1942 Office of Price Administration Registrar Certificate

The Marie Stapler Gladden Collection

Original parchment certificate

1942-05-20

Marie Vista Stapler Gladden; Marie Stapler Gladden; Marie Stapler; Marie Gladden

Apopka, Florida, United States of America.

A wartime service certificate issued by the U.S. Office of Price Administration (OPA), a New Deal–era federal agency that took on critical importance during World War II by controlling civilian prices and administering rationing programs for goods like gasoline, sugar, meat, and tires.

Marie Stapler Gladden served as a volunteer Registrar in the Southeastern States Rationing War Registration Programs, a massive civilian mobilization effort that relied heavily on local volunteers to process ration books and manage registration. The certificate was signed by the Regional Administrator for the Southeast from Atlanta, Georgia, on May 20, 1942- just five months after the U.S. entered the war, when the rationing apparatus was still being rapidly stood up across the country.

Marie Vista Stapler Gladden (March 13th, 2004 - May 14th, 2004) was the retired principal of the historic Black school, Phyllis Wheatley High School. Marie Stapler Gladden attained a Master's in Early Childhood Education and Certification in Administration and Supervision from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City, NY. Marie married Michael Gladden Jr. on June 16, 1935. She became the co-owner of M. Gladden Staple and Fancy Groceries and later, Gladden's Coin Laundry and Dry Cleaning. Marie began her teaching career at the Hopper Academy elementary school in Seminole County, later teaching in Orange County for thirty-six years, including at schools in Oakland and Clarcona. Marie was a member of the Orange County Teachers Association, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Omicron Omega Chapter, the Apopka Chamber of Commerce, the Apopka Historical Society, and the Apopka Senior Citizen Center. She lived to be 100 years old.