born
Blockson in his office at home (1971)

Charles Leroy Blockson (December 16, 1933 – June 14, 2023) was an American historian, author, bibliophile, and collector of books, historical documents, art, and other materials related to the history and culture of African Americans, continental Africans, and the African diaspora throughout the rest of the world. He curated two university collections related to the study of African-American history and culture: the Charles L. Blockson Collection of African-Americana and the African Diaspora at Pennsylvania State University and the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection at Temple University.

Early life and education

Born on December 16, 1933, in Norristown, Pennsylvania, Charles Leroy Blockson was the oldest of eight children born to Charles and Annie Blockson.[1][2] During a history lesson his fourth grade teacher, a white woman, asserted that "Negroes have no history. They were born to serve white people."[2][3] Blockson went home and told his parents, who assured him that black people do have a history and taught him about prominent African-American men and women.[4] That statement launched Blockson's lifelong journey to unearth, collect, and preserve the history, culture and contributions of African descendants. Book collecting excursions led Blockson to the Salvation Army, antique shops, church bazaars, and Philadelphia, where he discovered many book stores.[4] Blockson became well known among book and artifact dealers, and his passion for collecting ultimately took him around the world, inspired him to write books, and made him one of the foremost experts on the Underground Railroad.[5]

Educated in the Norristown Area School District, Blockson excelled in athletics, including football and track and field.[6] A star athlete at the Norristown High School and Penn State University, he won state and national honors, and participated in the Penn Relays. While in high school and college, he would go to bookstores when traveling to participate in sports events.[7]

Blockson was a 1956 graduate of Pennsylvania State University and was awarded three honorary doctorate degrees from Lincoln University, Holy Family University, and Villanova University.[1][5]

Career

Blockson was a co-founder of the African American Museum in Philadelphia; founding member of the Pennsylvania Black History Committee of the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission; past president of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society; former chairman of the National Park Service Underground Railroad Advisory Committee; and former director of the Philadelphia African American Pennsylvania State Marker Project (the largest African-American marker program in the United States).[1][8]

Among his proudest moments was the commemoration of the Pennsylvania Slave Trade marker at Penn's Landing near the Independence Seaport Museum, unveiled in 2016.[9]

Blockson retired from Temple University in 2006 and served as Curator Emeritus of the Afro-American Collection.[5]

The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection

In 1984, Blockson donated his collection of cultural artifacts from African-American history to Temple University.[7] The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection, has since expanded further and now contains more than 500,000 books, documents, and photographs.[10]

External videos
video icon “Holding History: The Collections of Charles L. Blockson”, January 25, 2016, WPSU-TV

He contributed items to the Charles L. Blockson Collection of African-Americana and the African Diaspora at the Pennsylvania State University and the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NAAMHC). He made a donation to the NAAMHC, which included 39 items owned by Harriet Tubman that were bequeathed to him by her grand-niece.[6]

In 2022, the historic Centre Theatre opened up a public exhibition of Blockson's artifacts in his hometown of Norristown.[11]

Death

Blockson died on June 14, 2023, at the age of 89.[12] Temple University president JoAnne A. Epps died unexpectedly at his memorial service.[13]

Honors

In 2017, Charles L. Blockson was the 96th recipient of the Philadelphia Award.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Charles L. Blockson Collection of African Americana and the African Diaspora". Penn State University Libraries. September 9, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  2. 1 2 DeCosta-Willis, Miriam (March 1999). "Reviewed Work: "Damn Rare": The Memoirs of an African-American Bibliophile by Charles L. Blockson". CLA Journal. College Language Association. 42 (3): 388–394.
  3. ↑ Robbins, William (November 16, 1981). "Pennsylvania Blacks' Lives Illuminated". The New York Times. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  4. 1 2 Clark, Vernon (November 17, 2013). "A chronicler of black history looks back - and ahead". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 "Charles L. Blockson". Philadelphia Award. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  6. 1 2 Hayes, Dianne (February 24, 2012). "Cataloging the Pan-African Experience". Diverse Issues in Higher Education. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  7. 1 2 Curtis, Nancy (1996). Black Heritage Sites: An African American Odyssey and Finder's Guide. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association. p. 376.
  8. ↑ "Charles Blockson". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  9. 1 2 "Historian Charles Blockson to receive the Philadelphia Award". Temple University. April 25, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  10. ↑ Hermann, Adam (November 1, 2018). "Temple's Blockson Collection has some new Tupac Shakur memorabilia". Philly Voice. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Charles L. Blockson, Dec. 16, 1933 to June 14, 2023". Temple Now | news.temple.edu. June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  12. ↑ Hill, Chanel (June 21, 2023). "Charles L. Blockson, prominent historian and scholar, dies at 89". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  13. ↑ Romero, Dennis (September 19, 2023). "Temple University acting president dies suddenly after falling ill on stage at memorial service". NBC News.
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