Gladys Flowers was one of Rachel’s younger sister. She first appeared in the 1910 Federal Census alongside her siblings.

Per this census record, she was only two years old (born around 1908). In the next census record, a 12 year old Gladys lived with her father and three other siblings in Boiling Springs, PA. She was  12 years old.

When I moved to the 1930 Federal Census, there are two Gladys Flowers listed on separate records. They are the same person, however, one is from her place of employment while the other is from her residence. The first two below are from her place of employment (it is two pages).

Gladys worked as the servant for the Klovan family in Philadelphia. Nathan and Mary Klovan lived on Pine Street with their three kids Gertrude, Saul, and Selma. According to this census document, the Klovans owned their home worth $15,000. Nathan was a merchant in a coal yard. Gladys was listed as a servant to a private family. She was also single in 1930 (but got boo’d up real quick).

In the second 1930 Census, Gladys lived on Race Street in Philly. She was a lodger in the home of James and Margaret McCullough. Gladys later married Paul G. Stevenson and together they had two children.

At times her name is spelled Gladyce. This happens a lot especially in newspaper articles. So I must make a note of this.

Paul Stevenson was 40 years old in the 1930 record. His highest level of education was H4 (I am not sure what that means) and he worked as a driver for a laundry place. In the 1940 Census, Gladys was listed as being 32 years old with her education level listed at H4. She worked as a housewife. Their two children, Arnita Stevenson and Paul Jr, were eight and three years old.

Like her sister, Gladys also appeared in the Philadelphia Tribune and the Afro-American. In December 1930, Gladyce hosted a dinner party where she wore “graceful frock of for-get-me-not blue lace.” In attendance was Mrs. George Conway (her “sister”), Mrs. James McCallian, Miss. Rachel Flowers (sister), William Ellis, Raymond Spearman, Paul Stevenson (future husband), Charles Queene, J. Walker Freeman, Herbert Wilson (future brother-in-law), Samuel Hardie, and Mr. Nichols.

In 1935, Merry Matrons ( I will have to look up this organization/club) inducted Gladys and Hazel Crawly into their club.

Gladys attended the St. Philips Lutheran Church and she also was a soloist in the choice. In 1952, “Carmen” was a theatre production performed at/by the Dra Mu Opera. A few of members of the Flowers family were apart of the performance.

Christina