citizens for Justice to name a few. Acutely aware of blatant Yonkers police brutality against Blacks, the housing discriminatory practices and the under employment of Blacks, May initiated and conducted an extensive survey that documented what was widely known and experienced in her community. This produced undeniable evidence that forced the politicians to take notice. Indeed May Morgan took the issues of injustice to the highest levels of County and State governments. In 1952 as Chair of a newly formed “Westchester Citizens for Justice” she corresponded and sought audience with Herbert C. Gerlach, County Executive, Honorable Thomas E. Dewey, Governor of the State of New York and his Counselor, Hon. George Shapiro requesting an investigation into the killings of Yonkers residents, Thomas Wilson, Oliver Phillips, James Blacknall and Wyatt Blacknall. She contended that these killing were the result of police brutality. This paragraph excerpted from one of her letters to the Governor in 1952 demonstrates her pragmatism…. “ Perhaps more important than the Labinsky Case itself is the widespread feeling that it stands against a background of prejudice and discrimination, intimidation and violence which seems to constitute a growing pattern in the County of Westchester. This development of racial tension has been highlighted recently not only by the Peekskill riots but by the subsequent, unpunished slayings of four Negroes other than the Blacknall brothers in question. We believe that by virtue of our proximity to the situation we are in a position to offer you concrete evidence of its alarmingly serious nature and to present also suggestions for its alleviation which your office may find possible to put into effect.” The determination and benevolence of this civil rights advocate was readily visibly in a number of the stances she took. In an era when organizations of color were denied access to the media, May’s home became the studio from which the NAACP launched a Press Conference in support of a 28 year old former prostitute, whom they felt was framed by police and charged with the stabbing death of a man from Hastings on Hudson. To draw attention to the plight of 40 families, left homeless by fire, she joined a “Sit In” at Yonkers City Hall and was arrested. Undaunted by the experience, she protested the War in Vietnam, organizing to transport 10 buses filled with supporters to join the March on Washington DC. She would later become the first Black Delegate from the 25th Congressional District to attend the National Democratic Convention anti Vietnam War Movement. May Morgan Robinson was also a devoted mother nurturing and educating her beloved twin daughters Joanne and Roberta. Although they were her priority her love for humanity allowed her to cultivate, support and improve the lives of many, particularly youth. Her home became a safe haven for young unwed mothers whom she fostered imparting life skills, social skills and parenting skills which she modeled. To show case their talents and expose youth to a wider audience, May organized and chaperoned members of the Yonkers Service Club to entertain in Army Bases including West Point. As a champion of integration, she often arranged for integrated groups of women to perform in similar venues. As one might imagine, the contributions of May Morgan Robinson did not go unnoticed. She was a member of many local and National organizations which honored and recognized her in a variety of ways. Biography by Gwen Cort, AWAH
• Dr. Olivia J. Hooker
  Dr. Olivia J. Hooker was born in Oklahoma in 1915 and survived the Tulsa Riots of 1921 when her fathers shop along with her family's home was burned. Her family then moved to Ohio where she attended The Ohio State University and earned her Bachelors of Arts. Olivia then petitioned and was initially rejected from joining the U.S Navy, but had meanwhile enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, becoming the first African-American to enlist. She was part of the Coast Guard Women's Reserves (SPARS) program and left at the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class. After her service, she returned to college to complete a Masters at Teachers College, Columbia University and her PhD in Psychology at the University of Rochester. Dr. Hooker worked in a women's correctional facility in Albion, NY and later served on the faculty of Fordham University from 1963 to 1985, when she retired at the age of 87. After retirement, Dr. Hooker joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary in Yonkers as a volunteer. In 2015 Coast Guard Sector New York renamed the Sector New York Galley in honor of Dr. Hooker.