Charles L. Blockson

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Charles Leroy Blockson (born December 16, 1933 in Norristown , Pennsylvania ) is an African-American historian and scholar who has amassed a large collection on the history and culture of Americans of African descent.

Charles L. Blockson

life and work

Charles L. Blockson was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania to Annie Parker Blockson and Charles Edward Blockson, the oldest of eight siblings. He spent his childhood in the place of his birth. He was interested in sports (football) and attended college.

From a young age he compiled a collection of rare materials that document the history of African American people. In a WPSU Penn State film he reports on a special experience at school: When he was in fourth grade , they spoke to a white substitute teacher about American history , about George Washington , Thomas Jefferson , Ben Franklin and others who helped establish the country. He raised his hand and asked them about the colored people, the Negroes , as they were called: "Do we have a story?" - She said, "No, Charles, Negroes are born to serve white people."

Charles Blockson is the author of a dozen or so books, including on the Underground Railroad , on which he is an expert. He is the author of an annotated bibliography of one hundred and one influential books by and about people of African descent (1556–1982): A Collector's Choice . He also wrote a biography of the life of photojournalist John W. Mosley (1907-1969) entitled: The Journey of John W. Mosley .

He initiated the establishment of a Pennsylvania State Historical Marker at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia . The plaque unveiled in August 2016 discusses Pennsylvania's role in the slave trade . The text on the board reads:

The Pennsylvania Slave Trade
African people, first enslaved by the Dutch and Swedes, survived the brutal voyage from Africa to the Caribbean islands and the Americas, debarking on the Delaware River waterfront as early as 1639. William Penn, other Quakers, and Philadelphia merchants purchased and enslaved Africans. As the institution of slavery increased, these courageous African people persevered and performed integral roles in building of Pennsylvania and our nation.

The Pennsylvania Slave Trade
Africans, first enslaved by the Dutch and Swedes, survived the brutal voyage from Africa to the Caribbean islands and the Americas and were disembarked on the banks of the Delaware River as early as 1639. William Penn, other Quakers, and Philadelphia merchants bought and enslaved Africans. As the establishment of slavery grew, these brave Africans persevered and played an essential role in building Pennsylvania and our nation.

Charles Blockson's first collection has been a donation to Temple University (the Blockson Library ) since 1984 , and the second to the State University of Pennsylvania ( Penn State ). The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection of Temple University Libraries is one of the leading institutions of the United States for the study of the history and culture of people of African descent.

Blockson's family history was intertwined with that of Harriet Tubman (ca.1822–1913). Blockson's ancestor Jacob Blockson escaped with her from slavery on the east coast of Maryland .

In 2016 Blockston received the traditional Philadelphia Award .

Sayings

"Knowledge belongs to the world."

Publications (selection)

  • Black Genealogy. Prentice-Hall, 1977
  • "Escape From Slavery. The Underground Railroad" ( National Geographic , July 1984), National Geographic Society , Washington (article)
  • The Underground Railroad; First Person Narratives of Escapes to Freedom in the North. 1987
  • A Commented Bibliography of One Hundred and One Influential Books By and About People of African Descent (1556-1982). A collector's choice. Amsterdam. A. Gerits & Sons., 1989 ( review )
  • (Ed.): Catalog of the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American collection. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1990 *
  • The Journey of John W. Mosley. Philadelphia: Quantum Leap Publisher. 1992, ISBN 978-0962716171
  • Hippocrene Guide to the Underground Railroad. 1994
  • Philadelphia 1639-2000. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2000
  • African Americans in Pennsylvania: above ground and underground. Harrisburg, Pa .: RB Books, 2001
  • Liberty Bell Era: The African American Story. Harrisburg, Pa .: RB Books, 2003

See also

References and footnotes

  1. ↑ A WPSU Penn State film about him describes him as follows: "Charles Blockson is not only a collector, but an educator, historian and author ..." - see YouTube video (WPSU Penn State, from 12:35 pm) - accessed on 21 April 2019-
  2. ↑ The video reports that he began collecting at the age of 9.
  3. ^ Holding History: The Collection of Charles L. Blockson. WPSU Penn State original production WPSU-TV - When he met the teacher 20-30 years later, they reconciled: "She said she was always hurt because this was the way she was taught." (14:19) - According to Blockson, she also said she was proud of what he was doing.
  4. ↑ A commented bibliography of one hundred and one influential books by and about people of African descent (1556-1982): a collector's choice
  5. ^ The journey of John W. Mosley. Philadelphia: Quantum Leap Publisher. 1992. ISBN 978-0962716171 .
  6. ↑ Penn's Landing , Penns Landing , is a waterfront area in Center City of Philadelphia on the Delaware River . The name recalls the landing of William Penn , the founder of Pennsylvania in 1682.
  7. ↑ Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection
  8. ↑ blackboard text (photo) ; see. the different text at: Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection - library.temple.edu (accessed April 21, 2019)
  9. ^ Holding History: The Collection of Charles L. Blockson. WPSU Penn State original production WPSU-TV
  10. ↑ cf. Catalog of the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American collection
  11. ^ Richard Kurin: The Smithsonian's History of America in 101 Objects. New York 2013 ( online view of item 30: Harriet Tubman's Hymnal and Shawl , donated to the Smithonian by Blockson in 2011)
  12. ↑ 96th Philadelphia Award ; Scholar Charles Blockson receives 2016 Philadelphia Award (Martha Woodall and Jeff Gammage, April 4, 2017)
  13. ↑ Holding History: The Collections of Charles L. Blockson trailer (video), final sentence

literature

  • Afro-Americana: an exhibition of selected books, manuscripts & prints from the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Historical Collection, Temple University Libraries, February 2– April 15, 1984. Philadelphia: [Temple University Libraries], 1984
  • Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Henry Louis Gates: The Harvard Guide to African-American History. 2001 ( partial online view )
  • Mary Ellen Snodgrass: The Underground Railroad: An Encyclopedia of People, Places, and Operations. 2008 ( partial online view )

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Blockson, Charles L.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Blockson, Charles Leroy (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American historian and author
DATE OF BIRTH December 16, 1933
PLACE OF BIRTH Norristown , Pennsylvania