Skip to content

Museum object · Time-based Media - Audio

Two Dollars and a Dream

1987

Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America

COLLECTION RECORDImage not availableExplore the catalog description and source record.
Visit the source record ↗

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A documentary film with the title Two Dollars and a Dream. It consists of a single reel of color 16mm polyester film with optical sound. Through the use of archival still photographs, interviews, and voiceover narration, the documentary tells the tale of Madam C. J. Walker’s rise to prominence as America's first self-made female millionaire. The documentary opens with a discussion of Walker's early life as a child of slaves who was married at fourteen and widowed by the time she turned twenty (20) years old. Other topics discussed in the film include the creation of the Walker Company; Mrs.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2017.55.87.1a

Continue exploring Series 1

Arts, Music & Culture →Civil Rights & Public Life →Business & Enterprise →Everyday Life & Community →

Explore all Series 1 cards →