Maggie L. Walker

https://www.nps.gov/mawa/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maggie_L._Walker_National_Historic_Site The Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site is located at 110½ E. Leigh Street on "Quality Row" in the Jackson Ward neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia. The National Historic Site was established in 1978 to tell the story of the life and work of Maggie L. Walker (1867-1934), the first woman to serve as president of a bank in the United States. It was built by George W. Boyd, father of physician, Sarah Garland Boyd Jones. Maggie Lena Walker devoted her life to civil rights advancement, economic empowerment, and educational opportunities for Jim Crow-era African Americans and women. As a bank president, newspaper editor, and fraternal leader, Walker served as an inspiration of pride and progress. Today, Walker’s home is preserved as a tribute to her enduring legacy of vision, courage, and determination. Coming west on I-64, take exit 75 to 3rd street, turn right on Leigh St., park on 2nd street. Coming south on I-95, take exit 79 east onto I-64 east to Norfolk, then follow directions coming from the west. Coming east on I-64, take exit 190 to 5th St., Downtown, continue straight on 5th St., turn right on Jackson St., left on 3rd St., right on Leigh St., then right on 2nd St. Coming north on I-95, take exit 76A for Chamberlayne Ave, turn left on Chamberlayne Pkwy, left on Leigh St., then left on 2nd St. Visitor Center The Visitor Center with indoor exhibits and park store is now open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for reserved group tours, and Fridays and Saturdays, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, for walk-ins only. Guided tours of Walker's home begin here and are offered on Fridays and Saturdays at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Coming west on I-64, take exit 75 to 3rd St., turn right on Leigh St., park on 2nd St. Coming south on I-95, take exit 79 east onto I-64 East to Norfolk, then follow directions coming from the west. Coming east on I-64, take exit 190 to 5th St., Downtown, continue straight on 5th St., turn right on Jackson St., left on 3rd St., right on Leigh St., then right on 2nd St. Coming north on I-95, take exit 76A for Chamberlayne Ave., turn left on Chamberlayne Pkwy, left on Leigh St., then left on 2nd St. Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site Maggie L. Walker's home and adjacent buildings Maggie L. Walker's stately home was located on a street dubbed "Quality Row." The Back Parlor of the Historic Walker Home The back parlor with piano, couch, floor lamp and fireplace The back parlor served as an entertainment location for the Walker family The Library of the Walker House A room with a wall of full bookcases, chairs and several diplomas on the wall The Library served as both a relaxing place and a work place for Mrs. Walker The Maggie L. Walker Visitor Center 3 red brick, two-story buildings, with a US flag flying and an overcast sky The Maggie L. Walker Visitor Center serves as a gateway into Mrs. Walker's life in Jackson Ward Veteran Story: Daniel Hodgson Daniel Hodgson retired as a master chief from the U.S. Navy after a career as a Seabee. Today he works at Richmond National Battlefield Park and Maggie Walker National Historic Park as a facility manager. Daniel Hodgson in Navy uniform Statue to Maggie Lena Walker Dedicated in Downtown Richmond Park staff from Maggie L. Walker NHS joined Mayor Levar Stoney and nearly 1,000 attendees in dedicating a statue to the iconic civil rights leader in downtown Richmond on Saturday, July 15, which also marked Walker's 153rd birthday. Crowd gathers around new statue of Maggie Walker in downtown Richmond, VA Maggie L. Walker Maggie L. Walker led the African American community of Richmond, Virginia, in many aspects. She was involved in the struggle for civil rights and maintained her successful banking and newspaper businesses and charitable societies. Portrait of Maggie L. Walker St. Luke Herald This article covers the history of the St. Luke Herald, the newspaper published by the Independent Order of St. Luke. A historic copy of a front page of The St. Luke Herald newspaper St. Luke Penny Savings Bank The St. Luke Penny Savings Bank is the first bank in the United States started by an African-American women, Maggie L. Walker. Started as part of the Independent Order of St. Luke, the bank would survive the Great Depression through the leadership of Maggie L. Walker and at one point became the oldest Black run bank in the United States. The St. Luke Penny Savings Bank 3-story building in Jackson Ward Early Women in Banking The history of women bank presidents spans across the United States. For many years, Maggie L. Walker was believed to be the first women bank president in the United States, but a few other women successfully ran banks before her and their history is captured here to explore. Anna Martin and two sons at a table overlooking a document Using Their Voices: Founding Women of National Parks As we commemorate both the centennial of the 19th Amendment and the 104th birthday of the National Park Service, we’re highlighting a few women who harnessed their public voices to protect powerfully important American places. National Park Service Commemoration of the 19th Amendment In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment the National Park Service has developed a number of special programs. This includes online content, exhibits, and special events. The National Park Service’s Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems (CRGIS) announces the release of a story map that highlights some of these programs and provides information for the public to locate and participate. Opening slide of the 19th Amendment NPS Commemoration Story Map Independent Order of St. Luke The Independent Order of St. Luke was a Black fraternal order led by Maggie L. Walker. The IOSL became the main body through which Maggie L. Walker rose to national prominence as a bank leader, community advocate and civil rights activist. a group of 40 women in front of a building Ajena Cason Rogers: Amplifying Voices of African American Women While Ajena Rogers has had a variety of roles with the NPS, she became recognized for her expertise as a living history interpreter, portraying the lives of African American women at historic sites. In a 2020 oral history interview with the Park History Program, Rogers speaks of the privilege and burden of this first-person technique, experiencing racial dynamics of both past and present, and the family history that she carries forward. Ajena Rogers in character, in bonnet and apron with a mixing bowl and gazing out a kitchen window. Staff Spotlight: George McDonald Meet George McDonald, the Chief of Youth Programs and the Experienced Services Program Division. George oversees projects and programs that involve youth and young adults working at National Park Service sites across the country, primarily focusing on individuals 15 to 30 years old, and those 35 years old or under who are military veterans. These projects generally cover natural and cultural resource conservation. Learn more about him. George McDonald smiling at Grand Canyon National Park National Parks Named in Honor of Women Women’s history is found in more than 400 national parks across the country and still being made today. National parks come in many different shapes, sizes, naming designations, and reasons for being created. Explore national parks that were created and named in honor of specific women and take a closer look at these women’s lasting legacy on American history. Bust of Alice Paul 2022 Freeman Tilden Award Recipients View recipients of the National Park Service Freeman Tilden Awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to the practice of interpretation and education by NPS employees. Two women work with a tree while a young man records audio. Shaping the System Under President Jimmy Carter President Jimmy Carter oversaw one of the largest growths in the National Park System. Explore some of the parks that are part of the legacy of the presidency of Jimmy Carter, who served as the 39th president of the United States from January 20, 1977, to January 20, 1981. Historic photo of Jimmy Carter walking through a crowd at Harpers Ferry New Research Shows Mobile Devices Are a Powerful Way to Learn about Visitors U.S. national parks have long relied on question-based surveys to capture snapshots of who visitors are and what they like to do. Data from mobile devices provide a complementary, park-wide perspective not previously available. Visitors watch, some photographing/filming with mobile devices, as clouds of smoke engulf 2 cannons.

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 acciden