Mae Reeves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mae Reeves
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Reeves and her husband Joel pose with her hats at Mae's Millinery in Philadelphia, circa 1953.
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| Born | October 29, 1912 Vidalia, Georgia, USA
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| Died | December 14, 2016 (aged 104) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Georgia State Teacher's College |
| Occupation | Milliner |
| Known for | Mae's Millinery Shop, one of the first shops in downtown Philadelphia to be owned by a woman of African American heritage. |
| Awards | Pioneer award; "Hat's Off to Mae Day" recognition by the City of Philadelphia. |
Mae Reeves (born October 29, 1912 – died December 14, 2016) was a very talented hat maker, also known as a milliner. She was famous for making special, custom-made hats. She worked as a hat maker for many years, from 1940 until 1997.
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Early Life and Learning
Mae Reeves was born Lula Mae Grant on October 29, 1912, in Vidalia, Georgia. She was the second of six children.
When she was 16, Mae went to Georgia State Teacher's College in Savannah. After she finished her studies, she became a teacher in Lyons, Georgia. She also wrote articles for the Savannah Tribune newspaper about school and church events. During her summer breaks from teaching, Mae went to the Chicago School of Millinery. There, she learned how to create unique, handmade hats.
Opening Her Own Hat Shop
In 1934, Mae Reeves moved to Philadelphia and started working at a women's clothing store. She made many hats there, but her big dream was to open her own hat shop. In 1942, she made that dream come true!
Mae got a $500 loan from a bank. At 28 years old, she opened "Mae's Millinery Shop" at 1630 South Street. This was a big deal because she became one of the first African American women to own her own business in downtown Philadelphia.
Many famous people bought hats from Mae. These included singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, and Eartha Kitt, and opera star Marian Anderson. Important families like the DuPonts also bought her hats. Women from all kinds of jobs and churches loved to buy her custom-made hats too. Mae even traveled to New York City and Paris to find the best materials for her special hats.
In 1953, Mae opened a second shop. She kept making hats until 1997, when she was 85 years old. After her shop closed, Mae's daughter, Donna Limerick, arranged for many items from the shop to be given to the Smithsonian museum.
Community and Groups
Mae and her husband, Joel, were part of Our Lady of the Rosary Church for 40 years. Mae was also a member of several groups, including the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus and the NAACP. She even led the 60th Street Business Association.
Special Awards and Recognition
The city of Philadelphia honored Mae Reeves in a big way. On July 27, 2010, they declared it "Hats Off to Mae Day"! Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter gave her the special Philadelphia Liberty Bell prize. This celebration was held at the African American Museum of Philadelphia.
Mae also received the "Pioneer" award on her 98th birthday, October 29, 2010. This award was from the Philadelphia Multicultural Affairs Congress.
Mae Reeves at the Smithsonian
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture received many of Mae Reeves' vintage hats and antique furniture from her shop in 2009. In 2016, the museum opened with a special exhibit featuring Mae's collection. You can see her original red-neon shop sign, her sewing machine, and her old furniture there.
Family Life
Mae Reeves first married William Mincey, and they had one son, William "Sonny" Mincey, Jr. In 1944, she married Joel Reeves. Joel worked at The Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper and also owned a catering business. Mae and Joel had two children together: Donna Limerick Pitsenberger and Reginald Reeves.
Mae Reeves passed away on December 14, 2016. She had a large family, including nine grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren.
