My History...with History

About the Archivist

My name is Elio Singer, and I am the web designer, curator, and archivist of the Michael Gladden Jr. Collection. Everything featured and hosted on this site has been entirely collected, curated, and created by me. All digitized scans were produced with the direct permission and under the supervision of my mentor, the legendary Black community historian Ms. Francina Boykin.

I began my career in museums and archives at the age of 14, inspired by a lifelong love of history. My first in-field position was as a costumed docent at the George Chamberlain House, a Victorian-era historic home nestled along the winding roads of Oak Ridge, New Jersey. During my time there, I learned how to lead guided tours, answer historical questions about both the property and the surrounding area, assist the curator with exhibit planning and design, and begin organizing a physical archive.

After relocating to Central Florida in 2021, I took on my next role with the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, where I served as an archives, web design, and social media intern, working directly alongside the director and curator. My time at WGHF introduced me to the inner workings of the field and provided a strong foundation in professional archival organization, PastPerfect museum software, collections strategy, and exhibit curation.

Since May 2025, I have worked as an undergraduate researcher with the Apopka Historical Board under the guidance of Ms. Francina Boykin. I am forever grateful to Dr. Scot French of the UCF Department of History for pushing me headfirst into this project which will forever define and inspire my research. Presently, my focus in history examines Apopka, Florida’s Black community during the 20th century and explores broader patterns of safekeeping of material, social, and cultural resources within Black American communities. The website you are currently visiting represents my ongoing research project on the life and legacy of Michael Gladden Jr., Apopka’s most prominent Black businessman, Civil Rights activist, and citizen archivist.

Michael Gladden Jr. held many roles during his lifetime, including those of a grocer, landowner, and loyal intermediary. However, it is his role as a citizen archivist, particularly as reflected in the Gladden Collection, that ultimately shines through. By storing the personal stories of his beloved community in his store vault, Michael Gladden Jr. not only cemented his legacy but that of the people he interacted with every time Gladden’s Groceries opened its doors. Michael Gladden Jr.’s life was based on repetition and reputation. While some institutions would view the Gladden Collection’s receipts as redundant, one can only begin to understand this mosaic of a man by piecing together these reliable accounts of his daily life. With this archive, I can only hope to provide a glimpse into the material legacy Michael Gladden Jr. so carefully preserved, trusting the future to shed light on the Apopka he lived in and the community he loved.