Annie Turnbo (Malone) was born in 1877 on a farm near Metropolis, Illinois, a city on the Ohio River just north of Paducah, Kentucky. Her parents were former slaves. During her childhood she accompanied her aunt, an “herb doctor,” as she gathered ingredients. This knowledge came in handy as Malone developed her hair care products. She is credited as the first Black woman to become a millionaire.
Turnbo went to elementary school in Metropolis, but after her parents died, she moved to Peoria to live with her sister Amy. In the early 1900s, she developed products that African American could use that wouldn’t damage their hair. “Wonderful Hair Grower” was her first product and she sold it door-to-door and through the mail. After some success she and a few of her siblings moved to the St. Louis area and her products took off in the African American community. In 1902 she opened a shop on Market Street in St. Louis. One of her saleswomen was Sarah Breedlove Davis who was known later as Madam C. J. Walker. Davis later left the company and began a rival company.
In 1914, Annie Turnbo married Aaron Eugene Malone. Her husband joined her in the business. “Poro” became the brand name Malone used to copyright her products.
Broad Ax (Salt Lake City, UT), December 4, 1920
She built Poro College in 1918. It was a cosmetology school and community center. But it was also a manufacturing facility, retail store, dormitory, gymnasium, chapel, bakery, and office space. There was a rooftop garden and a 500-seat auditorium. In 1920, it had a millinery store, ice cream parlor, confectionery shop, barber shop and tailor shop. At its height there were about 200 employees keeping it running. Moreover, it was a social and cultural center for St. Louis’ African American community.
Annie Malone was a philanthropist and supported many organizations including the Black Y.M.C.A. in St. Louis and Howard University’s College of Medicine. She served as President of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Colored Orphans Home from 1919-43. In 1922, she helped the organization purchase a facility at 2612 Goode Avenue. The street was renamed Annie Malone Drive in 1986 and the Orphans Home she helped build is the Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center’s administration building.
In 1946, the home became the Annie Turnbo Malone Home
Malone was an Honorary Member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. The newspaper article below recapped the talk that Malone made to the sixth annual Boule (convention) in 1926. Howard University, the sorority’s founding institution, conferred an Honorary Degree upon Malone.
California Eagle (Los Angeles, CA), January 29, 1926
In 1927, Malone’s husband filed for divorce and demanded half the business. Poro College went into receivership. Although Malone was able to negotiate a settlement, it still left her in a precarious financial state. And the publicity hurt Poro’s wholesome image. She moved the business to Chicago into a former branch headquarters. During the Depression, additional tax problems and lawsuits chipped away at her fortune.
Malone died on May 10, 1957 at the age of 79.
