Madame C.J. Walker Home for Girls and Women | |
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Location | 2066 Pine Street, San Francisco, California, United States |
Coordinates | 37°47′19″N122°25′48″W / 37.788631°N 122.429895°W |
Built | c. 1878 – c. 1879 |
Built for | Third Baptist Church |
Architectural style(s) | Italianate style |
Designated | December 12, 1999 |
Reference no. | 211 |
The Madame C.J. Walker Home for Girls and Women, or simply Walker Home, is a historic Italianate building in the Lower Pacific Heights neighborhood (or Upper Fillmore) of San Francisco, California, U.S.. From 1921 to 1972, the building housed a charitable, community and social services organization for single African American woman new to San Francisco, who were not eligible to use the YWCA.
It is listed as a San Francisco Designated Landmark since 1999. [1] The building is now a private residence and is not open to the public.
The Madame C.J. Walker Home for Girls and Women was named after Madam C. J. Walker (1867–1919), an African American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and activist; and the first female self-made millionaire in the United States. [2] [3] The Walker Home was financially supported by the Third Baptist Church. [2] It was opened by Irene Bell Ruggles, the president of the California State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs. [4]
From 1921 to 1972, the building housed a community and social services program for single African American woman new to San Francisco, who were not eligible to use the services at the YWCA. [1] [2] The home primarily served to help women find affordable housing and local work, but also served as a community meeting place. [2] In 1926, the basement of the building was converted into a social hall. [2] In the 1930s, the "Beauticians Club" met at the Walker Home. [3] During World War II, the Walker Home became a vital part of the community, supporting an influx of population growth of African Americans moving to the area. [2]
In 1972, the program was moved to Hayes Street and the building was sold as a private residence. [2]
Julia Morgan was an American architect and engineer. She designed more than 700 buildings in California during a long and prolific career. She is best known for her work on Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California.
Madam C. J. Walker was an African American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and political and social activist. She is recorded as the first female self-made millionaire in America in the Guinness Book of World Records. Multiple sources mention that although other women might have been the first, their wealth is not as well-documented.
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African Americans in San Francisco, California, composed just under 6% of the city's total population as of 2019 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, down from 13.4% in 1970. There are about 55,000 people of full or partial black ancestry living within the city. The community began with workers and entrepreneurs of the California Gold Rush in the 19th century, and in the early-to-mid 20th century, grew to include migrant workers with origins in the Southern United States, who worked as railroad workers or service people at shipyards. In the mid-20th century, the African American community in the Fillmore District earned the neighborhood the nickname the "Harlem of the West," referring to New York City's Harlem neighborhood, which is associated with African American culture.
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