Charles Blockson dedicated his life to collecting Black history. Here are 23 notable items from the archive.

Charles Blockson, curator emeritus of the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection at Temple University Libraries and the Charles L. Blockson Collection of African-Americana and the African Diaspora at Penn State University Libraries, died earlier this month at 89.

The renowned historian made it his life’s mission to collect and showcase Black history after a teacher told him Black people had no history and only had the purpose of serving white people.

In 1984, the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection was donated to Temple University, and has become a resource for the Temple and North Philadelphia communities.

» READ MORE: Charles L. Blockson, celebrated historian of African American culture, scholar, and prolific author, has died at 89

Here are some of the most notable images and items housed in the collection, which is open to the public every weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.