In the segregated South, Cosmetology offered African American women options substantially more desirable than domestic work or field labor.  Franklin Beauty School, located in Houston, Texas is the oldest beauty school in Texas, and is one of the oldest African American businesses in the United States.  The school was founded in 1915 by Nobia A. Franklin in San Antonio, Texas where she styled hair in her home.  As an entrepreneur, with a horse and buggy, she sold self- manufactured hair growth oils, shampoos, pressing creams, skin care products, cosmetics and straightening combs.  By 1917, due to unprecedented growth, she relocated to Houston and opened the Franklin School of Beauty Culture to train black women in hair care.  She taught her students her personal technique in what she called “the Franklin way.” In 1922, as a part of the Great Migration, Franklin and her daughter moved to obtain better opportunities within the large African American community.  Her business grew but there were many competitors including Madame C.J. Walker.

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After Madame Nobia Franklin’s death in 1934, her daughter, Abbie, and son in law James Hudson “J.H.” Jemison maintained the business until they made a decision to move back to Houston permanently in 1935.  J.H. Jemison was a prominent businessman and a tireless civil rights leader in Houston. He substantiated his passion for equal rights when he filed a lawsuit against the city of Houston for not allowing African Americans in city parks and golf courses.  The United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of Jemison in 1954, and this judgement resulted in the desegregation of city parks and golf courses. He encouraged graduates of Franklin Beauty School to establish their own businesses to attain self- sufficiency for their families and to bring economic independence to their communities. 

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Franklin Beauty School has remained a family operated business for four generations and presently has multiple locations with a diverse student population.  Today, the south Houston campus is run by Ronald Jemison Sr., Madame Nobia Franklin’s grandson, and his wife Glenda Jemison, affectionately known as “Mrs. J”. They took over the business in 1971.  The north Houston campus was passed onto Franklin’s great grandson, Ronald Jemison Jr. in 2014, and it was renamed Franklin Institute. It continues to offer traditional cosmetology classes and a barber school which provides graduates in the crossover program to become dual licensed. 

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In 2012, the school was featured nationally in a reality show, “Houston Beauty,” on the Oprah Winfrey Network.  Three years later, in December, 1915, the Franklin Beauty School celebrated its centennial with hundreds of its graduates. Some of the alumni in attendance were, Mrs. Angie Williams, class of 1946, who is the oldest living graduate, and Tina Knowles-Lawson, Grammy winner, Beyoncé Knowles mother, who was a graduate in the 1980s. President Obama sent a letter of recognition to the school for its 100 years of business.  The letter was read by United States Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, who has been a long time and an avid supporter of the school.  

For over a century, the historical Franklin Beauty has been influential socially, culturally and economically in the African American Community. With Madame Nobia Franklin’s vision, and her daughter and son in law’s contributions, Franklin Beauty School has produced tens of thousands of graduates and continues to produce business owners and stellar employees across the country.