Black Heritage Association Launches the Alan & Laverne Blanks Black Book & Memorabilia Collection Fundraiser

 

Historic Collection of African American Literature and Memorabilia Preserves Black History and Culture for Future Generations

ALLENTOWN, PA June 16th 2026— The Black Heritage Association of the Lehigh Valley (BHALV) is proud to announce the official launch of the Alan & Laverne Blanks Black Book & Memorabilia Collection, one of the most significant privately assembled collections of African American literature, history, and cultural memorabilia in the Lehigh Valley.

The collection, generously donated by community philanthropist Laverne Blanks, widow of the late Alan Blanks, contains thousands of books, rare publications, historical documents, and cultural artifacts spanning more than two centuries of African American history and scholarship. Many of the titles date back to the 1800s and represent the voices, struggles, achievements, and intellectual contributions of Black authors, historians, educators, activists, and leaders. The collection is believed to include more than 3,000 volumes and related memorabilia, making it one of the most extensive African American literary collections in the region.

To support the preservation, cataloging, and public accessibility of this remarkable archive, BHALV is launching a Book & Memorabilia Fundraiser. Proceeds from the fundraiser will help fund the ongoing inventory, preservation, digitization, cataloging, educational programming, and public exhibition of the collection.  Read more