[1] Garvin worked as Director of Special Projects and Internships in the Department of Public Administration at Rutgers University.

[2] Garvin won the June 1977 Democratic Party primary for the Assembly from the 26th District together with Richard Codey after incumbent Eldridge Hawkins unsuccessfully challenged Frank J. Dodd for his seat in the New Jersey Senate.

In 1987, Garvin lost the support of the Essex County Democratic Committee resulting in her mounting an outside challenge from her in the June primary of the organization-backed incumbent Harry A. McEnroe and newcomer Stephanie R. Bush.

[4] Garvin challenged Codey in the 1991 Democratic primary for State Senate, losing to the incumbent by a margin of 60.9%-39.1%.

[2] The New Jersey Historical Commission established the Mildred Barry Garvin Prize to honor educators in the state for outstanding teaching of African-American history.