Annie Malone Historical Society

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Annie Malone Historical Society

Turnbo Pope Malone.

The purpose of the Annie Malone Historical Society is to give proper recognition to a pillar of history and to share the story of extraordinary vision, dedication, commitment and success that was the life of Annie M.

11/11/2025

The Legacy of Poro College:
Green Book Cleveland entry: Edith Wikins who attended Poro College in St. Louis and the Academy of Beauty Culture in Cleveland was the owner and proprietor of The Wilkins School of Cosmetology located at 2112 E. 46th St., Cleveland. This location is also listed as a tourist home in the Green Book. In 1959, Coretta Scott King spent the night here prior to her discussion of the importance of nonviolence as well as her husband’s work registering black voters in Montgomery. Even a famous black traveler like Mrs. King was excluded from staying at well known hotels. (Source-greenbookcleveland.org)

11/02/2025

According to the Richmond Planet article of 5/17/1924: The largest donation ever made by Negroes to any social or philanthropic work was $25k made by Annie Malone and her husband, Aaron Malone to the YMCA building campaign in St. Louis, a campaign to construct YMCAs for colored men and boys. When asked about the donation, Ms. Malone responded that every time she saw scores of colored boys congregated on corners with few safeguards about them, she felt that there was a challenge for her and her husband to give to this great cause. Also noted that the Malones donated $5k in 1915 for the initial YMCA building project on Pine Street in St. Louis. (Photos of the YMCA on Pine Street in St. Louis)

10/11/2025

We love discovering the locations of the former Poro College Beauty Schools and Beauty Shops! This is a photo of the Poro Branch Office and Beauty Shop in Richmond, VA in the 1930s.

10/09/2025

Annie Malone was an executive committee member of the National Negro Business League. This league was established by Dr. Booker T. Washington in 1900 with the mission to unite Black business owners, promote entrepreneurship, and develop economic power. The league had its annual conference in St. Louis in 1920. In this ad, Annie Malone welcomed the the members and chapters to St. Louis and Poro College Complex served as a conference host!

09/03/2025

Annie Malone /Poro College Legacy-Birmingham, Alabama

08/26/2025

Poro Agent Bessie Pharr conducted her business in Biddleville, a prominent Black neighborhood in Charlotte, NC. Biddleville was a hub for Black owned businesses including beauty salons and independent beauty agents such as Ms. Pharr. HBCU, Johnson C. Smith University (formerly known as Biddle Memorial Institute) founded in 1867 is located in the Biddleville neighborhood!

08/25/2025

Here’s an Ad from the Star of Zion (Charlotte, NC) newspaper, May 25, 1922. Poro Agent, Ms. Pharr from Biddleville (which was a predominantly African American neighborhood in Charlotte) provides costs of scalp and hair treatments.

08/15/2025

In 1922 Kittrell College in North Carolina awarded Annie Malone an honorary Master of Arts Degree. Kittrell College was a two year private historically black college in Kittrell, NC. The college opened in 1885 and was affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). Kittrell College was one of many black colleges that Annie Malone donated to.

08/14/2025

An article from The Star of Zion Newspaper, Charlotte, NC. Jan. 21, 1926. Poro Employees receive Five Year Service Gifts!

08/10/2025

Honoring the memory of Annie T. Malone, the great businesswoman, philanthropist, and humanitarian on her birthday August 8, 1869. Stay tuned as our website will be back and restored soon! 💕

Address

St. Louis, MO

Telephone

+13142290808

Website

http://anniemalonehistoricalsociety.org/

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