Block was a visual effects artist, matte artist, painter, illustrator and educator who worked as an artist in the film industry and later taught at California State University, Northridge. The collection consists of visual artwork and personal papers including film production records, three 16mm films, and California State University, Northridge Santa Susana Press records.

Irving Alexander Block (1910-1986) was born in New York City on December 2, 1910. Block was a visual effects artist, matte artist, painter, illustrator and educator. He attended New York University for his bachelor's degree and also studied at the National Academy of Design. During the 1930s he joined the Works Projects Administration's Federal Art Project. In the 1940s he moved to California and worked at 20th Century Fox as a matte shot artist. Block co-wrote the original story for the film Forbidden Planet . In 1963 he began teaching art at California State University, Northridge. Block continued teaching at CSUN until 1980, and died in 1986.

4.66 linear feet

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

This collection is open for research use.