Maggie L Walker

Maggie L Walker N a t i o n a l Historic Site, Virginia N a t i o n a l Park Service/U.S. D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e I n t e r i o r A Mrs. Walker, at about age 60, often wore a cross as a symbol of herfaith. The portrait (right) was taken in her 30s. As the Right Worthy Grand SecretaryTreasurer of the Independent Order of St. Luke from 1899 to 1934, Mrs. Walker was the only person entitled to wear this —cerentomal sasrtr Her weekly newspaper covered the Order's news and promoted black activism. The 1920 diary entry is: "At Tuskegee, Birthday telegram from Office A^eree— —-— Turning nickels into dollars In 1901 Maggie Lena Walker boldly p r e sented h e r community with an idea for economic empowerment: "We need a savings bank, chartered, officered, and run by the men and women of this Order. ... Let us have a bank that will take the nickels and turn them into dollars." In 1903 St. Luke Penny Savings Bank opened its doors—the first chartered b a n k in the United States founded by a black w o m a n . Today it thrives as the Consolidated Bank a n d Trust Company, the oldest continually operated African American b a n k in the United States. M a g g i e M i t c h e l l w a s 14 w h e n she j o i n e d t h e local I n d e p e n d e n t Order o f St. Luke. Founded in 1867, t h i s b e n e v o l e n t society aided African Americans in times o f illness, o l d a g e , a n d d e a t h . In 1899 she w a s elected Right W o r t h y G r a n d Secretary o f t h e n a t i o n a l Indep e n d e n t Order o f St. Luke a n d t r a n s f o r m e d t h e s t r u g g l i n g o r d e r i n t o a successful f i n a n cial o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h her s o u n d fiscal p o l i cies a n d genius f o r public relations. A l l her life M a g g i e L. Walker spoke o u t f o r equal rights a n d f a i r e m p l o y m e n t , especially f o r w o m e n . She w o r k e d alongside M a r y McLeod B e t h u n e a n d W.E.B. Du Bois a n d served o n t h e boards o f local a n d n a t i o n a l civic o r g a n i z a t i o n s , including t h e N a t i o n a l Association o f Colored W o m e n a n d t h e National Association f o r t h e Advancem e n t o f Colored People. Despite h u m b l e b e g i n n i n g s a n d personal tragedies, Mrs. Walker achieved n a t i o n a l p r o m i n e n c e a n d respect f o r her business a n d h u m a n i t a r i a n accomplishments. 0he-dollardepositeW!f% in the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank tvhehjt opened in 1903—if it earned 5% intereM and ; was compounded daily—would grow to $148 by 2003, the bank's centennial anniversary. In 1903 a dollar bought a pair of leather sports shoes; today's dollar would not buy the laces. The St. Luke Penny Savings Bank moved to First Maggie L. Walker—thefirstwoman founder and Marshall in 1911. The new building, deand president of a chartered bank in the United signed by black architect Charles T Russell, fea- States—poses with her staff in the teller's wintured multi-colored bricks, carved stonework, dow (right). The tiled lobby had finely detailed and arched windows. It no longer stands. woodwork and a balcony. 1867-1869 Born July 15,1867 (although some records indicate 1864 or 1865), in Richmond, Va., t o Elizabeth Draper, a former slave and servant in Elizabeth Van Lew's home, and Eccles Cuthbert, a w h i t e journalist and Confederate soldier; Draper marries William Mitchell, Miss Van Lew's butler. 1876-1878 1881-1883 Joins Independent Order of St. Luke (I.O. of St. Luke); protests inequality of w h i t e and black graduation ceremonies by participating in a black student school strike, the first such response in the U.S. t o unequal treatment; teaches elementary school; studies accounting at night. 1886-1888 Marries Armstead Walker Jr, a brick contractor; leaves teaching; continues activities w i t h I.O. of St. Luke. Helps mother by collecting and delivering laundry t o w h i t e customers and observes disparate economic opportunities for blacks and whites; attends school; 1890-1894 is baptized in First Son Russell Eccles Tal. African Baptist mage born 1890; son I W Church. Armstead Mitchell born 1893 (dies at seven months). Mrs. Walker's granddaughter, Maggie Laura, enjoyed this "Tu-In-One" doll. 1895-1897 Establishes juvenile branch of I.O. of St. Luke; becomes Grand Deputy Matron of the branch; son Melvin DeW i t t born 1897. 1921 Runs unsuccessfully w i t h John Mitchell on "Lily Black" ticket: he for Virginia's governor, she for superintendent of public instruction. 1899 1923-1927 Elected Right Worthy Grand Secretary of St. Luke, its highest rank (later becomes Secretary-Treasurer); retains position until 1934. Receives honorary Masters degree from Virginia Union University; son Russell dies. 1901-1905 Establishes newspaper, St. Luke Herald, 1902; charters St. Luke Penny Savings Bank, 1903, is president until 1931; moves t o 1101/2 East Leigh Street; establishes the St. Luke Emporium, a retail store. 1915 Husband Armstead accidently killed. 1928 Confined t o wheelchair by paralysis. 1934 Dies in Richmond on December 15 of diabetic gangrene; is buried at Evergreen Cemetery. Maggie L Walker M aggie L. W a l k e r was already f a m o u s as a dynamic leader in Richmond's black c o m m u n i t y w h e n she and her f a m i l y m o v e d t o 1103/2 East Leigh Street in 1905. She had d e v o t e d over 20 years t o t h e I n d e p e n d e n t Order o f St. Luke and had f o u n d e d a newspaper a n d chartered a bank. C o m m u n i t y service a n d professional success, however, w e r e only p a r t of Mrs. Walker's philosophy f o r w h a t c o n s t i t u t e d a f u l l life. She believed t h a t success sprang n o t only f r o m thriftiness a n d h a r d w o r k , b u t f r o m a c o m m i t m e n t t o her f a i t h a n d her family. M a g g i e M i t c h e l l j o i n e d t h e First A f r i c a n Baptist church at age 11, and she was inspired by t h e m e m b e r s w h o prayed a n d w o r k e d t o gether t o uplift their community. Throughout her life she studied t h e Bible p a r t i c i p a t e d in church activities, a n d q u o t e d scripture in her w r i t i n g s a n d speeches. M a g g i e a t t e n d e d public school in a racially segregated system. The i n e q u i t y was most app a r e n t d u r i n g her 1883 g r a d u a t i o n f r o m t h e Colored Normal School, w h e n t h e g r a d u a t i o n facilities o f f e r e d t o blacks w e r e inferior t o those used by w h i t e s . Maggie's class staged a boycott, possibly t h e first school strike o f t h e civil rights m o v e m e n t . A f t e r g r a d u a t i o n M a g g i e t a u g h t elementary school f o r t h r e e years. In 1886 she m a r r i e d A r m s t e a d W a l k e r Jr. (left) a n d r e t i r e d f r o m teaching as required by Virginia law. The change a l l o w e d her t o direct her energies t o w a r d s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e Indep e n d e n t Order o f St. Luke a n d caring f o r her g r o w i n g family. In t i m e , Walker's boundless dev o t i o n t o her w o r k a n d f a m i l y r e w a r d e d t h e m w i t h financial and social success. Tragedy struck in 1915 w h e n Armstead was accidently killed, leaving Mrs. W a l k e r t o m a n a g e a large household. Her investments and hard w o r k k e p t t h e f a m i l y t o g e t h e r . The f a m i l y expanded again w h e n her sons Russell (at left in portrait above) a n d M e l v i n (at right) married and b r o u g h t t h e i r wives t o live at home, w h e r e f o u r g r a n d c h i l d r e n w e r e b o r n . As t h e f a m i l y grew, t h e house g r e w t o o — f i n a l l y t o a 28r o o m complex t h a t all b u t covered t h e 33- by 139-foot lot. In 1928 paralysis c o n f i n e d Mrs. Walker t o a wheelchair. U n d a u n t e d , she a d d e d an elevator t o t h e house and altered Maggie L. Walker, age 16. Below: Walker's home, her car and desks t o a c c o m m o d a t e t h e with awnings. The neighboring duplexes, restored wheelchair. Her s t e p f a t h e r died w h e n she was nine years o l d , t h r u s t i n g t h e f a m i l y f u r t h e r i n t o poverty. She w o r k e d hard helping her mother, w h o s u p p o r t e d t h e m by t a k ing in laundry. The poverty and daily struggle t a u g h t her self-sufficiency and h o w t o deal w i t h t r a g e d y and hardship. M a g g i e Lena W a l k e r died at h o m e o n December 15, 1934. Nationally, she was acclaimed as a champion for op pressed blacks a n d women. In Richmond she was m o u r n e d as a leader w h o dedicated her life t o family and uplifting her c o m m u n i t y . 110V2 Leigh Street 1883 The two-story Victorian house with began with seven rooms. 1890s Robertjones, a black physician, built rooms and the west wing for a waiting and examination area. 1904-22 Walker converted gas lights to electric, added central heating, a cellar, 12 rooms, and the two-story porch. to their appearance ca. 1925, house exhibits and park offices. Planning Your Visit Visitor Center All activities and tours begin at the visitor center at 600 N. 2nd Street. Here you will find information, exhibits, and a short video. A bookstore offers publications and items about Maggie L. Walker and African American culture. The visitor center and house are open Monday t h r o u g h Saturday 9 a.m. t o 5 p.m.; they are closed Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. Guided House Tours The only way t o see the house is w i t h a guide; there is no fee. Tours leave the visitor center every half hour; the last tour begins at 4:30 p.m. A limited number of persons are allowed on each tour, and there may be a waiting period. You may see the film, the courtyard, and other buildings until your tour begins. Group tours require advance reservations; call ahead. for Maggie L. Walker on or about July 15. Special Programs The park offers activities all year. A highlight is the annual birthday celebration Safety Use caution when touring the site. Stairs are steep and narrow— please watch your step. Accessibility The visitor center, courtyard, restrooms, and first floor of the house are accessible for visitors w i t h disabilities. Getting Here From I-95 north/l-64 west: take exit 76A (Chamberlayne Parkway); turn left at the light onto Chamberlayne; turn left onto West Leigh St.; go 21/2 blocks t o the park at 1101/2 East Leigh St. From I-95 south/l-64 east: take exit 76B (Belvidere); turn left at the stop light onto Leigh St. and go 71/2 blocks t o the park. Limited vehicle and bus parking is available on Second Street. Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site Richmond, Virginia Smoking is not allowed. All historic and natural features are protected by federal law. Administration The Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site was designated in 1978 as part of the National Park Service. It honors Maggie L. Walker's leadership in business that fostered opportu- nity for blacks and for women. More Information Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site 3215 East Broad Street Richmond, VA 23223 804-771-2017 ext. 24 www.nps.gov/mawa National Park Service: www.nps.gov Visiting Historic Jackson Ward In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Richmond's Jackson Ward was one of the most prosperous black communities in the United States. Here, blacks owned and operated banks, insurance companies, retail stores, theaters, and commercial and social institutions. Known as the birthplace of African American entrepreneurship, today this area is one of the nation's largest National Historic Landmark Districts associated with black history and culture. You can enjoy a walking or driving tour of Jackson Ward that highlights important sites, including the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, IIOV2 E. Leigh St.; Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, 00 Clay Street; and the Bojangles monument at the intersection of Chamberlayne Parkway, Leigh, and Adams. *GPO:2006—3 20-3 69/0 0592 Reprint 2006 Printed on recycled paper.