Chicago made history on March 29, 2025, with the groundbreaking of the BSCP Ladies Auxiliary Women’s History Museum at 10432 S. Maryland Ave. Located near the National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum, this will be the first museum dedicated to the Ladies Auxiliary of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP). The event was led by Alderman Stephanie D. Coleman, President of the City of Chicago’s Black Caucus, and museum founder Dr. Lyn Hughes.
Founded in 1925, the BSCP was the first African American labor union to gain a charter from the American Federation of Labor, advocating for fair wages and better working conditions. While the union’s male members are well known, the contributions of the Ladies Auxiliary have largely been overlooked—until now. This museum will highlight their impact and honor figures like Shirley Chisholm and Madame C.J. Walker.
This initiative adds to Chicago’s rich women’s history institutions, including the Chicago Women’s History Center, which has documented women’s contributions since 1971.
Chicago continues to recognize and uplift the legacies of women in labor and civil rights. Stay tuned as this museum brings long-overdue recognition to these unsung heroines.
