Nellie Morrow Parker

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nellie K. Morrow with her husband, William L. Parker, and their child, circa 1927
Nellie K. Morrow with her husband, William L. Parker, and their child, circa 1927

Nellie K. Morrow Parker (August 27, 1902 - January 25, 1998) was the first African American school teacher in Bergen County, New Jersey. Nellie K. Parker Elementary School in Hackensack, New Jersey is named after her.

Contents

[edit] Birth

She was born as Nellie K. Morrow to Mary A. (1875-?) and John Eugene Morrow (1873-?) aka Eugene Morrow, in 1902 in Hackensack. John was the janitor of the Johnson Public Library at 274 Main Street in Hackensack. He was born in North Carolina. Nellie had the following siblings: Eugene Abram Morrow (1897-?); Frederick E. Morrow (1907-?) who was a college teacher; John H. Morrow (1910-?); and William H. Morrow (1910-?).

[edit] Teacher

She became the first African-American public school teacher in Bergen County, New Jersey in 1922 when she was hired to teach the fifth and sixth grades in the Hackensack, New Jersey public school system. During her early years of teaching she and her family were subject to racism from the Ku Klux Klan and other organizations.

[edit] Marriage

In 1928 she married William L. Parker (1900-?) of Virginia. William worked as a salesman for a life insurance company.

[edit] Death

She died in 1998 in Huntington Beach, California

[edit] See also