A rendering of the interior of the Blockson Collection’s new home illustrates a large area for displaying art, photographs, posters and ephemera as well as a reading area that is flooded with natural light.
Construction is under way on a new home for the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection. Designed by the Philadelphia architecture firm Kelly/Maiello, the larger, more prominent space on the first floor of Sullivan Hall promises to provide the kind of welcoming atmosphere that a world-class collection deserves.
“The Blockson Collection is one of the most significant collections in the country and has been a major asset to the university since it was donated, allowing students and scholars alike greater access to an important part of the American story. I am pleased and honored to play a role in ensuring the growth and sustenance of this national treasure,” said Temple Trustee Col. James S. White, co-chair with Deputy Provost Richard M. Englert of the Blockson Collection Endowment Committee.
Established by Temple University President Ann Weaver Hart to honor the legacy of renowned historian, author and bibliophile Charles L. Blockson, the Blockson Collection Endowment committee held its first meeting on Oct. 22. The committee is charged with raising funds for the preservation, restoration, dissemination and enhancement of the prestigious collection, which includes photographs, slave narratives, manuscripts, taped interviews, and other materials related to the African American experience. To begin the process of building resources, the President’s Office has committed $100,000.
