Newtowne West in Richmond, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Maggie L. Walker Collaborative Mural

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 7, 2024

1. Maggie L. Walker Collaborative Mural Marker

Inscription.

Maggie L. Walker Collaborative Mural. .

1. The Green Dragon mascot has been the beloved mascot of the school since its beginnings and is symbolic of Maggie L. Walker's fiery spirit and courage. , 2. The stacked books symbolize how education and hard work formed the foundation of her success. , 3. Educational quote from Maggie L. Walker. , 4. Maggie L. Walker founded the St. Luke Herald newspaper to serve as a powerful communication tool with her community. , 5. A picture of a 1960's boycott is included to illustrate how her activism in the early 1900's laid the ground work for the later civil rights movement. , 6. Maggie L. Walker empowered many young women by offering them better employment opportunities through her entrepreneurial endeavors. , 7. Maggie L. Walker opened the Emporium, a department store to offer her community an alternative to shopping at white-owned stores under the Jim Crow era restrictions. , 8. The image of a laundry basket symbolizes how Maggie L. Walker overcame both prejudice and humble beginnings when she helped her widowed mother take in laundry to make ends meet. , 9. This decorative ribbon shows the important role she played in leading and nurturing the Order of St. Luke mutual aid society that helped so many. , 10. This is a penny from 1903, the year she founded the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank. , 11. This image symbolizes her early work in education as a teacher and how her name lives on associated with this school named in her honor since 1937. , 12. This strand of pearls symbolizes the wealth and success she achieved personally through her hard work and sharing of opportunity through her philanthropy. , 13. The Jackson Ward map represents the community she loved, helped and called home. , 14. Maggie L. Walker's most famous achievement was being the first African American woman to charter a bank in the United States. , 15. Maggie L. Walker loved to have cut red roses in vases around her elegant home in the area of Jackson Ward known as "Quality Row." , 16. Peacock feathers symbolize her success, flair for fashion, and love of elegant attire. , 17. Portrait of Maggie L. Walker (1864-1934) based on the original photograph (bottom left).

, Maggie L. Walker was an African American businesswoman and civil rights leader. Her lifelong focus on Entrepreneurship, Education, and Equality helped empower her Jackson Ward community and gained her national recognition as she became the first African American woman to charter a bank. Designed by artist Colleen Phelon Hall with input from students, this collaborative mural project's goal was to bring people together to create a visual tribute to her many contributions. After her death in 1934, Maggie L. Walker High School was built and named in her honor in 1937. It was one of two high schools for African American students in the Richmond area during the time of racial segregation. In 2001 the school reopened as the Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies. Participants in this mural project included alumni from the original Maggie L. Walker High School, current students, alumni, parents, and faculty of MLWGS, as well as members of the community.,

. Over 325 people helped paint the mural on 13 5×5 fabric squares during 11 paint parties. , . Over 125 people gave input for the project in an online survey. , . MLWGS students helped with research and concept ideas. , . The mural was installed in May 2019.

, Special thanks to the MLWGS PTSA and the Visual Arts Boosters for funding, Colleen Phelon Hall for her time, Mr. Irvin Charles and the Maggie L. Walker High School Alumni members, and the Mural Committee for their participation.

1. The Green Dragon mascot has been the beloved mascot of the school since its beginnings and is symbolic of Maggie L. Walker's fiery spirit and courage.
2. The stacked books symbolize how education and hard work formed the foundation of her success.
3. Educational quote from Maggie L. Walker.
4. Maggie L. Walker founded the St. Luke Herald newspaper to serve as a powerful communication tool with her community.
5. A picture of a 1960's boycott is included to illustrate how her activism in the early 1900's laid the ground work for the later civil rights movement.
6. Maggie L. Walker empowered many young women by offering them better employment opportunities through her entrepreneurial endeavors.
7. Maggie L. Walker opened the Emporium, a department store to offer her community an alternative to shopping at white-owned stores under the Jim Crow era restrictions.
8. The image of a laundry basket symbolizes how Maggie L. Walker overcame both prejudice and humble beginnings when she helped her widowed mother take in laundry to make ends meet.
9. This decorative ribbon shows the important role she played in leading and nurturing the Order of St. Luke mutual aid society that helped so many.
10. This is a penny from 1903, the year she founded the St. Luke Penny Savings
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11. This image symbolizes her early work in education as a teacher and how her name lives on associated with this school named in her honor since 1937.
12. This strand of pearls symbolizes the wealth and success she achieved personally through her hard work and sharing of opportunity through her philanthropy.
13. The Jackson Ward map represents the community she loved, helped and called home.
14. Maggie L. Walker's most famous achievement was being the first African American woman to charter a bank in the United States.
15. Maggie L. Walker loved to have cut red roses in vases around her elegant home in the area of Jackson Ward known as "Quality Row."
16. Peacock feathers symbolize her success, flair for fashion, and love of elegant attire.
17. Portrait of Maggie L. Walker (1864-1934) based on the original photograph (bottom left).

Maggie L. Walker was an African American businesswoman and civil rights leader. Her lifelong focus on Entrepreneurship, Education, and Equality helped empower her Jackson Ward community and gained her national recognition as she became the first African American woman to charter a bank. Designed by artist Colleen Phelon Hall with input from students, this collaborative mural project's goal was to bring people together to create a visual tribute to her many contributions. After

Maggie L. Walker Collaborative Mural with the marker in front image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 7, 2024

2. Maggie L. Walker Collaborative Mural with the marker in front

her death in 1934, Maggie L. Walker High School was built and named in her honor in 1937. It was one of two high schools for African American students in the Richmond area during the time of racial segregation. In 2001 the school reopened as the Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies. Participants in this mural project included alumni from the original Maggie L. Walker High School, current students, alumni, parents, and faculty of MLWGS, as well as members of the community.

• Over 325 people helped paint the mural on 13 5×5 fabric squares during 11 paint parties.
• Over 125 people gave input for the project in an online survey.
• MLWGS students helped with research and concept ideas.
• The mural was installed in May 2019.

Special thanks to the MLWGS PTSA and the Visual Arts Boosters for funding, Colleen Phelon Hall for her time, Mr. Irvin Charles and the Maggie L. Walker High School Alumni members, and the Mural Committee for their participation.

Erected 2019 by Maggie L. Walker Governor's School.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Industry & Commerce • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is December 15, 1934.

Location. 37°

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33.478′ N, 77° 27.256′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Virginia. It is in Newtowne West. It is on West Leigh Street just east of Elizabeth Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 Elizabeth St, Richmond VA 23220, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Maggie Lena Walker (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hartshorn Memorial College (about 300 feet away); Virginia Union University (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pickford Hall (approx. ¼ mile away); Martin E. Gray Hall (approx. ¼ mile away); Coburn Hall (approx. 0.3 miles away); Ellison Hall (approx. 0.3 miles away); Huntley Hall (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 205 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 9, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.