Walker, C. J., Madam, 1867-1919

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1867-12-23
Death 1919-05-25
Birth 1867
Death 1919
Gender:
Female
English

Biographical notes:

Sarah Breedlove was born in Louisiana. She married, had a daughter, A'Lelia, and was widowed at age 20. She moved to St. Louis, where she experimented with preparations to grow and straighten hair and sold them door-to-door. In 1905 she moved to Denver, where she married newspaper man Charles J. Walker. As her business grew, she opened a Pittsburgh office, then moved to Indianapolis in 1910, setting up a factory and beauty school. The business later expanded to include New York offices, where Walker built a mansion. As her wealth grew, Walker invested heavily in real estate and gave to African American charities. A self-made businesswoman, Walker became a national figure and leader, leaving the legacy of a highly successful business founded by blacks to serve black customers.

From the description of Madam C.J. Walker papers, 1910-1980. (Indiana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 29251551

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Subjects:

  • Theater
  • Advertising
  • African American business enterprises
  • African American consumers
  • African American executives
  • African Americans
  • African Americans
  • African Americans
  • African Americans
  • African American women
  • Beauty culture
  • Business records
  • Cosmetics industry
  • Hair preparations
  • Hair preparations industry
  • African Americans
  • African Americans
  • African Americans

Occupations:

  • Entrepreneurs
  • Philanthropists

Places:

  • Delta, LA, US
  • Irvington-on-Hudson, NY, US

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