<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[The Michael Gladden Jr. Digital Archive]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Michael Gladden Jr. Archive]]></description><link>https://www.gladdenarchive.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:42:55 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.gladdenarchive.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Week Twelve: "Radio Ga Ga"]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hello, reader! This week, I went on the air for the very first time! As I mentioned in last week’s blog post, I met Mr. John Perry of the Caribbean Rhythms Radio Network at the Museum of the Military History through my contact, Mr. Louvette Williams. After we enjoyed a long conversation on the subject of Michael Gladden Jr. and my digital archive, Mr. Perry invited me to speak with him on his radio show, “Life Raw &#38; Real.” We subsequently scheduled our conversation for Wednesday, April 1st,...]]></description><link>https://www.gladdenarchive.com/post/week-twelve-radio-ga-ga</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d04a1d40e74dbec401b626</guid><pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 23:51:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6baaff_da3b2da8d438466fb75a7b46ed254023~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Elio Singer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Week Eleven: New Horizons]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hello, reader! My Spring Break was extremely productive, allowing me to grow the Michael Gladden Jr. Digital Archive to a milestone total of 100 object pages! I am extremely proud of the progress I have made over nearly a year on this project. Here’s to another hundred objects to come! Over on the Michael Gladden Jr. Digital Archive, I created the Gladden Document Collection to give all of my miscellaneous documents in the Gladden Collection a proper home. The collection consists of treasures...]]></description><link>https://www.gladdenarchive.com/post/week-eleven-new-horizons</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c6d2ac5ed83abd8bbf4644</guid><pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 21:57:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6baaff_a2ebd70bee69460e91774a86ea3ee909~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Elio Singer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Week Nine: Collections Connections]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hello, reader! After the excitement of the Georgetown History Harvest, I dedicated my time this week to fully completing the Apopka Negro Business League Collection . All 18 records relating to this league from the Gladden Collection are now available to view online! One fascinating artifact from the update of this digital collection is a typewritten document from the Apopka Negro Business League announcing the death of a respected elder, Zack Turk . Zack Turk was the brother of Apopka’s...]]></description><link>https://www.gladdenarchive.com/post/week-nine-collections-connections</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b4779a96363eb43d377096</guid><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 23:10:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6baaff_b9e85f3ae09944aaafb806519befccd1~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Elio Singer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Week Eight: The Georgetown History Harvest]]></title><description><![CDATA[The front façade at historic Hopper Academy, classic red door included. Hello, reader! What a week it has been! To kick off Week Eight, I participated in the highly anticipated Georgetown History Harvest on February 28th, and what an event it was. Seeing Hopper Academy in person was truly no short of magical. The same doors that once greeted Marie Stapler Gladden felt extremely inviting, and I started the day knowing I was in a place with a profound connection to the Gladdens. Inside Hopper...]]></description><link>https://www.gladdenarchive.com/post/week-eight-the-georgetown-history-harvest</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ab68fcb5dd0587334a5565</guid><pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 2026 00:51:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6baaff_6fb2d3597599476096189bd7f3a1e0db~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Elio Singer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Week Seven: Counting Down the "Minutes"]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hello, reader! I am pleased to report that many developments have been made to both the Michael Gladden Jr. Digital Archive and the Gladden Collection as a whole. Here on the website, the archive has officially reached 60 object pages. This week, I established the foundation for both the Joseph Cauley Collection  and the Apopka Negro Business League Collection. Adjusted Service Bonds Check for Joseph Cauley, c. 1936. On the Joseph Cauley Collection page, viewers can explore artifacts related...]]></description><link>https://www.gladdenarchive.com/post/week-seven-counting-down-the-minutes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a2023b3a2716aeb2180c90</guid><pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 22:39:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6baaff_26a298d92a964a06875526bedf7948b1~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_884,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Elio Singer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Week Six: If These "Walls" Could Talk]]></title><description><![CDATA[Three Florida Public Service bills for Michael Gladden Jr., Eva Godfrey, and Ella Walls, c. 1931. Hello, reader! I am excited to report that the Michael Gladden Jr. Digital Archive has surpassed 50 digitized object pages! This week, I established the Ella Walls Collection  on the website, complete with six new objects related to her larger-than-life footprint on Apopka’s history. In her day, Ella Walls was a well-known Black businesswoman and entrepreneur in the Apopka area. After relocating...]]></description><link>https://www.gladdenarchive.com/post/week-six-if-these-walls-could-talk</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6998b760d0665d05ef5450ef</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 22:02:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6baaff_14d0da6297ed424e98525b367ef7d0a9~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Elio Singer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Week Five: Picture Perfect]]></title><description><![CDATA[William Gladden Jr. is pictured hard at work inside his Gladden's Shoe Hospital, c. 1976. Hello, reader! This week, the Michael Gladden Jr. Digital Archive received a very special digital donation. Last week on Friday, Ms. Boykin brought in five original Polaroid photographs revolving around the life of William Gladden Sr in the 1970s. The items were generously donated by Mr. Terrance, who was William “Perrine Slim” Gladden Jr.’s medical aide and friend. Mr. Terrance still lives in the house...]]></description><link>https://www.gladdenarchive.com/post/week-five-picture-perfect</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698e8aa931ffa9c24363130c</guid><pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 02:46:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6baaff_75f88170d3f0433397a1088de0a59e76~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Elio Singer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Week Four: An Epic Account]]></title><description><![CDATA[Michael Gladden Jr.'s 1926 account book. Hello, reader! To kick off this blog, I have exciting news regarding a recent addition to the Gladden Collection. On Monday, I assisted Ms. Boykin with setting up the Museum of the Apopkans’ Black History Month exhibit. Stashed within her tote bag, Ms. Boykin handed me Michael Gladden Jr.’s 1926 account book. Inconspicuously labeled “order book,” this object is definitive proof that Michael Gladden Jr. was a community safekeeper. Within this rarity of...]]></description><link>https://www.gladdenarchive.com/post/week-four-an-epic-account</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69864f89cafaaac48841d9fd</guid><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 23:36:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6baaff_8d30855197eb4825abc80d612c3ed7dd~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Elio Singer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Week Three: Freeze-Frame]]></title><description><![CDATA[A previously undiscovered film negative potentially depicting Michael Gladden Jr. outside of his storefront, c. February of 1927. Hello, reader! Despite no more museum heist madness occurring, this week has been rather thrilling in a different way. While at the Museum of the Apopkans last Friday, Ms. Boykin and I came across a Black history folder that was once compiled by both Marie Stapler Gladden and Mrs. Mildred Board during their time with the Apopka Historical Board. Its contents...]]></description><link>https://www.gladdenarchive.com/post/week-three-freeze-frame</link><guid isPermaLink="false">697bffa5ccf6db790cb180be</guid><pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 15:40:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6baaff_21423645011c4b1895b4484915633d24~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Elio Singer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Week Two: Mission Impossible]]></title><description><![CDATA[A museum support beam victim to the now-infamous crash. RIP! Hello, reader! In the past week, I have boldly gone where no UCF intern has gone before: on a grand historical “heist.” Before I delve further into the details of this unexpected escapade, I think my previous statement requires some much-needed context and clarification. Remember, kids, do not try this at home! The crisis that triggered this madness occurred on January 5th, 2026, when I received a series of shocking texts from Ms....]]></description><link>https://www.gladdenarchive.com/post/week-two-mission-impossible</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6972bdb593f6d3facb6120e4</guid><pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:28:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6baaff_5bd50706df7a486bb035b1658891fd06~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Elio Singer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Week One: Rolling in "RICHES"]]></title><description><![CDATA[The intern himself in December of 2025, holding a page of Michael Gladden Jr.'s receipts from his grocer, M. Gladden Staple and Fancy Groceries. Hello, reader! My name is Elio Singer, and I am a junior studying history and anthropology here at UCF. My research focuses on exploring Black American community safekeepers and storytellers of material, social, and cultural resources through physical artifact collections. I currently serve as an undergraduate researcher with the Apopka Historical...]]></description><link>https://www.gladdenarchive.com/post/week-one-rolling-in-riches</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6966a973f1ba376a5bc01d16</guid><pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:38:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6baaff_0c7d8e15d0804ee4943fe833c26cfb02~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Elio Singer</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>