Sara Spencer Washington

Sara Spencer Washington
Born	Template:Birth date Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Died	March 23, 1953(1953-03-23) (aged 69) Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Businesswoman, entrepreneur
Known for	Founder of Apex News and Hair Company; pioneering African American cosmetics businesswoman

Sara Spencer Washington (June 17, 1883 – March 23, 1953) established the Apex News and Hair Company and gained acclaim at the 1939 New York World's Fair as one of the "Most Distinguished Businesswomen" for her extensive Apex enterprise, which included beauty products, educational institutions, and publishing ventures. Beyond her business achievements, Washington was active in community service and fought against racial inequality, notably by supplying coal to residents in Atlantic City, New Jersey and founding the Apex Golf Club, one of the earliest African-American owned golf courses in the United States.

Early life

Born Sarah Elizabeth Phillips on June 17, 1883, in the Berkley district of Norfolk, Virginia, she was the daughter of Ellen Phillips. She received her early education through local public schools before attending Lincoln Preparatory School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as well as Norfolk Mission College. Although some accounts suggest she pursued business studies at Northwestern College and Columbia University, there is no archival evidence supporting these claims.

Washington’s passion for haircare developed during her time working as a dressmaker in York, Pennsylvania. After returning to Norfolk, she opened a salon and completed coursework at Marie E. Joyce's School in 1912. The following year, she inaugurated her own salon in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Career

In 1913, Washington launched the Apex News and Hair Company in Atlantic City, New Jersey, marking the beginning of her journey as a cosmetics businesswoman. She focused on serving African American women with a variety of beauty products. Starting from a modest one-room beauty shop, she expanded her enterprise by managing the salon during the day and promoting her products through sales efforts at night.

The Apex product line included pressing oils, hot combs, pomades, perfumes, creams for beauty care, and lipstick. Washington regarded the beauty sector as highly resilient, famously remarking that "As long as there are women in the world, there will be beauty establishments."

Her business extended to eleven beauty schools across the United States and internationally, all dedicated to teaching her product methods. Nationwide, her company employed nearly 500 individuals and maintained approximately 45,000 sales representatives distributing Apex merchandise.

Following World War I and throughout the Great Depression, Washington promoted the beauty industry as "a depression-proof business." By the mid-1940s, her enterprise was valued close to half a million dollars.

Family

Until the early 20th century, Sara resided in Norfolk with her mother and stepfather, Richard Smith. Her biological father, Joshua Douglas, seemingly played a minimal role in her upbringing. She maintained a close relationship with her mother, who later joined her in Atlantic City.

Following a move around 1905, Sara entered into marriage with John Spencer; their union ended in divorce by 1916. The following year, she wed Isaac Washington; although they eventually divorced, she continued to use the professional name Sara Spencer Washington. In 1949, she married Shumpert Logan, who worked for Apex and served as the head of the Apex Golf and Country Club.

Sara became the adoptive mother of a cousin’s child, Sara Joan Cross Washington (1927–2005), who inherited the majority of the Apex enterprise after Sara’s passing until its merger with Pharmetics in 1959.

Later years

During her later life, Washington experienced complications related to diabetes and was hospitalized following strokes in both 1943 and 1947. Despite these health difficulties, she remained actively involved in overseeing the Apex business, engaging in philanthropic efforts, and participating in community initiatives. Her condition worsened again in January 1953, leading to her death on March 23, 1953, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Her death received extensive coverage in publications such as Jet, Miami Herald, and Baltimore Afro-American. The New Jersey State Senate posthumously recognized her as “an international citizen of merit.” She was laid to rest at Atlantic City Cemetery located in Pleasantville, New Jersey.

Legacy

Washington's company gained significant attention at the 1939 New York World's Fair. What began as Apex Beauty Products grew to encompass Apex News and Hair Company, Apex Publishing Company (which produced the Apex News), Apex Laboratories (focused on cosmetics manufacturing), Apex Drug Company, and Apex Beauty Colleges.

Her global recognition not only boosted her enterprise but also enhanced the reputation of African American women entrepreneurs, establishing her as one of the first black millionaires in the United States. Committed to giving back to her community, she donated twenty acres for use as a camp for African American youth and funded a residence for girls involved with educational programs under the National Youth Administration. A historical marker in Atlantic City commemorates both her home and the operations of Apex.

The Apex College of Beauty in Philadelphia became one of the nation’s longest-operating beauty schools and was acknowledged by the 1980s as the oldest African American institution specializing in beauty technology.

See also

Year	Title
1865–1946	Anthony Overton
1877–1957	Annie Turnbo Malone
1867–1919	Madam C. J. Walker