Lula “Mae” Reeves, one among the primary black women in Philly have your individual companyHe created unique hats and non -standard hats for celebrities, comrades, professionals and a church in the middle of Philadelphia for Over 50 years.
She made hats for on a regular basis wearing, hats for special occasions and Wonderful “Showstoppers“, As she called them. Her celebrities were Earth Kitt, Marian Anderson, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald and members of the family of Du Pont and Annenberg.
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture/Gift from Mae Reeves and its children Donna Limerick and William Minkcey, Jr.
I’m Museum specialist At the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the Smithsonian Institution and an authority in the sphere of costumes, textiles and mill fashion.
In 2009 I used to be called to visit Mae’s Milliner, her former store at 41 N. sixtieth St. Permanent exhibition In Smithsonian, which plays the Reeves store and presents a few of its stunning projects.
For the primary time I met Reeves personally on the Darby Nursing Home, Pennsylvania that day. She was 96 years old.
Just a few years later I returned to Philadelphia to participate within the a hundredth birthday of Reeves. To the surprise and intriguing, I learned that in this visit Reeves also used her Milliner store as an election station.
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture/Gift from Mae Reeves and its children Donna Limerick and William Minkcey, Jr.
Black Velvet Turban on the exhibition
During my first meeting with Reeves, she shared the memory of the primary hat, which she created after opening her sixtieth Street store, a beautifully decorated store in 1941. Her original Milliner store was at 1630 South St., and a lot of her famous customers followed her to a brand new location in West Philadelphia.
Reeves remembered that he created a black velvet turban she placed within the window. The young woman went home from work and was fascinated. The woman got here back to try him out and, Reeves told me, visualized a powerful fashion statement. She bought a turban for around $ 20 – about USD 430 in today’s dollars.
To open its West Philly Millinery store, Reeves secured a business loan of USD 500 in 1940 Citizens and southern bank and trust. The bank that has a black bank satisfied the African -American community in Philadelphia, because a lot of the Banks belonging to the White, refused to loans to black customers.
Reeves was pleased with how she herself secured a signed loan herself-maintaining the repute of “good opinion” and having solid business plans. She was also very proud that “she repaid the entire loan.”
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture/Gift from Mae Reeves and its children Donna Limerick and William Minkcey, Jr.
From the miller’s store to the election station
To move her Milliner store to the election station, Reeves told me that she and her second husband, Joel Reeves, who sold advertisements in newspapers, remove beautiful furniture and decorative items to accommodate voting machines.
To discover concerning the designated election station, the couple spread manual manual and hung posters throughout the realm. Reeves offered food plate politicians who stopped and the cake. She wanted to create a protected and hospitable place to pick from, at the identical time emphasizing the importance that black philadelphics perform their right to vote.
Reeves was also an extended -time member Freedom Day AssociationA bunch created in 1941 in Philadelphia to ensure Younger African Americans Understand the importance of the thirteenth amendment that has lifted slavery; 14. Amendment that gives citizenship to all people born or naturalized within the USA; and 15. Amendment that prohibits the refusal of residents’ right to vote due to race, color or previous easement.
The association was founded by Major Richard Robert Wright Sr., a former American army payer, pedagogue, politician, citizenship lawyer and founding father of residents and southern bank – a bank who offered a May loan of USD 500. Reeves admired Wright, who was born in slavery, and considered him an in depth friend and business colleague. In her Milliner store she kept a replica of his portrait photo.
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture/Gift from Mae Reeves and its children Donna Limerick and William Minkcey, Jr.
Grilling and beach tours
In March 2025 I talked by phone with Reeves, Donna Limerick. She told me that Reeves was a member and president of sixtieth Street Business Association, who promoted good business practices, divided marketing strategies and encouraged to support other corporations within the association.
Reeves was also energetic in National Association of fashion designers and accessoriesA black industrial group sponsored by the National Council of Negroes. The group’s goal was to promote black women in the style industry by developing their business skills and support cooperation and access to mainstream fashion. . The philadelphia chapter was founded in 1950.
Despite many skilled and civic obligations, Reeves also took care of his family members. Limerick shared with me when her parents took children from the neighborhood to the summer home in Mizpah, New Jersey. They would lean children with delicious homemade meals and desserts, organize regular barbecue and trips on the beach and teach children fishing.
Reeves He died in 2016 At the age of 104. I hope that her story encourages others – just as she encouraged me – to be brave enough to dream; be conscientious enough to make your dreams come true; Be careful to support your community; be an individual of grace; And watch out to all the time expect, look and give joy.
