2-832-518 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

A portion of a makeup pencil with black pigment in a red painted wood pencil. Silver stamped text on the pencil reads: "Maybelline VELVET BLACK U.S.A.". Mae Reeves (1912-2016) was a pioneering African-American milliner who was famous for her custom-made hats. Her business, Mae's Millinery Shop in downtown Philadelphia, was one of the first shops in the city to be owned by a woman of African American heritage.