Week Nine: "Headlines"

My article in the Florida Sun Review! July 9th, 2026.

Hello, reader! These past few weeks have truly been a whirlwind. The week of the 4th, I was notified that my article, “The Man Behind the Receipts: Preserving the Legacy of Michael Gladden Jr.,” was published in ASALH’s Quarterly Bulletin! I am extremely grateful to Dr. Rebekah McCloud and Mr. Manuel Jones for making this publication happen. It was incredible seeing my first-ever publication happen, especially in such a well-done newsletter, knowing that Mr. Gladden’s story could now reach an even wider audience. With the release of my article, I created a media page on the Gladden archive to accommodate all of my past and future publications, presentations, and other media on the Gladden family, their community, and, hopefully soon, new safekeepers collections. Currently, visitors can view the July edition of the Dorothy Turner Johnson Branch’s newsletter on the media page. Soon, I hope to host footage from my June presentation at the Winter Park Library! For now, you can view my article in the Florida Sun here: https://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?i=867306.

Alongside the DTJ Branch news, I learned that Dr. McCloud was so kind as to submit my article to the Florida Sun Review, which is Central Florida’s oldest Black newspaper. Founded in the 1920s, I learned that for many years, Ms. Boykin was one of their consistent columnists. In the past, I’ve always picked up a copy of the Sun, wondering if I could ever write for them as a contributor about Michael Gladden Jr. and his community. My dream came true this week! On July 9th, 2026, I saw my name in a newspaper for the very first time. I was so thrilled about this achievement, I made sure to find multiple physical copies of the Florida Sun to be kept with the Gladden Collection! Upon telling Ms. Boykin, she notified me that she and her sister Myrna also picked up copies of the Florida Sun for safekeeping. Inspired by Ms. Boykin and William Gladden Jr., I plan to start my own binder of writings on the Gladdens as I accumulate them over time. I think having a physical documentation of my progressing research will be extremely motivating for me and a wonderful addition to the existing Gladden Collection, much like this blog!

Additionally, I was able to schedule an appointment to use the Titan Scanner in CHDR in order to finally digitize some of my larger artifacts that my personal scanner just can’t accommodate. Next week, I will be joining grad student Dylan Gilberg for assistance in using the scanner. Though I’ve used it before in my previous archival projects, using the Titan scanner is definitely easier with more than one person. The objects I’m planning to bring are the Gladden directory of names from 1926-1927, a 1931 Gladden inventory book, two copies of Michael Gladden Jr.’s last will and testament, a certificate from Apopka’s Colored Cemetery Committee written out to Ella Walls, and Marie Stapler Gladden’s Bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University. I will be meeting with Dylan next Friday and can’t wait to provide updates on the newly digitized artifacts! More to come next week, reader. See you then!