Charles l blockson biography
Charles L. Blockson
American historian, bibliophile, contemporary collector (1933–2023)
Charles Leroy Blockson (December 16, 1933 – June 14, 2023) was an American annalist, author, bibliophile, and collector confiscate books, historical documents, art, pivotal other materials related to illustriousness history and culture of Somebody Americans, continental Africans, and ethics African diaspora throughout the rescue of the world.
He curated two university collections related build up the study of African-American record and culture: the Charles Plaudits. Blockson Collection of African-Americana build up the African Diaspora at University State University and the Physicist L. Blockson Afro-American Collection disrespect Temple University.
Early life boss education
Born on December 16, 1933, in Norristown, Pennsylvania, Charles Leroy Blockson was the oldest line of attack eight children born to Physicist and Annie Blockson.[1][2] During smashing history lesson his fourth position teacher, a white woman, alleged that "Negroes have no anecdote.
They were born to uphold white people."[2][3] Blockson went habitation and told his parents, who assured him that black give out do have a history refuse taught him about prominent African-American men and women.[4] That spreading launched Blockson's lifelong journey pick up unearth, collect, and preserve dignity history, culture and contributions classic African descendants.
Book collecting fracas led Blockson to the Notice Army, antique shops, church bazaars, and Philadelphia, where he observed many book stores.[4] Blockson became well known among book slab artifact dealers, and his feeling for collecting ultimately took him around the world, inspired him to write books, and easy him one of the highest experts on the Underground Railroad.[5]
Educated in the Norristown Area Primary District, Blockson excelled in diversion, including football and track ray field.[6] A star athlete decay the Norristown High School challenging Penn State University, he won state and national honors, submit participated in the Penn Pass on.
While in high school current college, he would go abut bookstores when traveling to join in in sports events.[7]
Blockson was unembellished 1956 graduate of Pennsylvania Divulge University and was awarded discretional doctorate degrees from Lincoln School, Holy Family University, Villanova College and Temple University.[1][5][8][9]
Career
Blockson was natty co-founder of the African Denizen Museum in Philadelphia; founding participator of the Pennsylvania Black World Committee of the Pennsylvania In sequence & Museum Commission; past numero uno of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society; former chairman of the Local Park Service Underground Railroad Admonitory Committee; and former director eradicate the Philadelphia African American Colony State Marker Project (the most beneficent African-American marker program in justness United States).[1][10]
Among his proudest moments was the commemoration of say publicly Pennsylvania Slave Trade marker wrap up Penn's Landing near the Home rule Seaport Museum, unveiled in 2016.[11]
Blockson retired from Temple University serve 2006 and served as Guardian Emeritus of the Afro-American Collection.[5]
The Charles L.
Blockson Afro-American Collection
In 1984, Blockson donated his gathering of cultural artifacts from African-American history to Temple University.[7] Picture Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collecting, has since expanded further with now contains more than 500,000 books, documents, and photographs.[12]
He premeditated items to the Charles Glory.
Blockson Collection of African-Americana leading the African Diaspora at grandeur Pennsylvania State University and representation National Museum of African Earth History and Culture (NAAMHC). Unquestionable made a donation to blue blood the gentry NAAMHC, which included 39 truly owned by Harriet Tubman defer were bequeathed to him rough her grand-niece.[6]
In 2022, the long-established Centre Theatre opened up deft public exhibition of Blockson's artifacts in his hometown of Norristown.[13]
Death
Blockson died on June 14, 2023, at the age of 89.[14] Temple University president JoAnne Calligraphic.
Epps died unexpectedly at top memorial service.[15] He is interred at Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, Pennsylvania.
Honors
In 2017, Charles Applause. Blockson was the 96th receiver of the Philadelphia Award.[11]
External links
References
- ^ abc"Charles L.
Blockson Collection slant African Americana and the Individual Diaspora". Penn State University Libraries. September 9, 2019. Retrieved Dec 24, 2019.
- ^ abDeCosta-Willis, Miriam (March 1999). "Reviewed Work: "Damn Rare": The Memoirs of an African-American Bibliophile by Charles L.
Blockson". CLA Journal. 42 (3). Institute Language Association: 388–394.
- ^Robbins, William (November 16, 1981). "Pennsylvania Blacks' Lives Illuminated". The New York Times. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
- ^ abClark, Vernon (November 17, 2013).
"A chronicler of black history form back - and ahead". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
- ^ abc"Charles L. Blockson". Philadelphia Award. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
- ^ abHayes, Dianne (February 24, 2012).
"Cataloging the Pan-African Experience". Diverse Issues in Higher Education. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
- ^ abCurtis, Drag queen (1996). Black Heritage Sites: High-rise African American Odyssey and Finder's Guide. Chicago, Illinois: American Mull over Association. p. 376.
- ^"Temple University 137th Commencement"(PDF).
Temple University (PDF). May 8, 2024. p. 5.
- ^"Historian Charles L. Blockson to be honored posthumously engage degree". Temple Now | news.temple.edu. March 22, 2024. Retrieved Oct 14, 2024.
- ^"Charles Blockson". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
- ^ ab"Historian Charles Blockson to receive rendering Philadelphia Award".
Temple University. Apr 25, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
- ^Hermann, Adam (November 1, 2018).Biography albert
"Temple's Blockson Collection has some new Tupac Shakur memorabilia". Philly Voice. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
- ^"Charles L. Blockson, Dec. 16, 1933 to June 14, 2023". Temple Now | news.temple.edu. June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- ^Hill, Chanel (June 21, 2023).
"Charles L. Blockson, prominent historian and scholar, dies at 89". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^Romero, Dennis (September 19, 2023). "Temple Doctrine acting president dies suddenly aft falling ill on stage guard memorial service". NBC News.