Which has been restored by the National Park service, to the way it appeared during the last seven years of maggies life, from 1928 to 1934. However, ms. Walker lived in this home beginning in 1905, after purchasing the house in 1904. She took time to have the House Advantage of take the most modern conveniences. She would do these changes throughout her time living here in the house. The house becomes a way for her to show what could be done with determination, perseverance, education. If you applied yourself, if you worked hard, you could achieve the same kind of things that Maggie Walker did. We come into the house, coming and intohe front foyer the parlor, the front room here. Find chairs throughout the home, furnishings you might not have expected back in mrs. Walkers findday, that belong to africanamerican woman. What she would do in this home is that she would show what could be done if you applied yourself. Day, that belong to africanamerican woman. What she would do in this home is that she would show what could be done if you applied yourself. She wasnt born wealthy at all. She redirects all her energy, all the knowledge she had gotten, and all her knowledge of working with young children, her love of working with young children, to direct that towards her organization, the fraternal order, the independent order. Its from that that she begins to rise and become wellknown as a figure, a leader in richmond, and also across the nation. Through the order of saint luke, when Maggie Walker takes the head role in that as the right worthy grand secretary of the independent order of saint luke, she began to try to mold the organization so that it is one that benefits women, black women. As a black woman herself, she knew exactly what it was like to by people who are prejudiced against you because you are a woman, and people who are prejudiced against you and tying you down because you are black. Work,at became her lifes to work for the betterment and opportunities for black women. Work,using the tools that were available to her, economic black buy black, create a bank, create opportunities for working in a place that White Society would not have allowed you to work. People together in unity. We are very fortunate that we have items here that belong to Maggie Walker and her family. When you go throughout this seeing, about are 90 of it is original to the family. Piano that you see here that her grandchildren would play, for special guests and visitors, to the vases and statues. Another part of ms. Walkers piano that you see here that her grandchildren wouldstory is about the obstacld hardships she faced throughout her life. Ms. Walker had many personal tragedies throughout, and one i would like to focus on is the story of this rolling chair. We reproduce this chair based wallf the portrait on the just above and beyond it, where you see mrs. Walker sitting, working very hard. You could hardly tell that in that photograph shes paralyzed from the waist down. Mrs. Walker suffered from insequences of diabetes, and 1928, she completely lost the use of her legs. But that did not stop Maggie Walker from continuing to work as hard as she ever did. As you see in that portrait, writing her speeches, keeping a smile on her face, inspiring others to do and work as hard as they ever had. When you see the chair, you see how she had it adapted with the foot rest there on the bottom, and wheel, and also handhole. Lets go into the next room across the way. Maggie walker was one who inspired others, but theres times you need inspiration yourself. The room we are coming to now is her library. When she bought the home, she brought it from a position physician who added this section to the house and used it as his office, examining office. Maggie walker over the years converts it into a library, a place of study, a place of reflection, and a place of inspiration. When you are looking in this room, its very narrow. Story ofit tells a big the books. Several hundred volumes of books original to Maggie Walker. Another, smaller bookcase over here. It shows how much she enjoys reading and knew that you could learn just by reading, and having books all around you. You look up a little further the one with the blue ribbon is ms. Walkers diplomas. It was before she got married. Its maggie mitchell, graduated from the richmond public school. Beside it is her son russell. She had two sons, russell and m elvin, who russell graduates from the school as well, and graduatesntually from the university. She has to diplomas for the family all across the top as well as some of her recognition, vases and trophies, people had given her over the years. Another thing that strikes people when they walk into this room are the hundreds of photographs. These photographs show people that ms. Walker worked with, or who were part of the independent order of saint luke. I would like to look at this photograph, this poster here. 101 prominent colored people. Leaders,in 1905, 101 black leaders, and ms. Walker is part of that group. Here she is, right beside booker t. Washington. One of 10 women listed on this poster. In 1905,r was put out the very same year that Maggie Walker moves into this home. Asshows you that she was early as that being recognized for the work she was doing in the community, particularly because she started the saint ,uke Penny Savings Bank in 1903 and becoming the first africanamerican woman president of a chartered bank. That wasnt the only thing she did through the order of saint luke. Again, writing, reading. Goes right forth into becoming the editor of the newspaper, the st. Luke herald, which became the organ for the people in the organization to communicate with each other. I like to think of her sitting at this death straight we have photographs of her sitting at reflectingriting and most likely in this very room. Mrs. Walker would have folks gather, and they would come here to visit with her. Place you could gather would be right in the dining room. There very fortunate that houses come to the National Park service through mrs. Walkers family. Her daughterinlaw keeping things in place, because she should be a museum in honoring her motherinlaw. Having daughter maggie laura then transfers the home to the National Park service. 1978, then it becomes a National Park. We restore it, opening the house to the public in 1985. As we were working on restoring the home, we were able to speak with mrs. Walkers grandchildren, and get inside stories of how each of these rooms are used, what they remembered about being here in this home with her grandmother. As we are here in the dining area, you would see how formally its laid out. The grandchildren recall they would come here for special occasions or holiday meal, and how they could gather right in here. The grandchildren recall they would come here for special a showe was not only place, it was a family home. Lets go upstairs to ms. Walkers room. So, you come around, you will see mrs. Walkers suite of rooms on this side. What she did, when she had major renovations done in 1922, she also converted this area into a sitting room for herself, theres a view of the bathroom there. Once she was paralyzed and in a wheelchair, she would have had to figure out a way to avoid all those stairs. Backould come in from the of the house, and theres an elevator she had installed. They would bring her up here, since she had come through the area through the sitting area here, and into her own room. This room really reflects ms. Walker and all of her causes and interests, and her passion. And you look around the room, you see on the walls, photographs. They are not just photographs of famous people. Areathey are photographs of pee who were very close to her, her 4 grandchildren, and photographs of her son, russell, of her mother on the mantelpiece there. One of my favorite images of Maggie Walker in her offices at the order of saint luke. If you look around the wall, there is Something Else reflected. Her deep faith. Way she could keep going parade, theyremother on the mae rerouted the parade to come under her window so she could still be a part. Maggie walker dies here in her home december 15, 1934, surrounded by her family. She had fallen into a diabetic coma. Community pours honor you walker of the streets out in front of the house are packed with people as they are coming out to go to that funeral for honor you walkr of the streets out in front of the house are Maggie Walker, because of the impact she had on their lives. The symbol of determination and perseverance that she showed throughout, showing people as example not only here in richmond. Not only in virginia. But throughout the united states. Walkers death, maggie organization did one of her last words was to say, have hope, have faith, have courage, and carry on. And thats what they did do. Her newspaper kept going on. The independent order of saint luke kept going on until the late 1980s. The bank is the one that is most incredible. The bank she started in 1903, saint luke Penny Savings Bank, the bank that she guided to merge with two other black banks during the great depression, continues to go on saint luke Penny Savings Bank, the bank that for 100 years as an independent blackwoned bank. When visitors leave this place, i would hope the main thing they come out with is a feeling of inspiration. Thats what i walk away with. Because, if Maggie Walker and her community, the people who are in this community, if they can survive some of the things that were thrown at them in their time, with less, with fewer opportunities than i i enjoy today, i can do it too. Up next on American History space for america, women. The 1981 nasa recruitment and educational film features interviews with women employed by the agency and a variety of specialized fields. The film was directed by an Emmy Awardwinning africanamerican anmmaker, and narrated by actor. There are many things in the history of the world that were once thought to be impossible