Madam C.J. Walkers Wonderful Hair Grower product container

Description:	Sarah Breedlove Walker (1867-1919), better known as Madam C.J. Walker, was a central figure in the development of the African-American market for commercial beauty products. Shortly after the turn of the century, she developed a formula for hair growth and steel straightening comb and ointment. Starting with door-to-door sales of these products, she built a business empire. Between her incorporation in 1911 and her death in 1919, her holdings included a factory, beauty schools and thousands of sales agents. Not only did the business bring her personal success, but it also opened up new job opportunities for African-American women as sales agents and Beauty Culturists. Madam Walker spent considerable time traveling, speaking, and supporting African-American causes. Among the institutions benefiting from her wealth were the Flanner House, Alpha Home, The Senate Avenue YMCA, and Bethel AME Church in Indianapolis, as well as the Tuskegee Institute, Mary McLeod Bethunes School, and the NAACP. She was also an outspoken opponent of discrimination and lynchings.
Source:	http://www.digitalindy.org/cdm/ref/collection/tcm/id/168
Collection:	The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Rights:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/;
Copyright:	Creative Commons (CC By-SA 3.0);
Geography:	Indianapolis (Ind.)
Subjects:	Walker, C. J., Madam, 1867-1919 African Americans African American businesspeople Women capitalists and financiers Women-owned business enterprises Women millionaires Businesswomen Cosmetics industry Millionaires Indiana Businesswomen -- Indiana 1900s 1910s

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