12. She Continues to Be Recognized for Her Accomplishments
Madam C. J. Walker died in 1919 at 51 years of age from hypertension and kidney issues. Her legacy is remembered through many historic preservations and tributes. Her papers and writings are preserved at the Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis. Two of her homes are part of the National Register of Historic Places. Her New York home, Villa Lewo, was placed on the registry in 1976 and is privately owned. Her Indianapolis factory, which was converted to a theatre center in the 1920s, was placed on the registry in 1980.
In 2006, Black playwright and director Regina Taylor wrote a play on Walker called The Dreams of Sarah Breedlove. It premiered at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Walker was posthumously inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993. She was also commemorated with a United States Postal Service Stamp in 1998 as part of its Black Heritage series.
Many scholarships are given to Black women in honor of Madam Walker and her legacy. The National Coalition of 100 Black Women has an annual luncheon in honor of Walker and awards scholarships in her honor. The Spirit Awards help fund the Indianapolis theatre named after her, and also give out awards in recognition of entrepreneurship, philanthropic work, civic engagement, and the arts.