Mae Reeves used show stopping hats to fuel the commitment of voters and black entrepreneurship

Lula “Mae” Reeves, considered one of the primary black women in Philly too own your individual businessCreated unique and individual hats for celebrities, socialities, specialists and church women in the town center of Philadelphia for over 50 years.

She made hats for day by day wear, hats for special occasions and Spray “ShowstoppersAs she called her. Her outstanding customers included Eartha Kitt, Marian Anderson, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald and members of the Du Pont and Annenberg families.

I’m a Museum specialist within the National Museum of African -American history and culture on the Smithsonian Institution and expert for costumes, textiles and Millinery fashion.

In 2009 I used to be asked to go to Maes Millinery, her former shop in 41 N. sixtieth St. in West Philadelphia, to pick objects for a brand new one Permanent exhibition within the Smithsonian, the Reeves' shop and presented a few of her breathtaking designs.

I also met Reeves in a nursing home in Darby, Pennsylvania for the primary time that day. She was 96 years old.

A number of years later I returned to Philadelphia to participate within the celebration of Reeves' one hundredth birthday. During this visit, I learned to my surprise and intrigue that Reeves also used her Millinery shop as a polling station.

Black velvet turban exhibited

During my first meeting with Reeves, she shared her memory of the primary hat she created after she opened her sixtieth street business, a beautifully decorated business in 1941. Her original Millinery shop was within the 1630 South St., and lots of of her famous customers followed her to the brand new location in West Philadelphia.

Reeves remembered making a black velvet turban that she put within the window. A young woman passed from work on the best way home and was thrilled. The woman returned to try it on and visualized me, as Reeves told me, the impressive fashionable statement she would do. She bought the turban for about $ 20 – about $ 430 into today's dollar.

To open her West Philly Millinery Store, Reeves had secured a business loan of 500 US dollars in 1940 Citizens and Southern Bank and trust. The bank in black ownership was suitable for the African American community in Philadelphia, as most white banks refused to purchase money to black customers.

Reeves was proud to inform me how she had losing the loan all alone-with a co-signer-assured by maintaining the fame of a “good reputation” and solid business plans. She was also very proud that she “repaid the entire loan”.

From Millinery Shop to the polling station

In order to change to a polling station to their millinerie shop, Reeves told me that she and her second husband Joel Reeves, who sold newspaper advertisements, would remove the attractive furniture and ornamental items to soak up the polling station machines.

In order to exceed the designated polling stations, the few manuals and slopes of posters distributed throughout the neighborhood. Reeves offered politicians who checked out and cake for voters. She desired to create a secure and welcoming polling station and at the identical time underlines the importance that Black Philadelphians exercise their right to vote.

Reeves was also an extended -time member of the Freedom Day AssociationA gaggle founded in Philadelphia in 1941 to make sure younger African Americans Understand the meaning of the thirteenth change that slavery has abolished; the 14th change that grants residents born or naturalized people within the USA; And the fifteenth change that prohibits to refuse the precise of a citizen as a consequence of breed, color or earlier conditions of the bondage.

The association was offered this loan of 500 US dollars by Maj. Richard Robert Wright Sr., a former Paymaster, educator, politician, civil rights lawyer and founding father of the residents and founders of the residents and the Southern Bank – the bank offered in May. Reeves admired Wright, who was born in slavery, and viewed him as an in depth friend and business partner. She endured a replica of his portrait photo in her Millinery Shop.

Grill and beach trips

In March 2025 I spoke to Reeves' daughter Donna Limerick by phone. She told me that Reeves was a member and president of the sixtieth Street Business Association, which promoted good business practices, joint marketing strategies and promoted the support of other firms within the association.

Reeves was also energetic within the National Association for Fashion and Accessoire designersA black trading group that’s sponsored by the National Council of Negro women. The purpose of the group was to advertise black women in the style industry by developing their business skills and promoting cooperation and accessing mainstream fashion. The Philadelphia Chapter was formed in 1950.

Despite her many skilled and bourgeois obligations, Reeves also took care of those that are closest to her. Limerick informed me how her parents would bring children within the neighborhood to their summer house in Mizpah, New Jersey. They put the youngsters with delicious homemade meals and desserts, organized regular barbecues and beach trips and broke the youngsters to fishing.

Reeves Died in 2016 At the age of 104. I hope her story encourages others – as she encouraged me – brave enough to dream; To be hardworking enough to comprehend your dreams; Make sure to support your community; be an individual of grace; And to watch out, at all times to be expected, search and provides joy.