#freddye scarborough henderson

[boricuacherry-blog]

From boutique owner to Fashion Editor

Pictured: Freddye Scarborough Henderson with clients at Henderson Travel Service in Atlanta during its early years

The first Black travel agency flourishes, overcoming challenges

When her parents retired in 1989, Henderson's daughter Gaynelle decided to open a branch of Henderson Travel in Washington, D.C. They closed the Atlanta agency, and Gaynelle carried on the Henderson name, running a federal government contracting division and leisure travel division from Washington.

"The name really is a significant brand," she said. "Not only in the African-American community, but we're recognized in West African countries, as well, in a very important way as having really built a commercial bridge between America and Africa [then known as 'the Dark Continent'] that did not exist before."

Pictured: Gaynelle Henderson, on safari in Kenya

And in the 1950s, it was far from easy for a Black woman in the American South to get the proper accreditations to issue airline tickets and operate a travel agency. Based on Freddye Scarborough Henderson's handwritten notes, kept by her daughter Gaynelle, a bit of luck was on her side. Thanks to a more masculine sounding first name, and the English-sounding Scarborough, Freddye believed that issuing authorities thought she was a white man.

[lboogie1906]

Freddye Scarborough Henderson (February 18, 1917 - January 19, 2007) entrepreneur, columnist, and educator, was born in Franklinton, Louisiana. She earned a BS in Home Economics from Southern University. She married Jacob Robert Henderson (1941). She continued her educational pursuits, becoming the first African American to earn an MS in fashion merchandising from New York University.

She opened a custom dress store in Atlanta. She operated the store until 1950 when she became an associate professor of applied art and clothing at Spelman College. She held an adjunct position during the summer months at Atlanta University. She became fashion editor for the Associated Negro Press.

She and her husband opened Henderson Travel Service in Atlanta, the first Black-owned travel agency in the Southeast and the first accredited Black travel service in the country.

Some of her early clients included Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and members of his Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Her professional relationship with King gained her trust and popularity in the national Black community.

Her company pioneered African American travel to Africa. Although commercial airlines refused to travel to Africa, her agency chartered airplanes, sending thousands of Black tourists to West African countries like Ghana.

In 1951 the Atlanta Daily World honored her for her promotion of overseas travel. Iota Phi Lambda Sorority selected her as Woman of the Year, and the National Association of Fashion and Accessory Design recognized her as a “fashionista” in the industry.

She left behind three children. Her husband and one child had preceded her in death. Her daughter continues her mother’s legacy as the owner of Henderson Associates/Henderson Travel Service in DC. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[lboogie1906]

Freddye Scarborough Henderson (February 18, 1917 - January 19, 2007) entrepreneur, columnist, and educator, was born in Franklinton, Louisiana. She earned a BS in Home Economics from Southern University. She married Jacob Robert Henderson (1941). She continued her educational pursuits, becoming the first African American to earn an MS in fashion merchandising from New York University.

She opened a custom dress store in Atlanta. She operated the store until 1950 when she became an associate professor of applied art and clothing at Spelman College. She held an adjunct position during the summer months at Atlanta University. She became fashion editor for the Associated Negro Press.

She and her husband opened Henderson Travel Service in Atlanta, the first Black-owned travel agency in the Southeast and the first accredited Black travel service in the country.

Some of her early clients included Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and members of his Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Her professional relationship with King gained her trust and popularity in the national Black community.

Her company pioneered African American travel to Africa. Although commercial airlines refused to travel to Africa, her agency chartered airplanes, sending thousands of Black tourists to West African countries like Ghana.

In 1951 the Atlanta Daily World honored her for her promotion of overseas travel. Iota Phi Lambda Sorority selected her as Woman of the Year, and the National Association of Fashion and Accessory Design recognized her as a “fashionista” in the industry.

She left behind three children. Her husband and one child had preceded her in death. Her daughter continues her mother’s legacy as the owner of Henderson Associates/Henderson Travel Service in DC. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence