Pitched Unfairly

Walker Hair Culturists Union of America

Agents, welcome to kickoff.

The first national convention is now in session.

Philadelphia · August 30 and 31, 1917

Hair Culturists Union of America First National Convention 1917 Walker Agents

Last year's results · 1910 to 1917

950 agents became nearly 20,000.

  • 1906First salon, Denver
  • 1908Lelia College, Pittsburgh
  • 1910Factory, Indianapolis
  • 1913Caribbean and Central America
1910: 950 agents 1917: 20,000 trained, nearly 1 dot = 100 women

Recognition · Honor roll

Stand up, Margaret Thompson: $5 a week to $250.

Agent spotlight

Margaret Thompson

President, Philadelphia Union

As a servant$5a week
As a Walker agent$250 a week

  1. Alice Kelly

    Forelady, Indianapolis factory

    One of the few trusted with the formula.

  2. Freeman B. Ransom

    Attorney and general manager

    Runs the company from Indianapolis.

  3. A'Lelia Walker

    New York

    Brought the company to Harlem.

This year's target · $500 in prizes

We keep two scores: sales and service.

Sales board

Scored in: Tins of Wonderful Hair Grower sold

  1. 1stYour name here
  2. 2nd
  3. 3rd

Service board

Scored in: Dollars your Walker club gave to charity

  1. 1stYour club here
  2. 2nd
  3. 3rd

The playbook · The Walker System

Five steps, and the last one is giving back.

  1. 1

    Train

    At Lelia College or with a Walker teacher.

  2. 2

    Demonstrate

    In her home or salon. Bring water.

  3. 3

    Sell

    Door to door, tin by tin.

  4. 4

    Organize

    Join your local and state Walker club.

  5. 5

    Give back

    Your club works for your community.

Territories and growth

Our territory runs from Denver to the Caribbean.

1917

Philadelphia

The first national convention. You are here.

10° N15° N20° N25° N30° N35° N40° N Gulf of Mexico Caribbean Sea Atlantic Delta St. Louis Denver Pittsburgh Indianapolis Havana Kingston Port-au-Prince Colón San José Harlem Philadelphia

Compensation and incentives

One good day as an agent beats a week of the other work.

Plus $500 in convention prizes

Walker agent $5 to $15 a day

$5 to $15 a week

Unskilled white laborer about $11 a week

$11 a week

Servant Margaret Thompson, before

$5 a week

Enablement and training

Every agent starts at Lelia College.

  1. 01ShampooStart clean, every time.
  2. 02Hair GrowerThe pomade, worked into the scalp.
  3. 03BrushingStrenuous, by the method.
  4. 04Iron combsHeated, to finish.

Lelia College · Pittsburgh · Est. 1908

This certifies that

a Walker agent

has completed the course in the Walker System and is qualified as a

Hair Culturist

Instructor

The mission beyond the number

We are here for more than the sale.

The convention's last word: Women's Duty to Women.

Telegram

Philadelphia · August 1917

To
The President, Washington
From
Delegates, Walker Hair Culturists Union of America
Re
Lynching in Memphis. The violence in East St. Louis.

"We respectfully submit to you
this our protest against the continuation of such wrongs and injustices."

Congress must "enact the necessary laws to prevent a recurrence of such disgraceful affairs."

Excerpts

The mission · A pledge for this year

Raise your right hand. Five lines.

5 of 5 sworn

Convention adjourned · See you next year

Now go promote yourself.

"From there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations."

Madam C. J. Walker · Chicago, 1912
Madam C. J. Walker Agents Sales and Service 1917 Walker Go sell