Character Catalog

A complete hair care line including shampoos, pomades, and heated combs, accompanied by a multi-step care method. This system revolutionized the relationship African American women had with their hair.

A company founded in Indianapolis, the first major corporation led by an African American woman in the United States. At its peak, it employed more than 3,000 people and a network of 20,000 sales agents.

A beauty school founded in Pittsburgh and later expanded to several cities, training hundreds of Black women in Walker techniques. These graduates became independent agents, thereby gaining economic independence.

The first large-scale direct sales network targeting African American communities, with representatives across the country and in the Caribbean. This innovative business model allowed thousands of Black women to escape poverty.

A political initiative organized by Madam Walker to petition President Wilson, accompanied by a delegation of Black citizens, calling for a federal anti-lynching law. She used her fame and fortune to weigh in on the political debate.

A residence built in Irvington-on-Hudson, entrusted to African American architect Vertner Tandy, which became a symbol of Black achievement and a hub of intellectual gathering. Listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1976.

I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there I was promoted to the washtub. From there I was promoted to the cook kitchen. And from there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations.

I want to say to every Negro woman present, don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.

It is my will and desire that at least two-thirds of the net profits of the business shall be reinvested in the business and that the remaining one-third shall be used for philanthropic purposes.

I got my start by giving myself a start. I had little or no money to invest. I had to begin with very small capital.

Birthplace of Sarah Breedlove in 1867, on a plantation where her parents had been enslaved. This starting point in extreme poverty makes her trajectory all the more remarkable.

The city where Sarah Breedlove settled in 1905 and began developing her hair care formula. It is here that she met her third husband, Charles Walker, and took the name Madam C.J. Walker.

Headquarters of the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company from 1910 onward, with a factory, laboratory, and beauty school. The city is home today to the Madam Walker Legacy Center, a cultural venue dedicated to her memory.

A grand residence built in 1917 on the banks of the Hudson River, a symbol of African American success. Designed by architect Vertner Tandy, it hosted the leading figures of the Harlem Renaissance.

The neighborhood where Madam Walker settled around 1916 and chose as the new center of her activities. There she mingled with W.E.B. Du Bois, Langston Hughes, and activists of the nascent civil rights movement.

A metal comb designed to be heated on a stove, used to straighten and style Black women's hair. It became one of the iconic tools of the 'Walker System', sold alongside the hair care products.

A hair care treatment made from sulfur and other plant-based ingredients, formulated by Madam Walker to combat hair loss. This product was the first in her line and the foundation of her entire business.

A case containing the products, demonstrations, and catalogs that thousands of Walker agents carried during their home visits. This kit represented the economic independence offered to Black women.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, Sarah Breedlove worked for many years as a washerwoman and seamstress. The sewing machine symbolizes that era of hard toil that preceded her success.

An illustrated sales brochure presenting the full hair care line and training fees. Distributed in Black communities across the United States, it also served as a recruitment tool for agents.

Madam Walker was one of the first African American women to own and drive her own automobile. She used her car for business travel and as a visible symbol of her success.