some of charles blockson's ancestors were rescued by tubman. when these artifacts from harriet tubman came into your hands? >> nearly every item i picked up i started to cry. the tears just... my emotional armor erupted. >> reporter: the items include a silk shawl that was given to tubman by queen victoria and tubman's book of gospel hymns. blockson, though, says it felt wrong to keep them. so it felt like a burden momentarily? >> that's the word. an awesome burden. an awesome burden. >> reporter: so he donated the tubman artifacts-- most of them too fragile to be handled-- to the national museum of african american history and culture. this animation shows what it will look like. lonnie bunch is the founding director. >> when he called me and said "i have harriet tubman material" i didn't believe him. when he pulled out the hymnal, everybody started crying. >> reporter: charles blockson has no regrets about giving up his priceless tubman collection. >> in the inner chambers of my soul i believe that i did the right thing. they meant a lot to m

. >> 78-year-old charles blockson has been collecting african and african-american artifact for more high point came just last year when he inherited 39 items that belonged to harriet tubman. born into slavery, she escaped but returned to the south nearly 20 times leading hundreds of others to freedom on what came to be known as the underground railroad. some of charles blockson's ancestors were rescued by tubman. >> what was your reaction when these artifacts from harriet tubman came into your hands? >> nearly every item i picked up i started to cry. the tears just came. my emotional armor erupted. >> the items include a silk shawl that was given to tubman by queen victoria and tubman's book of gospel hymns. blockson, though says it felt wrong to keep them. >> so it felt like a burden momentarily. >> afterward. an awesome burden. an awesome burden. >> so he donated the tubman artifacts, most of them too fragile to be handled to the national museum of african-american history and culture. this animation shows what it will look like. lonnie bunch is the founding director. >> when he c