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Annie Turnbo Malone

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Annie Turnbo Malone, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 202513 sources
Annie Minerva Turnbo Malone
Born (1877-08-09) August 9, 1877 (age 149)
Metropolis, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMay 10, 1957(1957-05-10) (aged 79)
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, inventor, philanthropist
Known forFounder of Poro College; innovator in African-American hair care products; mentor to Madam C. J. Walker

Annie Minerva Turnbo Malone (August 9, 1877 – May 10, 1957) was a pioneering American entrepreneur, inventor, and philanthropist. In the early 1900s, she founded a prominent business and educational institution specializing in cosmetics tailored for African-American women. Malone is credited with innovating a mail-order system for beauty products and played a key role in mentoring influential business figures such as Madam C. J. Walker. Her efforts significantly impacted both the cosmetics industry and the advancement of the African American community.

Early life

Annie Minerva Turnbo entered the world in Metropolis, Illinois, as the daughter of Robert and Isabella Turnbo, who had formerly been enslaved.[1][2] Following her father's enlistment in the Union Army during the American Civil War, Isabella fled slavery with her children, settling in Metropolis, Illinois. Annie was born on a farm near Metropolis in Massac County, Illinois and was the tenth child among eleven siblings.[3][4]

After losing her parents at a young age, she attended public school before moving in 1896 to reside with her sister Ada Moody in Peoria, Illinois. There, Annie pursued secondary education with an emphasis on chemistry but had to leave school due to illness.[4]

During this period, Turnbo nurtured an interest in hair care and practiced hairdressing alongside her sister.[5] By merging her chemical knowledge with hair care skills, she began creating her own formulations. At that time, many African American women resorted to using harmful substances such as goose fat and bacon grease to straighten their hair.[1]

Career

At the dawn of the 20th century, Turnbo moved with some of her siblings to Lovejoy (present-day Brooklyn, Illinois). There, she developed and produced a range of gentle hair straighteners, oils, and stimulants specifically designed for African-American women.[6] Her leading product was called “Wonderful Hair Grower,” which she initially marketed through direct door-to-door sales.[3] These products revolutionized hair care practices within the African American community.[7]

In 1902, Turnbo relocated to St. Louis, where she and a small team of three employees sold products by visiting homes and provided complimentary treatments to draw in clients.[3] The growing demand enabled her to open her first retail location at 2223 Market Street that same year.[3] She implemented extensive promotional strategies including advertising in African American newspapers, organizing press events, touring southern states, and training a team of saleswomen to broaden her market reach.[8][9][10][11]

Among her prominent sales agents was Sarah Breedlove Davis—later known as Madam C. J. Walker—who initially worked in St. Louis before moving to Denver but eventually parted ways following a disagreement. Walker is said to have adapted Turnbo’s formula for her own line (though this is contested). In response, Turnbo secured copyrights for her products under the "Poro" brand to protect against imitations.[12] The name Poro might originate from a Mende term referring to a devotional society or be a combination of family names Annie Pope and Laura Roberts.[13] Due to expanding operations, Turnbo upgraded to a larger facility located at 3100 Pine Street in 1910.[3]

Poro College

Annie Turnbo Malone established Poro College in 1918 as a combined cosmetology academy and commercial enterprise. The institution included a production facility, a retail outlet for Poro-branded products, administrative offices, a 500-seat auditorium, dining and conference areas, a dormitory, gymnasium, bakery, and chapel. It functioned as a central venue for the African-American community's spiritual and social gatherings.

The educational program emphasized holistic personal growth, guiding students in style, communication skills, and professional demeanor. Employing close to 200 individuals in St. Louis, Poro College’s educational and franchise operations generated employment for around 75,000 women throughout North America, South America, Africa, and the Philippines.

Malone’s enterprise flourished until 1927 when her husband sought divorce and claimed half the company’s worth based on his purported involvement. This legal dispute resulted in Poro College being placed under court supervision. With backing from staff members and prominent leaders such as Mary McLeod Bethune, Malone secured a $200,000 settlement that confirmed her exclusive ownership.

After the divorce, Malone moved much of her business to Chicago’s South Parkway (now Martin Luther King Jr. Drive), acquiring an entire city block. Despite enduring additional legal issues during the Great Depression—including a 1937 lawsuit initiated by a former employee—she sold her St. Louis property to cover settlement costs. While diminished in size, her business continued to operate successfully.

Philanthropy and personal life

Annie Turnbo married Nelson Pope in 1902; their marriage ended in divorce by 1907. In 1914, she married Aaron Eugene Malone, who had previously worked as a teacher and religious book salesman.

By the 1920s, Malone had become a multimillionaire; in 1924 she paid nearly $40,000 in income taxes—the highest amount recorded in Missouri at that time. Despite her substantial wealth, she maintained a modest lifestyle and contributed generously to organizations such as the local black YMCA and Howard University College of Medicine.

She played a significant philanthropic role at the St. Louis Colored Orphans Home, serving as board president from 1919 until 1943. During her tenure, the Home acquired a building on Goode Avenue in 1922—a street later renamed Annie Malone Drive to honor her legacy. The organization eventually became known as the Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center located in the Ville neighborhood.

Dedicated to supporting her workforce, Malone ensured equitable wages and advancement prospects for all African-American employees while financing various community initiatives.

Death and legacy

Turnbo was honored as an honorary member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority and received an honorary degree from Howard University.

She passed away on May 10, 1957, following a stroke at Chicago's Provident Hospital. Having no children, she bequeathed her business interests and assets to her nieces and nephews. At the time of her death, her estate was valued at $100,000.

St. Louis commemorates her contributions with an annual Annie Malone parade that supports charities benefiting children.

In media

A dramatized portrayal of Malone appears as Addie Munroe, played by British actress Carmen Ejogo in the 2020 Netflix miniseries Self Made.

Turnbo is also featured in Bayer Mack's 2019 documentary No Lye: An American Beauty Story, which chronicles the development and decline of the black-owned ethnic beauty industry.

Further reading

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Historic Missourians
  2. ↑ Witzel, Morgen, ed. (2005). The Encyclopedia of the History of American Management. Thoemmes Continuum. ISBN 1843711311.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Trout
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :2
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Quintana
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Houston
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :4
  8. ↑ Halstead, Marilyn (February 19, 2018). "From Metropolis to millionaire: Annie Malone was one of the first black female millionaires". The Southern. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :3
  10. ↑ "Black History Highlight: The Annie Malone Story". Explore St. Louis. February 5, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  11. ↑ Tabbey-Botchwey, Adom (August 13, 2019). "Why this forgotten woman could be America's first black millionaire instead of C.J. Walker". Face2Face Africa. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :6
  13. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :5

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