Advertisement for Madam C. J. Walker products: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Double-sided full-page advertisement for Madam C. J. Walker products. Yellowed paper printed in dark brown ink. One side is titled "Amazing Progress of Colored Race / - improved appearance responsible" at the top. Underneath are portraits of Booker T. Washington, Roland Hayes, Cab Calloway, C. C. Spaulding, Dr. Moton and Frederick Douglass arranged in a semi-circle around the text "Good Looks, Neatness / Were Very Important Essentials / in the Success of these People." Each portrait is accompanied by a short note about the individual pictured. The bottom half of the page features a portrait of Madam C. J. Walker next to an images of a cabin and her home, Villa Lewaro. The images accompany text under the title "From Slave Cabin to Mansion / - the Greatest Benefactress of Our Race." The page also features an image of Walker's Wonder Pomade for men and other advertising text.

The reverse has tan text in a dark brown box at the top that reads "Look Your Best to Succeed / The Choicest Gifts of Society and Business / Go to Those Who Prepare Themselves and -- / "Look the Part"." Underneath, the page features illustrations of a beauty salon and portraits of multiple women in various poses. At the center of the page is a tan oval with brown text advertising Madam Walker’s beauty treatments. The advertisement is housed in a gold-painted wooden frame with clear glass on each side.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1906-1950
• Published by: Unidentified
• Subject of: Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company, American, founded 1906
• Subject of: Madam C.J. Walker, American, 1867 - 1919
• Subject of: Booker T. Washington, American, 1856 - 1915
• Subject of: Frederick Douglass, American, 1818 - 1895
• Subject of: Roland Hayes, American, 1887 - 1977
• Subject of: Cab Calloway, American, 1907 - 1994
• Subject of: Charles Clinton Spaulding, American, 1874 - 1952
• Type: advertisements
• Medium: ink on paper
• Dimensions: Sheet: H x W: 21 1/4 x 15 5/16 in. (54 x 38.9 cm)
• Dimensions: Frame: H x W: 23 1/4 x 16 7/8 x 1 in. (59.1 x 42.9 x 2.5 cm)
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Advertising
• Topic: Beauty culture
• Topic: Business
• Topic: Men
• Topic: Women
• Object number: 2013.153.11.1
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of A'Lelia Bundles / Madam Walker Family Archives
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Unknown - Restrictions Possible Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.