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Polaroid Photograph of William Gladden Jr. At Work
Collection
The William Gladden Sr. Collection
Format
Two original Polaroid photographs
Date
1976-02
People
William Gladden Sr.; William Gladden; Bill Gladden
Location
Apopka, Florida, United States of America.
Historical Background
A 1976 Polaroid photograph of William Gladden Jr., hard at work inside his storefront, Gladden's Shoe Hospital, formerly located on Ninth Street (now Michael Gladden Boulevard). He is pictured operating a sewing machine, likely an old Singer model from the early days of his business. Focused on his work, he is likely busy repairing a pair of shoes for his loyal customers.
William Gladden Sr. was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1903. William attended Georgia Institute of Technology to learn to become a shoe cobbler, which housed a trade school for African Americans in the early half of the 20th century. William returned to Apopka to open his Shoe Hospital on 9th Street in the mid 1920s. William Gladden Sr. operated his business for more than half a century. In addition to his business, he worked as a driver for Orange County School Transportation.
This object was digitally donated by Mr. Terrance, William "Perrine Slim" Gladden Jr.'s long-term medical aide and friend.
