Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that The Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx–where entrepreneur Madam C. J. Walker and her Harlem Renaissance arts patron daughter, A’Lelia Walker, are buried–has been designated a National Historic Landmark,the highest recognition accorded to the nation’s most historically significant properties.
There are two other National Historic Landmarks associated with the legacy of the Walker women: The Madam Walker Theatre Center, a cultural arts organization in Indianapolis, and Villa Lewaro, the home Madam Walker built in Irvington-on-Hudson, New York in 1918.
Madam Walker died on May 25, 1919 at Villa Lewaro, where her funeral was held on May 30. Among the pallbearers were New York Age publisher Fred Moore, composer J. Rosamond Johnson, and Alpha Phi Alpha founder Vertner Tandy, Villa Lewaro’s architect.
Pallbearers for Madam Walker’s 1919 Funeral (Madam Walker Family Archives/www.aleliabundles.com)
A’Lelia Walker,who held a private ceremony for her mother at Woodlawn on June 3, 1919, was herself buried there in August 1931.
Among the famous Americans also buried at Woodlawn are Harlemites Duke Ellington, Bert Williams, Countee Cullen, Charles Gilpin, H. Adolph Howell (a funeral home owner), actress Mae Kemp, Florence Mills, Madam Walker and A’Lelia Walker.
A’Lelia Bundles, Madam Walker’s great-great-granddaughter and biographer, serves on the board of the Friends of Woodlawn Cemetery and is owner of the lot where the Walker women are buried.
From Woodlawn’s news release:“Woodlawn, which will celebrate its 150th anniversary beginning next year, is one of the nation’s finest examples of a 19th-century garden cemetery. It is home to the largest and most distinguished collection of historic mausoleums in the nation, and is a still active cemetery. The designation recognizes its outstanding landscape design and collection of art and architecture. The designation also recognizes Woodlawn’s significant role in memorializing and celebrating prominent Americans, who shaped American history and culture. Since Woodlawn’s founding in 1863, 310,000 people—from Gilded Age magnates to pioneers for women’s rights to Harlem Renaissance writers and musicians, as well as artists, athletes, and ordinary citizens— have been interred on the cemetery’s 400 acres.”
For more information visit our Facebook pages: Madam Walker and A’Lelia Walker Family Archives and A’Lelia Bundles.
Submit your newstip or news photos
Click Here For More
... HW t-shirt and cup...
.. the Harlem Division tee...
...and The Big Apple Harlem photograph, Harlem World Magazine has the classic photos of Harlem. Order Print »
Other jazz greats buried at Woodlawn Cemetery include Miles Davis, William “Sonny” Greer, Lionel Hampton, W.C. Handy, Coleman Hawkins, Milt Jackson, Illinois Jacquet, Joe “King” Oliver, Ada “Bricktop” Smith, Arthur Whetsol, and Charles “Cootie” Williams.
Pingback: “Talking Business With Madame C. J. Walker Manufacturing Co.” « ASWIFTT RADIO's Blog
I am a 13 year old doing research on Madam C.J. Walker for a hitosry competiton. I read your book On Her Own Ground and I would love to get all the information on her as possible. I would love to know when and where you are going to be giving any upcoming speeches. Your book gave me most of the information for my ressearch. I would love to know more, and thank you for all that you do Ms. Bundles.
Thank You for the info.. I also thought she inntveed the hot comb. Wow I learn something new everyday text books only tell you soo much! My daughter is six and is doing a Biography, and we chose Madam C.J. Walker! We enjoyed Learning her. =)