Mae Reeves used showstopping hats to fuel voter engagement and Black entrepreneurship

Mae Reeves was the creative and business force behind Mae’s Millinery, a pioneering boutique near the corner of 60th and Market streets in Philadelphia.

By: Reneé S. Anderson, Smithsonian Institution, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 1, 2026

Words: 1,059

Last Updated: 1 week, 3 days ago

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By Reneé S. Anderson, Smithsonian Institution

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 …

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