English: Biography: Margaret Cardozo Holmes has contributed her artistic talent and scientific curiosity to the development of Cardozo Sisters Hairstylists, founded by her sister, Elizabeth Cardozo Barker, in 1928. She first learned about working with hair as a child in her grandmother's prosperous beauty shop in Atlantic City and was influenced by her aunt, the noted sculptress, Meta Warrick Fuller, who wished to adopt her and train her as an artist. In becoming a hair stylist she found an outlet for her talents. With her knowledge of the chemistry of hair, she has helped manufacturers develop new products for relaxing hair. She worked with her sisters to make Cardozo Sisters one of the most successful beauty shops in Washington, D.C., known for its ability to care for and style all types of hair. Her high standards for the employees raised the shop to a professional level unusual for the industry in the 1930s. In charge of personnel for the shop, she offered rehabilitation, training, and jobs for Black women who could not take full-time jobs. Mrs. Holmes is married to Eugene Clay Holmes, who was a professor of philosophy at Howard University.

Description: The Black Women Oral History Project interviewed 72 African American women between 1976 and 1981. With support from the Schlesinger Library, the project recorded a cross section of women who had made significant contributions to American society during the first half of the 20th century. Photograph taken by Judith Sedwick
Repository: Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America.
Collection: Black Women Oral History Project
Research Guide: http://guides.library.harvard.edu/schlesinger_bwohp

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