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Two 1932 Safekeeping Receipts for Miss Bessie Orr

Collection

The Safekeeping Receipt Collection

Format

Two original paper receipts

Date

1932-01-07 - 1932-02-05

People

Michael Gladden Jr.; Michael Gladden

Miss Bessie Orr; Bessie Orr

Location

Apopka, Florida, United States of America.

Historical Background

Two receipts marked for the safekeeping account of Miss Bessie Orr by Michael Gladden Jr. On the first receipt, Miss Orr deposited $5.00 into her existing safekeeping account of $45.00 on January 7th, 1932. Miss Orr's cash in hand totaled $50.00 after her deposit.

On the second receipt, Miss Orr deposited $10.00 into her existing safekeeping account of $50.00 on February 5th, 1932. Miss Orr's cash in hand totaled $60.00 after her deposit.

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.

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