On View
Power of Place Gallery
Exhibition
Power of Place
Manufactured by
Singer Corporation, American, founded 1851
Owned by
Reeves, Mae, American, 1912 - 2016
Subject of
Mae's Millinery Shop, American, 1941 - 1994
Date
1956
Medium
metal and wood
Dimensions
H x W x D: 39 1/4 × 24 13/16 × 17 1/16 in., 46 lb. (99.7 × 63 × 43.3 cm, 20.9 kg)
Description
Rectangular light tan wooden table with tapered legs and an electric sewing machine. The legs have metal tips. The front side panel of the table has a grooved rectangular pattern with two drawer pulls attached to it. The proper left side panel has a hinge on the front side to allow the panel to swing out and act as a support for the lid. Two halves of two metal hinges are attached at the proper right side of the table, though the hinged lid for the top is missing. The top of the table has a rectangular piece with round edges that is cut from the top and is hinged. The black Singer brand sewing machine is hinged at the back side so it can be stored underneath the table top. The machine has gold lettering across the horizontal arm that reads "SINGER" and an applied gold-colored ovular metal plate on the upright arm with the company's logo and a rectangular metal plate with the serial number "AM523565". The machine has a light and an electrical box attached to the back of the upright arm. Two electric cords protrude from the electrical box, with one end having a two-pronged plug and the other end having a metal rectangular foot pedal.
Place collected
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Mae's Millinery Shop Collection
Classification
Tools and Equipment-Occupational
Type
sewing machines (equipment)
Topic
Black Enterprise
Business
Labor
Women
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Mae Reeves and her children, Donna Limerick and William Mincey, Jr.
Object number
2013.27.1
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5da926822-6ae1-4c36-99fb-7ec0818a8f0a

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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