Week Six: "Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me"

My presentation sign, now part of the Gladden Collection!

Hello, reader! I am excited to share that my “In Conversation” presentation went even better than I could have hoped for! I was extremely nervous for this particular event because it served as my first impression to ASALH. The fear of meeting expectations overwhelmed me, and I worried that I might have to rely on my notes to sound coherent in my remarks. Upon arriving at the Winter Park Library, Ms. Boykin and I met Mr. Manuel Jones, the president of ASALH’s Dorothy Turner Johnson Branch, along with archivist Rachel Simmons, for the very first time. Mr. Jones expressed his own anxieties, mentioning that he usually does not moderate this presentation series. Knowing that I wasn't the only one feeling anxious helped ease my fears as we gathered in the Edyth Bush Theatre that afternoon. Before we began, Ms. Boykin, as confident as ever, hugged me and reassured me that we would do great. With that encouragement, the conversation began!

Last week, I provided Mr. Jones with the agenda for our discussion. I was pleased to see that he had come prepared! He used the Gladden Archive to guide the presentation, demonstrating that he had thoroughly researched Michael Gladden Jr.’s history. One artifact that particularly caught his attention was Michael Gladden Jr.’s 1956 Bachelor of Science diploma from Bethune-Cookman University. Mr. Jones shared with Ms. Boykin and me that he felt a personal connection to that diploma because 1956 was the year of his birth! Throughout the presentation, I showcased artifacts from both the physical and digital Gladden Collection, exploring each part of the Gladden Archive as Mr. Jones brought up compelling points for us to discuss in greater depth. Thanks to Rachel's assistance with the setup, I was able to project the Gladden Archive onto an overhead screen, allowing the audience to visually explore the collection as we talked.

When Mr. Jones wrapped up our presentation, I noticed a common theme in questions from members in the audience: what can we do to preserve our history? That question stuck with me long after the presentation ended, resulting in a sudden idea to improve the archive’s resources. One day, I plan to put together a preservation toolkit on the Gladden Archive with the idea of using resources accessible to the average person visiting my website. I’m grateful for the insight the attendees gave me and hope to work with them in the future on potentially new safekeepers collections. After the presentation ended, I thanked Mr. Jones for his skillful moderation and expressed an interest in joining ASALH, to which he was happy to give me resources. I also chatted with Rachel Simmons and, excitingly, received a personal tour of the archive room! Rachel showed me the archive room’s spacious archival scanner, select artifacts donated from the Orange County Regional History Center, and even shared archival ghost stories from the Winter Park Library. We even discussed a volunteer opportunity for me at the Winter Park Library, which I am eager to follow up with Rachel on. In the end, she even let me keep the posters from my presentation, which have now joined the Gladden Collection!

As a follow-up to my presentation, I was invited to write an article on the Gladden story to be featured in ASALH Dorothy Turner Johnson Branch’s quarterly bulletin. This newsletter is anticipated to come out next month, in July. I truly enjoyed writing the article draft and focusing on what makes Michael Gladden Jr. and the Gladden Collection truly special. More updates on the article next week! See you then, reader!