Lula 'Mae' Reeves, one of the first Black women in Philly to own her own business, created one-of-a-kind and custom hats for celebrities, socialites, professionals and churchgoing women in downtown Philadelphia for over 50 years. She made hats for everyday wear, hats for special occasions, and magnificent 'showstoppers,' as she called them. Her celebrity clients included Eartha Kitt, Marian Anderson, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald and members of the du Pont and Annenberg families. In 2009, I was called upon to visit Mae's Millinery, her former store at 41 N. 60th St. in West Philadelphia, to help select objects for a new permanent exhibition at the Smithsonian that recreates Reeves' shop and showcases some of her stunning designs. A few years later, I returned to Philadelphia to attend Reeves's 100th birthday celebration. It was during that visit that I learned, to my surprise and intrigue, that Reeves had also used her millinery shop as a polling station. During my first meeting with...
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