Christine Moore Howell, 1901-1989

Christine Moore Howell's father owned a great deal of property in Princeton and as a result he paid a lot of taxes. In the early 1900’s black children were not allowed to go to Princeton High School. That is until Mr. Moore took his case to the NJ Courts and won. In 1919 Christine, her sister and other black children were admitted to Princeton HS. Since no black children were allowed to attend a school of business, Mr. Moore sent Christine to the University of Paris where she studied beauty culture. After she graduated Christine returned to Princeton. She went to the Govenor and convinced him to allow blacks to attend beauty culture schools and become licensed in this field.

Christine married a Yale graduate, Dr. Howell, a dentist. Numbers 4-6 Spring Street were the locations of Christine Moore Howell's Beauty Salon and cosmetic laboratory. For 28 years Christine's Beauty Salon catered to "the very high class, particular clientele". Adjoining her salon was a laboratory where she produced her hair and skin care products. Clients came from great distances to take advantage of her special talent for cutting curly hair. In 1935 Mrs. Howell helped to create New Jersey's State Board of Beauty Culture and served as a State Commissioner of the Board of Beauty Culture Control. She was elected Chairman of the commission for three terms. Her sister taught grade school in Hightstown for 35 years.