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Marked Envelope Receipt for A. J. Willis
Collection
The Arthur J. Willis Collection
Format
Original paper envelope
Date
1931-03-07 - 1931-03-27
People
A. J. Willis; Arthur J. Willis; Arthur Willis
Michael Gladden Jr.; Michael Gladden
Location
Apopka, Florida, United States of America.
Historical Background
A marked envelope-turned-receipt for the account of Arthur J. Willis. purchased from M. Gladden Staple and Fancy Groceries, Apopka's longest-running business, owned by Michael Gladden Jr.
On the receipt, it is indicated that between the dates of March 7th, 1931, and March 27th, 1931, Mr. Willis paid a total of $1.92 for laundry, sausage, butter, and milk twice. This envelope was fully fused, meaning that it was not used to store any store receipts associated with Mr. Willis' account.
Little is known about Arthur J. Willis. With what surviving records are present in the Michael Gladden Jr. Collection, it is known that Mr. Willis was born in Alabama in or around the year 1894. He may have attended Morehouse College alongside Michael Gladden Jr. in the early to mid 1920s, where they might have formally been introduced. Mr. Willis was fully literate and was part of the Apopka Negro Business League alongside Michael Gladden Jr. He and Mr. Gladden would often participate in debates to fundraise for Apopka's historic Black cemeteries. Mr. Willis worked as a tailor, clothes cleaner, and presser. At one point in his life. Mr. Willis was attacked by robbers and permanently blinded. The legendary Black community historian, Ms. Francina Boykin, even lived with Mr. Willis in her early childhood.
