Great Beautiful Black Women project was sponsored by Johnson Products Company, a hair care and beauty company in Chicago Illinois founded by Mr. and Mrs. George Johnson. The project commemorated the 25th anniversary of company. Mr. Johnson commissioned artist, Paul Collins, to do portraits of great beautiful black women. The women were selected by a blue ribbon committee. The portraits traveled the country, appearing in major cultural institutions and a booklet was written with biographies on the women. Hermene Hartman was the coordinator of the project. Two books were done, one with poems and the other with biographies. The booklet was distributed in schools to note the achievements of the great women.

This new release is a combination of the two booklets done in 1978 to commemorate the Great Beautiful Black Women Project.