Blockson Collection

Charles L. Blockson pictured.
Remembering Charles L. Blockson
Type: News Story
Charles L. Blockson, curator of Temple’s prestigious Blockson Collection, has passed away.
June 21, 2023
Image of Black soldiers.
Learning from Walmart’s Juneteenth marketing mistake
Type: News Story
Timothy Welbeck discusses the importance of companies observing Juneteenth in a meaningful way.
June 15, 2022
Diane Turner, curator of the Blockson Collection, reads a copy of the collection’s new graphic novel, “Black Lives Always Mattered!”
"Black Lives Always Mattered!" invites all to see Philadelphia history in living color
Type: News Story
"Black Lives Always Mattered!", a graphic novel about prominent African Americans in Philadelphia’s history, is being shared with high school students.
January 11, 2022
The entrance to the Blockson Collection
Understanding Juneteenth with the Blockson Collection
Type: News Story
Explore Juneteenth through artifacts found at the Blockson Collection.
June 16, 2021
An illustrated copy of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Exploring the history of Juneteenth, a day of celebration and reflection
Type: News Story
The holiday’s legacy stretches back 155 years.
June 17, 2020
Eric Battle at the "Black Lives Always Mattered!" exhibition.
A new graphic novel brings African American history in Philadelphia to life
Type: News Story
"Black Lives Always Mattered!" highlights influential figures from the city’s past.
March 26, 2020
The entrance to the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection
Black History Month: Five must-see exhibits at the Blockson Collection
Type: News Story
The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection is the perfect place to visit for Black History Month.
February 7, 2020
Tupac diamond earring and gold crown medallion
See for yourself: Tupac Shakur material at Temple’s Blockson Collection
Type: News Story
The memorabilia includes a dozen handwritten documents and bullet-dented medallion.
November 1, 2018
David Cohen presenting historian Charles L. Blockson with the Philadelphia Award
Charles L. Blockson receives 2016 Philadelphia Award
Type: News Story
Blockson received the award, a nearly 100-year-old honor, for his service of the community through his work as a historian.
May 31, 2017
Charles Blockson speaking at a podium
Historian Charles Blockson to receive the Philadelphia Award
Type: News Story
Charles L. Blockson, founder of the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection, will receive the award at a ceremony on Temple’s campus on May 25.
April 25, 2017
Students listening to a woman from the Cecil B. Moore Freedom Fighters speak.
Arkansas students visit the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection
Type: News Story
University of Arkansas - Monticello students met with Philadelphians who took part in the fight to desegregate nearby Girard College.
April 7, 2016
Temple celebrates Juneteenth, honors first African American Marines
Type: News Story
In celebration of Juneteenth (June 19), the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection held an event to honor the Montford Point Marines, the first African Americans to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps.
June 20, 2012
Photos give inside view of African-American life from 1930s to 1960s
Type: News Story
Intimate scenes of African-American culture and life, captured by the prolific photographer John W. Mosley, are now on exhibit at the Philadelphia International Airport. The 55 photos on view, selected from the more than 300,000 images that comprise Mosley’s life’s work, bring one of the most treasured assets of the Charles L.
June 13, 2012
Blockson Collection at Temple will keep Tuskegee legacy alive
Type: News Story
Philadelphia-area survivors from the group have donated a trove of photographs, correspondence and other documents to the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection at Temple that will remind generations of the veterans’ noble service and sacrifice.
February 23, 2011