Madam C.J. Walker was a prominent American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and social activist. She is widely recognized as the first female self-made millionaire in America, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. While there might have been other women who achieved this feat earlier, their financial success lacks sufficient documentation. Walker's legacy continues to inspire generations with her remarkable achievements and contributions to society.
1903: Separation from John Davis
In 1903, Sarah Breedlove (later known as Madam C. J. Walker) left her second husband, John Davis. This marked a significant turning point in her personal life.
1904: Sales at Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Around 1904, Sarah Breedlove was a commission agent for Annie Turnbo Malone at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Sales were disappointing due to the African-American community being largely ignored.
July 1905: Move to Denver and Development of Own Products
In July 1905, Sarah Breedlove moved to Denver, Colorado, with her daughter to continue selling products for Annie Turnbo Malone while developing her own hair-care business. This move led to a controversy with Malone over alleged formula theft.
January 1906: Marriage to Charles Joseph Walker
In January 1906, Sarah married Charles Joseph Walker, a newspaper advertising salesman, and became known as Madam C. J. Walker. This marriage significantly influenced her branding and business.
1906: Madam C. J. Walker's Business Expansion
In 1906, Madam C. J. Walker expanded her business by marketing herself as an independent hairdresser and retailer of cosmetic creams. Her husband, Charles Walker, assisted with advertising and promotions, while she sold products door-to-door.
1906: Daughter in Charge of Mail-Order Operation
In 1906, Madam C. J. Walker put her daughter in charge of the mail-order operation in Denver, while she and her husband traveled to expand the business. This strategic move was crucial for scaling her operations.
1907: Business Closure in Denver
In 1907, Madam C. J. Walker closed her business in Denver and moved to Pittsburgh, where her daughter A'Lelia joined her. This transition marked the next phase of her expanding enterprise.
1908: Relocation to Pittsburgh and Establishment of Lelia College
In 1908, Madam C. J. Walker and her husband moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where they opened a beauty parlor and established Lelia College to train 'hair culturists.' This was part of her effort to promote black women's economic independence.
1910: Headquarters in Indianapolis
In 1910, Madam C. J. Walker relocated her business headquarters to Indianapolis, purchasing a house and factory at 640 North West Street. She built a factory, hair salon, beauty school, and laboratory, employing many women in key positions.
1910: Establishment in Indianapolis
In 1910, Madam C. J. Walker established a new base in Indianapolis. Her daughter A'Lelia ran operations in Pittsburgh, while Walker set up an office and beauty salon in Harlem in 1913, contributing to the cultural growth of the area.
1911: Employment of Thousands of Women
Between 1911 and 1919, Madam C. J. Walker's company employed thousands of women as sales agents. By 1917, nearly 20,000 women were trained, demonstrating Walker's commitment to women's economic empowerment.
1912: Speech at the National Negro Business League
In 1912, Madam C. J. Walker addressed the National Negro Business League, declaring her rise from the cotton fields to becoming a successful entrepreneur. This speech highlighted her journey and business achievements.
1912: Divorce from Charles Joseph Walker
In 1912, Madam C. J. Walker divorced Charles Joseph Walker. Despite the end of their marriage, she continued to use the name Madam C. J. Walker, under which she had built her brand.
1913: Office and Beauty Salon in Harlem
In 1913, Madam C. J. Walker established an office and beauty salon in New York City's Harlem neighborhood, which became a cultural hub for the African-American community.
1913: A'Lelia Walker Moves to Harlem
In 1913, Madam C.J. Walker's daughter, A'Lelia Walker, moved to a new townhouse in Harlem, marking the family's early presence in New York.
1916: Madam C.J. Walker Moves to New York
In 1916, Madam C.J. Walker relocated to New York to join her daughter, A'Lelia, in Harlem. She left the day-to-day operations of her company to her management team in Indianapolis.
1917: Commissioning of Villa Lewaro
In 1917, Madam C.J. Walker commissioned Vertner Tandy, the first licensed black architect in New York City, to design her house, Villa Lewaro, in Irvington-on-Hudson, New York. The mansion, costing $250,000, was intended to be a gathering place for community leaders and to inspire other African Americans.
1917: Political and Social Activism
In 1917, Madam C.J. Walker joined the executive committee of the New York chapter of the NAACP and played a key role in organizing the Silent Protest Parade on Fifth Avenue, which drew over 8,000 African Americans to protest a riot in East Saint Louis. She also became involved in the Circle For Negro War Relief and the Harlem YWCA's Committee of Management.
1917: First National Conference
In the summer of 1917, Madam C. J. Walker's first annual conference convened in Philadelphia with 200 attendees. It was one of the first national gatherings of women entrepreneurs, where Walker rewarded the top performers in sales and charitable contributions.
1917: Walker’s Wealth and Villa Lewaro
In 1917, Madam C.J. Walker acknowledged she was not yet a millionaire but hoped to become one to use her money for good. That same year, her $250,000 mansion, Villa Lewaro, was completed at the banks of the Hudson at Irvington. This reflected her growing wealth and her aspirations for philanthropy.
1917: Walker Beauty Culturists
In 1917, Madam C. J. Walker organized her sales agents into state and local clubs, leading to the establishment of the National Beauty Culturists and Benevolent Association of Madam C. J. Walker Agents.
1917: Organizing Sales Agents
In 1917, Madam C. J. Walker began organizing her sales agents into state and local clubs, inspired by the National Association of Colored Women. This led to the establishment of the National Beauty Culturists and Benevolent Association of Madam C. J. Walker Agents.
May 1918: Madam C.J. Walker Moves into Villa Lewaro
In May 1918, Madam C.J. Walker moved into her newly built house, Villa Lewaro, in Irvington-on-Hudson, New York. She intended for the house to serve as a gathering place for community leaders and to inspire other African Americans. An opening event was hosted to honor Emmett Jay Scott, the Assistant Secretary for Negro Affairs of the U.S. Department of War.
1918: Largest Contribution to NACWC
In 1918, the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs honored Madam C.J. Walker for making the largest individual contribution to help preserve Frederick Douglass's Anacostia house. This contribution was a significant demonstration of her philanthropic efforts.
May 25, 1919: Death of Madam C. J. Walker
On May 25, 1919, Madam C. J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove, passed away. She was an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and social activist, known as the first female self-made millionaire in America.
1919: Pledge to NAACP Anti-Lynching Fund
Before her death in 1919, Madam C.J. Walker pledged $5,000 to the NAACP's anti-lynching fund, the largest gift from an individual the organization had ever received at that time. Her will also directed nearly $100,000 to bequeathed to orphanages, institutions, and individuals, with two-thirds of future net profits of her estate going to charity.
1919: Peak of Career
By 1919, Madam C. J. Walker had reached the peak of her career, employing thousands of women and making significant contributions to the beauty industry and African-American community.
1926: Death of Charles Joseph Walker
Charles Joseph Walker, the former husband of Madam C. J. Walker, died in 1926. He had been influential in the early stages of her business.
December 1927: Opening of Madame Walker Theatre Center
In December 1927, the headquarters of Walker Manufacturing Company in Indianapolis was renamed the Madame Walker Theatre Center. The building included the company's offices and factory, along with a theater, beauty school, hair salon and barbershop, restaurant, drugstore, and ballroom, serving as a community hub.
1932: Sale of Villa Lewaro
Following A'Lelia Walker's death, Villa Lewaro was sold in 1932 to a fraternal organization called the Companions of the Forest in America. This signaled the end of the Walker family’s direct association with the property.
1979: Villa Lewaro Listed on National Register
In 1979, Villa Lewaro was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its historical significance and preserving Madam C.J. Walker's legacy.
1980: Madame Walker Theatre Center Listed on National Register
In 1980, the Madame Walker Theatre Center was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, cementing its status as a significant cultural and historical landmark.
1987: Documentary 'Two Dollars and a Dream' Released
In 1987, Stanley Nelson's documentary 'Two Dollars and a Dream,' the first film treatment of Madam C.J. Walker's life, was released. Nelson, the grandson of Walker's attorney and business manager, had access to original Walker business records and former employees for the documentary.
1993: Induction into National Women’s Hall of Fame
In 1993, Madam C.J. Walker was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York, recognizing her significant contributions and legacy.
1998: Madam Walker Commemorative Stamp Issued
In 1998, the U.S. Postal Service issued a Madam Walker commemorative stamp as part of its Black Heritage Series, further acknowledging her impact and legacy.
2004: Museum Devoted to Madam C.J. Walker Established
In 2004, a museum in Atlanta was established to honor Madam C.J. Walker. The museum, located at the site of a former Madam C. J. Walker Beauty Shoppe, also includes historic radio station WERD.
2006: Premiere of 'The Dreams of Sarah Breedlove'
In 2006, playwright and director Regina Taylor premiered 'The Dreams of Sarah Breedlove' at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. The play narrated the history of Madam C.J. Walker's struggles and success, with L. Scott Caldwell playing the role of Walker.
2015: Recognition of Walker's Contributions
In 2015, Walker's contributions to the beauty industry and black women's economic independence were recognized in various historical accounts and academic works, highlighting her lasting impact.
March 4, 2016: Launch of Madam C. J. Walker Beauty Culture
On March 4, 2016, Sundial Brands launched 'Madam C. J. Walker Beauty Culture,' a skincare and haircare line in collaboration with Sephora. The line focused on using natural ingredients for different hair types, honoring Walker's legacy in beauty and haircare.
2020: Release of 'Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C. J. Walker'
In 2020, actress Octavia Spencer portrayed Walker in the TV series 'Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C. J. Walker,' based on the biography by her great-great-granddaughter, A'Lelia Bundles. The series received mixed reviews due to inaccuracies and fictional elements.
January 31, 2022: Launch of MADAM by Madam C. J. Walker
On January 31, 2022, Sundial Brands, a division of Unilever, launched a new collection under the brand name MADAM by Madam C. J. Walker. Sold exclusively at Walmart, these products replaced a previous line launched in 2016 in collaboration with Sephora.
2022: Release of Madam C.J. Walker Barbie Doll
In 2022, Mattel released a Madam C.J. Walker Barbie doll as part of their Inspiring Women doll collection, celebrating her legacy and inspiring new generations.
2023: Inflation-Adjusted Value of Donation
In 2023, the value of Madam C.J. Walker's 1919 pledge of $5,000 to the NAACP's anti-lynching fund was equivalent to about $88,000, illustrating the significant impact of her financial contributions over time.