2-833-312 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Electric hot combs were used to shape, style, and straighten hair. With few jobs open to them, hundreds of thousands of African-American women became beauticians and opened salons. The items in this collection belonged to Edna Stevens McIntyre (May 22, 1917-). She was born in Washington, DC but relocated to Duquesne, PA at the age of 7 or 8 after her mother died. She was raised by a paternal aunt, Ida Stevens Johnson. Edna McIntyre is the aunt of the donor, Linda Crichlow White.