Three Envelopes Marked for Safekeeping

The Safekeeping Receipt Collection

Three original paper envelopes

c. 1933

Ella Walls; Ella Wall

Ms. Eva Bradley; Eva Bradley

Jake Brown

Michael Gladden Jr.; Michael Gladden

Ms. Dora Davis; Dora Davis

Apopka, Florida, United States of America.

Three envelopes that were converted into receipts marked for the safekeeping accounts of Ms. Dora Davis (top center), Jake Brown (bottom left), and Ms. Eva Godfrey (bottom right). Michael Gladden Jr. often used any paper he had on hand to fulfill the demand of his popular safekeeping practice, such as envelopes, State Bank of Apopka receipt slips, and other recycled paper scraps.

The top center safekeeping account receipt is made out to Ms. Dora Davis, recording her banking activity from February 13th, 1934, to March 1st, 1934. Over time, she grew her account from $2.00 to $10.00 in the span of less than a month, approximately $241.88 in 2026.

The bottom left safekeeping account receipt is made out to Jake Brown, Apopka's most infamous gambler and moonshiner. This receipt records his deposit history from December 20th, 1933, to January 15th, 1934.

The bottom right safekeeping account receipt is made out to Ms. Eva Godfrey, who was in business with the famous Black businesswoman, Ella Walls. This receipt records her rent transactions from December 1933 to January 1934.

At a time when Black Americans distrusted banks due to racial discrimination and the dawn of the Great Depression (1929-1939), Michael Gladden Jr. stepped up to become the community's safekeeper and banker. Mr. Gladden securely stored these special store receipts in one of three vaults in his storefront, M. Gladden Staple and Fancy Groceries. The earliest evidence of Michael Gladden's monetary safekeeping dates to 1931, when Apopka started to feel the effects of the Depression in full force.