Archangela Fortes
A tireless leader in New Bedford’s Cape Verdean community, Archangela “Canja” Fortes (1919-2009) initiated numerous events that celebrated Cape Verdean women.
Amelia Piper
Abolitionist Amelia Piper (1796-1856), as one of the managers of the New Bedford Female Union Society, organized one of the first anti-slavery fairs in New Bedford held on January 1, 1840.
Marie Equi
New Bedford prepared physician and political agitator Marie Equi (1872-1952) for a lifetime of
social justice advocacy. Marie’s Oregon medical practice and nationwide activism were
influenced by her working class experiences while growing up in New Bedford.
Rosetta Douglass
Abolitionist and social reformer Rosetta Douglass (1839-1906) continued a family legacy of activism that began in New Bedford with her father, Frederick Douglass.
Kathleen Comiskey Roberts
Dartmouth educator and author Kathleen Comiskey Roberts wrote a history for children in 1959 so that students could learn about their town.
Rosalind Poll Brooker
Rosalind Poll Brooker (1928-2016) was a trailblazer for women in the fields of law and politics.
Lydia Grinnell Brown
New Bedford’s Lydia Grinnell Brown (1892-1945) became the first African American graduate of Simmons College in Boston.
Elizabeth Carter Brooks
Equality was the vision of Elizabeth Carter Brooks (1867-1951) in her work as educator, social activist and architect.
Valentina Almeida
The child of Cape Verdean immigrants, Valentina Almeida (1913-2009) is best known for her advocacy work with immigrants within the local Cape Verdean community.