Eunice W. Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eunice W. Johnson
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Johnson photographed in her office at Johnson Publishing Company in Chicago, circa 1975.
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Eunice Walker
April 4, 1916 Selma, Alabama, U.S.
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| Died | January 3, 2010 (aged 93) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Resting place | Oak Woods Cemetery (Chicago, Illinois) |
| Education | B.A. Talladega College |
| Alma mater | Loyola University Chicago |
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| Years active | 1942–2008 |
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Notable credit(s)
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| Title | Founder and director of the Ebony Fashion Fair |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
Eunice Walker Johnson (born April 4, 1916 – died January 3, 2010) was an important American businesswoman. She was married to John H. Johnson, a famous publisher. Eunice was also a top leader at their company, Johnson Publishing Company. She created and led the Ebony Fashion Fair. This fashion show started in 1958 to raise money for a hospital. It grew into a big yearly fashion tour around the world. The show proudly featured fashion for African-American women. It ran every year until shortly before her death.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Eunice Walker was born on April 4, 1916. Her hometown was Selma, Alabama. Her father, Nathaniel Walker, was a doctor. Her mother, Ethel Walker, was a high school principal. Eunice was one of four children in her family.
She went to Talladega College. In 1938, she earned a degree in sociology. While in college, Eunice joined the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. In 1940, she met her future husband, John H. Johnson. This was while she was studying at Loyola University Chicago. They got married the next year, after she earned her master's degree.
A Career in Publishing
Starting Johnson Publishing Company
Eunice and her husband worked together. In 1942, they started The Negro Digest. This magazine was like Reader's Digest. Their first magazine quickly became popular. This success encouraged them to create Ebony.
Ebony was a monthly magazine. It was designed to be like Life magazine. It featured bold photographs on its front covers. It was Eunice Johnson who suggested the name Ebony. She chose it because of the dark wood. By the time she passed away, Ebony had many readers. About 1.25 million people read it. Its weekly sister magazine, Jet, had 900,000 readers. Eunice Johnson greatly inspired many African Americans.
Ebony Fashion Fair and Cosmetics
In 1958, Eunice Johnson started the Ebony Fashion Tour. It later became known as the Ebony Fashion Fair. It began as a way to raise money for a hospital in New Orleans. Over 50 years, the tour visited 200 cities. These cities were in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. The fashion shows raised over $50 million for charity.
The fashion tour was a pioneer. It was one of the first to use African-American models on the runway. It also helped show off the work of African-American designers. Eunice found it hard to find makeup for her models' skin tones. So, in 1973, she created Fashion Fair Cosmetics. This makeup line was sold in major department stores.
Later Life and Legacy
Eunice Johnson passed away on January 3, 2010. She was 93 years old. She died from kidney failure at her home in Chicago. She was buried with her husband. Their private family mausoleum is at Oak Woods Cemetery. This cemetery is in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood. It is on Chicago's South Side.
She was survived by her daughter, Linda Johnson-Rice. Linda became the chairwoman and chief executive of Johnson Publishing. Eunice also had a granddaughter. Her son, John H. Johnson Jr., died earlier. He passed away in December 1981 at age 25. He had battled an illness related to sickle cell.
In 2010, a new school opened in Chicago. It was named Johnson College Prep High School. This public charter high school is in the Englewood neighborhood. It honors both Eunice Johnson and her husband, John H. Johnson.
