Two Women and their work for change.

This exhibit will focus on two great women of history. The focus will be on the mighty Anna Eleanor Roosevelt and her connection for women's rights and civil rights. This will close in on the effects Marian Anderson, big time African American singer, had on the country through the workings of Eleanor. The history and brief biography can be seen through pictures of each women and will extend into the story of how their paths crossed and what was accomplished by them without either women realizing that this one event could change the way America sees human rights. The story takes root in the event of the talented Marian Anderson singing at the Lincoln Memorial. This singular event holds so much importance in both women's lives. While Eleanor and Marian never became close and did not continue to work with each other this occasion shows well how very powerful Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt is. The courage, bravery, and passion for change it took for each women to commit to the event and take the actions to change could not be done by the weak of spirit. Rather Marian is just one example of the imprint Eleanor left during her time as first lady. The year is1939, the place Washington, DC and the environment was still a racially segregated city of Washington DC. 

Writtings and artifacts

This is a telegram sent from the first lady to John Lovell, Jr. of Howard University. February 26, 1939

Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) when it barred the world-renowned singer Marian Anderson, an African American, from performing at its Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. Following this  the federal government invited Anderson to sing at a public recital on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The DAR had adopted a rule excluding African-American artists from the Constitution Hall stage in 1932 following protests over "mixed seating," blacks and whites seated together, at concerts of black artists. On February 26, 1939, Mrs. Roosevelt submitted her letter of resignation to the DAR president. Mrs. Roosevelt told her readers of her daily column that in this situation, “To remain as a member implies approval of that action, therefore I am resigning.”

 

View of 75,000 people gathered to hear recital by Marian Anderson at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939
(National Archives, Still Picture Branch, 306-NT-965B-4 )

Sketch of the 1939 Lincoln Memorial Concert drawn by artist Mitchell Jamieson for his mural in the Interior Department Building, Washington, DC.

See a rough draft of Eleanor's news column speaking about the DAR here.

Who is Marian Anderson?

Marian Anderson was born in 1897 in South Philadelphia. At the heart of their community stood the Union Baptist Church. It was within these walls that Marian first began to sing. In this church was where she was soon ushered into the adult choir and her talent began to shine through at the age of 14. The church started a fund called the "Marian Anderson's Future Fund,"because they had such great faith in her ability to go far. Italian voice master, Giuseppe Boghetti remembers this first meeting as occurring "at the end of a long hard day, when I was weary of singing and singers, and when a tall calm girl poured out ‘Deep River' in the twilight and made me cry." While Philadelphia conservatories turned Marian away with the refusal, "We don't take colored," she quickly acquired influential fans who would aid her career. She went on to participate in a competition and that win prompted a European tour that brought about great fame among the people of Europe and she turned into a coveted performer. Despite the fact that she was the country's third highest concert box office draw, Marian was still subject to the racial bias of the time, especially in the United States.  The situation with the DAR brought about action by the first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and she was invited to sing at the steps of the Lincoln memorial on Easter Sunday. Feeling the meaning of the occasion, Marian had tears in her eyes when she delivered "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" and "America" with heart-breaking pathos. The event was so momentous and inspiring that the D.A.R. finally invited Marian to sing at the Hall in 1943 for a war relief concert. At that event, both black and white concert-goers attended.

Marian Anderson was the first African American invited to perform at the White House

FUN FACT: 
 In 1958 she was officially designated delegate to the United Nations, a formalization of her role as "goodwill ambassador" of the U.S. she played earlier, and in 1972 she was awarded the UN Peace Prize.

Marian Anderson Sings at Lincoln Memorial

This video show Marian Anderson on the steps of the Lincoln memorial Easter Sunday 1939. The recording allows you to hear her famous voice ring out to the ears of 75,00 people of all races gathering to hear a free concert and come together to her an African American singer preform in spite of the support against the concert.