Samuel L. Paley LibraryCLOSED
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Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection
- Staff and Contact Information
- Directions
- Hours
- Facility Policies and Schedule
- General Collection
- Selected African American Internet Resources
- William Still: An African-American Abolitionist
- African American Studies Research Guide
- African Americans in Philadelphia
- Publications
- Special Collections
- Worldwide Library Catalogs
The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection is one of the nation's leading research facilities for the study of the history and culture of people of African descent. This collection of over 500,000 items has materials on the global black experience in all formats: books, manuscripts, sheet music, pamphlets, journals, newspapers, broadsides, posters, photographs, and rare ephemera.
In addition, the collection houses selected artifacts, such as statues and busts. The collection must be used in-house.
Help preserve and improve accessibility to the rich, historical holdings found in the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection, as well as grow the collection. Donate to the collection endowment today. This fund will ensure that these materials remain accessible for current and future generations of students, scholars and the community.
The Pennsylvania Slave Trade
Enslaved African people who survived the brutal “Middle Passage” – voyage from Africa to the Caribbean Islands and the Americas – de-embarked on the Delaware River Waterfront as early as 1639 by the Dutch and Swedes. Quaker William Penn, and other Philadelphia merchants purchased and enslaved African men, women and children upon their arrival. As the institution of slavery increased, these courageous African people persevered and performed integral roles in the building of Pennsylvania and our nation.
Charles L. Blockson, Curator Emeritus and Founder of the Charles L. Blockson Afro- American Collection at Temple University, researched and submitted application for the State Historical Marker, approved by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and paid for by Mr. Blockson in the amount of $1,625.00
The Unveiling of Portraits of Charles L. Blockson (Video Courtesy of Word-4-Word Productions)
Watch more videos from the Collection
Give online now or call the Department of Library External Affairs & Advancement, 215-204-9305.
Maintained by Aslaku Berhanu
send comments to aberhanu@temple.edu
