Week Four: "The Age of Aquarius"

Hello, reader! This week, I have been counting the days to my ASALH presentation. Every day, I have been solidifying what topics I plan to present on alongside Ms. Boykin. Admittedly, I am one to dislike surprises and the realm of the unexpected. During our weekly Tuesday meeting, Dr. French made the wonderful suggestion to provide our moderator, Mr. Manuel Jones, with an agenda of topics divided into sections beforehand. This way, the agenda, embellished with certain key notes, could potentially inform any questions Mr. Jones may have to keep the presentation on track and ignite meaningful discussion. I have already drafted my agenda for Mr. Jones, approving it and discussing its contents first with Ms. Boykin. 

Over the phone, Ms. Boykin and I talked through my fear by stressing the importance of sharing Michael Gladden Jr.’s story. As she told me, the study of Black history is still young, and what culturally comprises Black American heritage is blatantly disregarded on the institutional and governmental level. I hope Mr. Gladden and his collection will inspire the audience to think of their family artifacts in a different light, bringing recognition to a generation of archivists born out of necessity. On a side note, Dr. French told me on Tuesday that the presentation has been elevated to one of ASALH DTJ’s Juneteenth events! Ms. Boykin and I are truly delighted to be part of their profoundly meaningful celebration of Black history and heritage. I think the timing and setting are extremely serendipitous to finally get the Gladden Archive out there to a larger audience, hopefully resulting in new community connections and a wonderful network of academics in Black History.

Marked Safekeeping Receipt for Jake Brown, c. 1934.

In preparation for Sunday, I bought an acid-free archival box to transport select Gladden artifacts to the presentation venue. To fit with the theme of safekeeping, I decided to bring Michael Gladden Jr.’s name directory from 1926 to 1927, alongside a pristine safekeeping receipt that was written out to Jake Brown Sr. The two objects are connected; Jake Brown Sr. appears on both records as a loyal, longtime customer of Mr. Gladden’s. Jake Brown Sr.’s story also carries added significance to his appearance on these objects. Mr. Brown was a survivor of the 1920 Ocoee massacre, having fled Ocoee and left property and possessions behind in exchange for his survival. After landing in Apopka, Jake Brown notably worked in the city’s orange groves, additionally earning a reputation as a gambler and strong presence in the city's moonshiner scene. In my opinion, these two objects truly best represent the evolution of Mr. Gladden’s safekeeping practice from the early years of his proprietorship into the trying times of the Great Depression in Central Florida. Jake Brown Sr.’s safekeeping receipt was also one of the first Gladden artifacts I viewed at the beginning of the project, making it extremely personal to my narrative. 

In other good news this week, I was given access to work on the Franklin 1923 Legacy website. As I continue my work with the Franklin family, I hope to build their digital collections and adapt best practices to their website builder of choice, Squarespace. I envision having a space for the oral histories and artifacts I will collect in the near future. Depending on their storage and what Mr. Kelvan and Ms. Franklin are willing to make public, I’m excited at the prospect of collaborating with them on this endeavor. Nothing makes me happier than when a donor (and friend) is satisfied. 

Wish me luck on my presentation, reader! I can’t wait to tell you about it next week. See you then!