Born: 1887, United States (assumed)
Died: 1957
Country most active: United States
Also known as: NA
The following is republished from New Jersey Women’s History, in line with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Cordelia Greene Johnson (1887-1957) founded the Modern Beautician Association and served as its president until her death.
In this professional role, Madame Johnson (as she was affectionately called) became an outspoken advocate for the local beautician community. Johnson lobbied for better training, safer products, and increased sanitary conditions in beauty shops. These efforts resulted in politicians to consider the black community in the writing of related legislation. It also ensured that a black individual would become a member of the State Beauty Control Board to oversee the enacted law.
Throughout her career, Johnson also engaged in various lobbying efforts on behalf of the New Jersey Women’s Suffrage League. Her talents were admired by state Republican political leader Dr. George E. Cannon. He enlisted Johnson to embark on a speaking tour in support of presidential candidate Calvin Coolidge. Johnson served as President of the NAACP’s Jersey City branch and was a member of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, the National Council of Negro Women, and the Federation of Colored Women’s Club.
References
Smith, Jessie Carney, and Shirelle Phelps. 1992. Notable Black American women. Detroit: Gale Research. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/24468213
Burstyn, Joan N. 1990. “Cordelia Thomas Greene Johnson”. Past and Promise, Lives of New Jersey Women. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/54795034
Additional Resources
James Edward T Janet Wilson James Paul S Boyer and Radcliffe College. 1971. Notable American Women 1607-1950 : A Biographical Dictionary. Cambridge Mass: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. http://www.credoreference.com/book/hupnawi.