Pauline Brown Humphrey facts for kids

Pauline Brown Humphrey (born Pauline Robinson; 1906 – 1993) was an amazing American cosmetologist. She was a pioneer who created her own beauty school, a line of beauty products, and even a chain of beauty stores in Iowa. Pauline also opened a special beauty shop for African American women serving in the Women's Army Corps. She helped many students learn about cosmetology, and her graduates found jobs in beauty shops all over the United States.

Early Life and Education

Pauline was born in 1906 in Des Moines, Iowa. Her birth name was Myrise Pauline Robinson. Her parents were Myrise and Eliza Robinson. When she was young, her parents divorced, so her grandparents, Julia and Frank Diggs, raised her. Her mother would visit her at their home.

Pauline started school at age four because her grandparents were busy working. In 1922, she graduated from East High School. She then went to the University of Iowa to study physical education. However, she had to stop attending classes when her grandparents could no longer pay for her tuition.

After divorcing her first husband, William Brown, Pauline wanted to go to cosmetology school. But no schools in Iowa would accept her because she was African American. So, she moved to Chicago, Illinois with her daughter, Barbara. From 1934 to 1935, Pauline attended a cosmetology school run by the famous Madam C. J. Walker. There, she learned special techniques to help African American women with their hair and beauty.

Starting Her Career

In 1936, Pauline returned to Des Moines. She opened a beauty shop to save money to start her own school. She also attended the Fort Dodge Beauty Academy for nine months. During this time, she worked on the hair of both Black and white women. Even though one white woman was unhappy with her hair during Pauline's final exam, the examiners still certified her as a teacher.

On February 2, 1939, Pauline founded the Crescent School of Beauty Culture in Des Moines. It was tough to start a business because of her race and gender. But she became one of the few women to sell beauty products in Iowa for both women and men. She created her own line of beauty products, which included items like lipstick, mascara, and cologne. Pauline was the first African American woman to own a cosmetology school in Iowa. She was also the first certified African American cosmetology teacher in the state.

Helping Others Learn

Pauline sponsored special programs like "Copper Colored Review" and "Bronze Spotlight." She worked with other African American salon owners to teach students how to style hair, do manicures, and other beauty skills. Her students went on to work in salons across the United States.

Pauline also started a chain of beauty shops in Iowa. In 1944, she married Major Humphrey, who helped her manage her growing businesses. In 1943, she opened a beauty shop specifically for African American women in the Women's Army Corps at Fort Des Moines.

Sadly, her school closed in 1985 because the city took over the land. After this, Pauline's health began to decline, and her businesses eventually closed.

Later Life and Legacy

Pauline Brown Humphrey passed away in March 1993. In an interview from the 1990s, her daughter Barbara Brown James shared what her mother taught her. Barbara said, "The biggest thing she wanted to do with me was to make sure that I was an independent woman, who could take care of myself, who was educated, and who was able to make a life for myself." From her mother, Barbara learned to "Enjoy it, and savor it, and push yourself to make things better for other people."