Madam C.J. Walker
Personal Information
Born: 1867
Died: 1919
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: Black
Education
no formal education
Professional Life
Field of Study: Finance
Institution/Corporation: Sundial Brands
Degrees & Memberships: Member: Circle for Negro War Relief; NAACP; Harlem YWCA
Awards & Achievements
Awards: 1993 National Women's Hall of Fame; 1998 USPS issued a commemorative stamp with her image; 2022 Mattel issued a Madam CJ Walker Barbie doll
Achievements: "founded the Madam C.J.Walker Manufacturing Company; developed & marketed a line of cosmetics & hair care products for African-American women; 1st child in her family (5 siblings) born into freedom; 1904 became a commissioned agent for Annie Malon's Poro Company another beauty care business for African-American women & later Walker's primary business rival; 1906 with 3rd husband Charles Joseph Walker began marketing her products in Denver Colorado selling door-to-door & advertising in Black newspapers; closed Denver operation in 1907 & moved to Pittsburgh PA in 1908 where she opened a beauty parlor & college to train her ""hair culturists"" in the Walker Method; 1910 incorporated & opened a factoy in Indianapolis IN that has since been converted to the Madam Walker Legacy Center; 1913 opened Harlem NY business; home in Irvington NY & factory in Indianapolis are on the National Registry of Historic Places; company closed in 1981 was purchased by Sundial Brands in 2013 & relaunched products that are now sold exclusively at Sephora; 2018 Sundial purchased her mansion in Irvington with the intention of turning it into a think tank for African-American female entrepreneurs"
Founder of Madame CJ Walker Manufacturing Company
1st child in her family (5 siblings) to be born into freedom
1906, began marketing her cosmetics & hair products for African-American women door-to-door in Denver; moved the business to Philadelphia in 1908 & opened her 1st salon to train "hair culturists" in the Walker Method
1913, opened her business in Harlem, New York
Her company closed in 1981 but the brand was purchased in 2013 by Sundial Brands & her products are now available exclusively at SRecords, she is the 1st female self-made millionaire in america
Showed Black women how to budget, build their own business, & be financially independent
1917, established the national Beauty Culturists & Benevolent Association of Madame CJ Walker Agents
Held yearly conventions & gave awards to agent who raised the most money for charity
Her lavish estate in Irvington, NY named Villa Lewaro was a social gathering place for the African-American community
Was orphaned at age 7; lived with an older sister & her husband; began working as a domestic servant at age 10
Had 3 months of formal education
Married at age 14 to escape abuse from her brother-in-law; widowed 5 years later; remarried 1894 but left this husband in 1903; married 3rd husband 1906, divorced 1912
1888, moved to St. Louis with her daughter' her 3 brothers were barbers there; while she worked as a laundress, they taught her about hair care