Bess Bolden Walcott (1886–1988) was an American educator, librarian, museum curator and activist who helped establish the historical significance of the Tuskegee University.

Recruited by Booker T. Washington to help him coordinate his library and teach science, she remained at the institute until 1962, but continued her service into the 1970s.

Throughout her fifty-four year career at Tuskegee, she organized Washington's library, taught science and English at the institute, served as founder and editor of two of the major campus publications, directed public relations, established the Red Cross chapter, curated the George Washington Carver collection and museum and assisted in Tuskegee being placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In addition to her work at the school, Walcott was an active suffragist and member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, serving in the early 1960s as the national vice president of the organization.

[13] In 1941, during World War II, Walcott became the first African American to serve as an Acting Field Director for the Red Cross.

Her duties in the post required that she oversee aid to returning veterans and assist with training of Red Cross volunteers.

[1] In 1962, Walcott was elected as the national vice president of WILPF and went as the American delegate to the 15th Triennial Congress held in San Francisco.

William Tubman, President of Liberia and namesake of the center, honored her as a knight of the Humane Order of African Redemption.