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Two Marked Store Receipts for A. J. Willis
Collection
The Arthur J. Willis Collection
Format
Two marked paper store receipts
Date
c. 1929
People
A. J. Willis; Arthur J. Willis; Arthur Willis
Michael Gladden Jr.; Michael Gladden
Location
Apopka, Florida, United States of America.
Historical Background
Two marked store receipts 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 leftmost receipt, Mr. Willis bought socks, likely for his own personal use or to sell in his tailoring business. The receipt was created on July 29th, 1929, and Mr. Willis' total was 50 cents added to his tab of $6.73.
On the rightmost receipt, Mr. Willis bought steak. No other items are present on this receipt. His total is 30 cents, adding to his tab of $4.72 on June 14th, 1929.
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.
Two marked store receipts 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 leftmost receipt, Mr. Willis bought socks, likely for his own personal use or to sell in his tailoring business. The receipt was created on July 29th, 1929, and Mr. Willis' total was 50 cents added to his tab of $6.73.
On the rightmost receipt, Mr. Willis bought steak. No other items are present on this receipt. His total is 30 cents, adding to his tab of $4.72 on June 14th, 1929.
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.
