Harlem 1900-1940: Schomburg Exhibit C.J. Walker

Madame C.J. Walker (Sarah Breedlove) (1867-1919)
beauty culturist, entrepreneur, philanthropist
Courtesy of the Walker Company

Madame C.J. Walker was born in Delta, Louisiana, to Owen and Minerva Breedlove, who were former slaves. At the age of six years, Sarah Breedlove was orphaned. She married at the age of 14 to C.J. Walker and bore a daughter, A'Lelia. A laundress until 1905, Sarah Breedlove Walker had a dream, which was to make a preparation that would, in her words, "improve" the texture of African women's hair. Finally, she set out with $1.25 and plenty of determination to become America's first self-made woman millionaire.

Madame Walker developed a line of cosmetics and hair-care products especially for African-American women. At first she sold her wares from door-to-door, then she established a company based in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she employed thousands manufacturing and selling her products all over the United States, Central America and the Caribbean.

In 1916, Madame C.J. Walker moved to New York City. She bought a house at 108 W. 136th St. and opened an elegant fully equipped beauty salon next door at 110 W. 136th St. In 1917, Madame Walker bought property on Broadway at Irvington-on-Hudson and built a mansion there called Villa Lewaro where she entertained the rich and famous. Mme. Walker was also an activist for human rights. In 1917, she was part of a delegation that visited the White House petitioning President Woodrow Wilson to make lynching a federal crime.

She also traveled around the country promoting her products and speaking out on the rights of women and African Americans. A philanthropist, Mme. Walker contributed generously to educational causes such as the Bethune-Cookman College, founded by Mary McLeod Bethune.

When Mme. Walker died in 1919, her fortune and business were left to her daughter, A'Lelia Walker. A'Lelia, like her mother, enjoyed entertaining and supporting causes. It was the height of Harlem's literary renaissance and in 1928-1929 she organized a literary salon in her townhouse at 108 W. 136th Street. The salon was called "The Dark Tower" and was named after Countee Cullen's column in Opportunity. Its purpose was to provide a place for young African-American artists and writers to discuss and exhibit their works. The walls of the rooms had poems by Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen lettered on them. Black and white patrons met there, and a few young African-American writers met white publishers there. The photograph of Mme. Walker accompanying the ad for Mme. Walker's products was taken by Addison Scurlock, a well-known African-American photographer. The one of her daughter is by R.E. Mercer. The present site of the Countee Cullen Regional Branch Library is located where the Walker Townhouse once stood.

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