Holding History: The Collections of Charles L. Blockson

I am excited and honored to have Holding History:The Collections of Charles L. Blockson screened as part of the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival. This project was a labor of love for many years and has proven to be the most valuable and meaningful production experience of my career.

I met historian and collector Charles Blockson in 2010 when I interviewed him as part of our African American Chronicles project (blackhistory.psu.edu) and instantly fell in love. I realized that I was talking to a man who had dedicated his entire life to rescuing and preserving historical gems, when his own story was in danger of being lost. I knew then that I wanted to create a separate documentary about his life and contributions.

Our short documentary gives viewers a glimpse into the life of the octogenarian through the rare and precious items in his collections. We tell the story of a man who made sacrifices to create one of the most extensive collections of African American books and artifacts. But, this project is about more than just the items in the collection. It’s about more than Mr. Blockson’s story. It helps give context to a history that is often told with missing pieces. I believe in its ability to educate and inspire people of all ages.

I hope you enjoy the documentary and I know that it will be part of an impressive roster of films celebrating the beauty of the diversity that is all around us.