Mary A. Smith
Community theater in the South Coast would not be the same without the clear vision of Mary A. Smith (1908-1969) — actor, director and educator.
Flora B. Peirce
Conservation projects led by Flora Belle Peirce (1898–1990), the first chairperson of New Bedford’s Conservation Commission, made the city a better place.
Pauline Meyer Colyar
Landscape painter Pauline Meyer Colyar (1873-1928) was admitted to the Art Academy of Cincinnati at the age of 13, the youngest age for admission.
Lillian Lorraine Yonally
A World War II Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP), Lillian Lorraine Yonally (1922-2021) grew up in New Bedford, where she sailed the ocean before taking to the skies. Out of 25,000 WASP applicants, Lillian was one of 1,074 to graduate and one of only 20 to fly the Mitchell B-25 medium bomber.
Eleanor W. Morton
Executive director of West End Day Nursery from 1969 until 1979, New Bedford’s Eleanor W. Morton (1915-2006) was an educator, community leader and social activist.
Margery V. “Ruby” Dottin
Margery V. “Ruby” Dottin (1922-2020) was the first African American woman to be elected to the New Bedford School Committee in 1976.
Frances Eliot Gifford
New Bedford artist Frances Eliot Gifford (1844-1931) was recognized as an accomplished illustrator and celebrated for her representations of birds both alone and in landscapes.
Elizabeth Marble
Elizabeth Wrightington Marble (1825-1894) proved her mettle by joining her husband Captain John Marble on two whaling voyages – the Kathleen (1857-1860) and the Awashonks (1860-1862) out of New Bedford.
Josephine Teixeira
Silhouette artist Josephine Teixeira (1911-2008) was born on November 24, 1911 in the village of Camacha on the island of Madeira to parents Antonio and Genevieve (Neves) Baptiste.
Rubye Haffer Finger
Rubye Haffer Finger (1924-2012) was a compassionate woman of Jewish faith who was an active member in her community.