Christiana Carteaux Bannister

Biography

Christiana Carteaux Bannister was a seamstress, entrepreneur, and community organizer whose Providence salon became a gathering place for families who sought both beauty and solidarity during a stormy century. Born to free parents in 1819, she used her artistry to create more than fashionable garments, opening her doors to discussions about liberty and equality and sharing resources with women who were striving to support their households.

Her commitment to justice extended beyond her craft; she welcomed formerly enslaved people to Providence, worked with abolitionists, and lent her voice to the movements that pressed for suffrage and access to education. Even in the later years of her life, she remained a pillar of the African American community, generous with her time, her home, and her wisdom.