Week Four: "Messages from the Stars"

Hello, reader! The keyword for this week has certainly been “preparation.” I can’t believe my “In Conversation” presentation is just a week away on the 14th. I’ve been busy outlining my narrative and deciding which objects from the Gladden Collection would best represent Mr. Gladden’s story. After Ms. Boykin introduces the Collection and her connection to the Gladden Family, I plan to share the story of how I became involved and segue into the creation of the Gladden Archive. I thought it would be appropriate to start with Mr. Gladden’s safekeeping receipts. I particularly like this one, made out to Miss Bessie Orr in 1932, for its clear banking language. If I’m allowed to bring physical artifacts, I would love to share Mr. Gladden’s 1926-1927 book of names for which he kept money in his State Bank of Apopka account. To show the difference, I would contrast it against one of Mr. Arthur J. Willis’ store receipts, which clearly shows language associated with store tabs and credit rather than safekeeping accounts. I particularly find this set of receipts to be a humorous account of Mr. Willis’ purchase history, including liver and underwear! No disrespect to Mr. Willis; I think we’ve all had shopping trips as bizarre as his, only almost 100 years later. 

Further, to showcase Mr. Gladden’s involvement in his community, I plan to show these rent receipts signed by Mr. Gladden for the famous Black businesswoman Ella Walls and this mule feed receipt for the estate of Black citrus mogul George W. Oden, for whom Mr. Gladden was executor. To end the archive tour in a more expansive, future-focused manner, I want to discuss my plans for the archive to include other Black American safekeepers ’ collections, following in the footsteps of Mr. Gladden himself. I will demonstrate my existing donated collection, the William Gladden Jr. Collection, as a blueprint for future safekeeper pages on the Gladden Archive. This presentation is extremely daunting to me, at least, but I know I have to do it well for both Mr. Gladden and Ms. Boykin. If all goes as planned, I hope to discuss getting a local membership with ASALH’s Dorothy Turner Johnson Branch. 

On a side note, I found out that the Winter Park Library shared the Gladden “In Conversation” presentation on their “Events” page. When I clicked on it, I was so happy to see that they shared the Gladden Archive in the description! I felt compelled to share this moment in this blog post because of how special it was to see my work finally recognized, especially after cycles of internal and external doubt. If you want to check it out, you can find it here on the Winter Park Library’s events calendar and on ASALH’s DTJ chapter website.

This week, Dr. French also reached out to ASALH DTJ Vice President, Dr. Rebekah McCloud, if they would consider a Gladden Collection article to be published in their Quarterly Bulletin. After receiving a positive response, I am thrilled to be drafting my first published short article on Mr. Gladden’s story with a focus on its historic and modern stewardship, interwoven into the very fabric of Apopka. Earlier last month, I began jotting down ideas in anticipation that I would one day publish on my and Ms. Boykin’s legacy work. The article’s submission date is June 19th. While it is short notice, it’s the perfect opportunity to get the word out on the Gladden Archive to ASALH’s broad base of scholars and history enjoyers in Black history. More excitement (and nerves) to come next week, reader! See you then!