Noted African American businesswoman, civil leader, newspaper founder, lecturer and the first African American woman bank president in the United States. Inspite of humble beginnings in post-Civil War Richmond, Virginia, Maggie Lena Walker became one of the most profoundly influential activists of her time in a wide range of local and national black organizations. Her business acumen, personality, and lifelong commitment to a beneficial burial society fueled her climb to success. She believed that Black American women had an instrumental part to play in the economic and political success of the Black American community. Walker won special renown as head of the Independent order of Saint Luke (founded in 1903), a society through which she created businesses that provided employment for African Americans, especially black women, in over twenty states. As a result, she became the first woman bank president in the United States. As a leader her successes and vision offered tangible improvements in the way of life for African Americans and women. Walker retired for health reasons in 1933 and died a year later. The bank survived the depression and remains solvent to this day as the oldest continually black-owned and black-run bank (St. Luke Bank and Trust Company) in the nation. In addition to her work for the Independent Order of Saint Luke, Walker was active in civic groups. Among them were the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) and the Virginia Interracial Commission. To assist race relations she helped to organize and served locally as vice president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was a member of the NAACP board.

Noted African American businesswoman, civil leader, newspaper founder, lecturer and the first African American woman bank president in the United States. Inspite of humble beginnings in post-Civil War Richmond, Virginia, Maggie Lena Walker became one of the most profoundly influential activists of her time in a wide range of local and national black organizations. Her business acumen, personality, and lifelong commitment to a beneficial burial society fueled her climb to success. She believed that Black American women had an instrumental part to play in the economic and political success of the Black American community. Walker won special renown as head of the Independent order of Saint Luke (founded in 1903), a society through which she created businesses that provided employment for African Americans, especially black women, in over twenty states. As a result, she became the first woman bank president in the United States. As a leader her successes and vision offered tangible improvements in the way of life for African Americans and women. Walker retired for health reasons in 1933 and died a year later. The bank survived the depression and remains solvent to this day as the oldest continually black-owned and black-run bank (St. Luke Bank and Trust Company) in the nation. In addition to her work for the Independent Order of Saint Luke, Walker was active in civic groups. Among them were the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) and the Virginia Interracial Commission. To assist race relations she helped to organize and served locally as vice president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was a member of the NAACP board.

Bio by: Curtis Jackson