Title

Samsonite hat box suitcase from Mae's Millinery Shop, 1941-1994. Creator: Samsonite.

Caption

Light brown hard plastic Samsonite hat box suitcase with pale green synthetic fabric lining. The suitcase closes with two (2) metal spring-action latches on either side of the handle. The handle is made from a loop of brown plastic attached to the body of the suitcase with a metal bracket. A metal locking mechanism is above the handle and a metal plaque reading "Samsonite" is below the handle. There are four metal feet on the flat-bottomed edge of the suitcase. 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.

Credit line

Photo12/Heritage Images/Heritage Art

Reference

HRM21A73_363

Model release

NA

Property release

NA

License type

Rights managed

Available size

95,3Mb (1,8Mb) / 19,2in x 19,3in / 5754 x 5792 (300dpi)

Keywords

travel people black fashion shopping shop shops country box museum color dress luggage boxes location century suitcase African American African-American 1940s afro-american Forties United States of America Nineties Colour hatbox 20th century heritage American America USA 1990s decade object united states Reeves cultural heritage Black History Heritage Art hat box National Museum of African American History and Culture NMAAHC Heritage Art Mae's Millinery Shop Mae Reeves Mae luggage Samsonite Samsonite International S.A.