2-832-533 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Pair of arm length rayon knit dark purple gloves. The gloves are seamed down the exterior side and around the fingers. Each glove has an opening at the wrist that closes with two (2) pearlized purple glass buttons each. A manufacturer's label is sewn to the seam at the interior opening of the left glove that reads "Van Raalte Co. Inc. / RAYON 7 1/2 / MADE IN U.S.A." in blue embroidered text. 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.