The Annie Malone Historical Society is thrilled to announce that they are the recipient of a most generous $100,000 gift! The anonymous donation will be used to establish an aggressive Challenge Grant Campaign and will focus on the purchase and renovation of a permanent home for the organization. Linda M. Nance, Founding President of the Society says, “Our goal is to multiply the Challenge Grant as many times as possible through the end of this calendar year. By the end of this year, we want to be able to announce that we have raised the nearly $400,000 needed to purchase the property on Delmar and Pendleton. To date, the Annie Malone Historical Society can say we have already raised $130,000 toward this effort.”
Annie M. Turnbo Pope Malone was the pioneer of the black hair care and beauty industry headquartered here in St. Louis and later in Chicago. For a time, she employed Sarah Breedlove, better known as Madam C. J Walker. November marks the 100th Anniversary of the opening of the fabulous PORO College and manufacturing facility Malone built from the ground up. It was her fourth business expansion and represented the cornerstone of her international empire.
The Annie Malone Historical Society is dedicated to reviving the history of this great American icon and is working to preserve it for future generations. Our facility seeks to be a community asset and will house a small museum in honor of Mrs. Malone and serve as a community resource just as the original building on Pendleton and St. Ferdinand did. Some of the programs planned for the facility include a GED and Financial Literacy Program, a Saturday morning reading and story time for children and a space for local artists to display their work on a rotating basis.
“We are asking everyone to get involved. Barber shops, beauty shops, churches, individuals, businesses, corporations, fraternities, sororities, and a variety of clubs and social groups – Reviving the Legacy of Annie Malone is serious business. I know we can make this happen says Linda Nance. Commitment, Action and timely Contributions, is what it will take. For those who can afford to, a $100-dollar contribution celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the opening would be great but let me be clear, a little help from a lot of people is what will make this great thing work! If lots of people take on the idea that you and two others can commit to a contribution of just $20 dollars – even $10 dollars each, all contributions help – we WILL make this happen! Help us meet this challenge by the end of this year! Go to www.anniemalonehistoricalsociety.org to make your contribution today.” If you’d like, you can mail your contribution to P. O. Box 210794 St. Louis, MO 63121. For additional information visit our website: anniemalonehistoricalsociety.org, our face book page: Annie Malone Historical Society or give us a call at (314) 229-0808. You may also email us at anniemalonehistory@att.net Make your contribution today!
Be sure to watch for other activities and opportunities involving the Annie Malone Historical Society designed to raise funds and awareness about the legacy of Annie Malone. You can pick up a copy of the book “Reviving the Legacy of Annie Malone” (a previously published book entitled “PORO in Pictures”) at Left Bank Books, Progressive Emporium and the Missouri History Museum Gift Shop. The book displays beautiful photos of the historic PORO College and Manufacturing Plant Malone opened here in St. Louis in 1918.