In Guam in the 1930s, modern women went to Margaret's Beauty Shop to have their hair done.
In Chamorro, they were "ma Margaret."
Margaret, on left, and her mother, Agueda Iglesias Johnston
The Margaret in question was Margaret Johnston, the daughter of William and Agueda Johnston. Sometime in the early 1930s, Margaret went off to Manila to take beauty classes at the Aguinaldo Institute of Hair Science, which was part of the huge and posh Aguinaldo Department Store.
The Aguinaldo Department Store in Manila
Then she took more classes at the American School of Beauty Culture and worked as a hair dresser at the Real Art Beauty Shop on Dewey Avenue (now Roxas Boulevard), near the Army and Navy Club.
Dewey Avenue in Manila when Margaret was studying there in the 1930s
Returning to Guam, she opened her beauty shop on July 2, 1934 in the refurbished quarters of the old Scorpion's Club House, west of the Officers' Club in Hagåtña.
Margaret was my Mother. What a wonderful article. I was not aware of the history of her Beauty Shop on Guam. Thank you so much for posting.
ReplyDeleteWell, this is a shot in the dark, but so believe your mother, Margaret was my mother’s godmother. Their mother’s Emelia Long and Aqueda Johnston were friends on Guam and in CA. My mother is Betty Long Burkhart. She was born in Guam I’m 1929. She will be 90 next month! My name is Barb and I live in Florida. Just thought it was cool! I can be contacted at bzbabz58@gmail.com.
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