A Woman of Fine Presence: The Material Culture of Maggie Lena Walker

Step inside the extraordinary life and legacy of Maggie L. Walker, trailblazing entrepreneur, civil rights leader, and the first African American woman to found and lead a bank in the United States. In this illustrated lecture, National Park Service curator Ethan P. Bullard reveals remarkable artifacts and rare documents from the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, bringing to life the story of a woman who reshaped Richmond and the nation in the early 20th century. Preserved exactly as her family left it, Walker’s Jackson Ward home holds an unparalleled collection of original furnishings and personal objects, now safeguarded by the National Park Service’s first site dedicated to honoring an African American woman. Through these powerful materials, audiences will encounter a legacy of leadership, resilience, and vision that continues to inspire today.