Meet Geraldine Lane Mardis: A Hands-on Beauty Workshop

On Tuesday, October 6, from 4:30 to 5:30 PM, the Pullman branch hosts a workshop that pairs local history with a practical skill. The session explores the story of Geraldine Lane Mardis, a Parker High School and University of Chicago graduate who was asked to withdraw from a 1939 college beauty contest, and uses her experience as a springboard for a conversation about evolving beauty standards. Esthetician LaGena Cain then leads hands-on practice with accentuating natural beauty. Part of the Renaissance Project at Chicago Public Library, the event draws on the library's archives to bring untold Black history stories to life.