"HER VOICE WAS A RICH, VIBRANT CONTRALTO OF INTRINSIC BEAUTY"

MARIAN ANDERSON GIVES FREE CONCERT AT LINCOLN MEMORIAL

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 9, 1939, African-American contralto Marian Anderson* gave a free concert at the Lincoln Memorial, here in the Nation's Capital.

Miss Anderson was originally scheduled to perform at Constitution Hall but the concert was cancelled by the Daughters of the American Revolution.  First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the DAR in protest and arranged for Anderson to sing at the Lincoln Memorial.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower made Marian Anderson an honorary delegate to the United Nations.  Miss Anderson was invited by John F. Kennedy to sing the National Anthem at his inauguration on January 20, 1961.  Marian was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by JFK.

Music critic Alan Blyth wrote..."Her voice was a rich, vibrant contralto of intrinsic beauty."

*Marian Anderson (1897-1993) was born in Philadelphia & performed in church choir from the age of 6.  MA graduated from South Philadelphia High School in 1921 & won a NY Philharmonic competition in 1925.  She made her European debut in London in 1933 & gave 70 recitals each year in the late 1930s.

Marian Anderson Sings

Lincoln Memorial 

Washington, D.C.

April 9, 1939 

THE D.A.R. FAILED TO LEAD IN AN ENLIGHTENED WAY

MARIAN ANDERSON SINGS IN THE SHADOW OF LINCOLN

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 9, 1939, African-American contralto Marian Anderson* gave a free concert on Easter Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial here in the Nation's Capital.

Miss Anderson was originally scheduled to perform at Constitution Hall but the concert was cancelled by the Daughters of the American Revolution.  First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the DAR in protest and arranged for Anderson to sing at the Lincoln Memorial.

Mrs. Roosevelt wrote...

"I am in complete disagreement (with your decision)...you had an opportunity to lead in an enlightened way and it seems...your organization has failed."

President Dwight D. Eisenhower made Marian Anderson an honorary delegate to the United Nations and President John F. Kennedy invited her to sing the National Anthem at his inaugural.

*Marian Anderson (1897-1993) was born in Philadelphia, PA & became the 1st African-American singer to perform as a member of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.  Miss Anderson sang in the East Room in 1962.

Marian Anderson Sings 

Lincoln Memorial

April 9, 1939

JFK+50 TOP TEN POSTS: #10

JFK+50 TOP POST #10

Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Today we begin a review of the ten most popular posts of our JFK+50 blog since we began in November 2010.  This review will include updates and revisions of the original posts. 

Thanks to all our visitors worldwide.

MARIAN ANDERSON SINGS AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL 

April 9, 2011, Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) African-American contralto, Marian Anderson*, gave a free concert on Easter Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial, here in the Nation's Capital seventy-two years ago, April 9, 1939.

Marian Anderson 

Lincoln Memorial

April 9, 1939

Miss Anderson was originally scheduled to perform at Constitution Hall but the concert was cancelled by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who resigned from the DAR in protest, arranged for Anderson to sing at the Lincoln Memorial.

In her letter of resignation, Mrs. Roosevelt wrote...

"I am in complete disagreement with the attitude taken in refusing Constitutional Hall to a great artist.  You had an opportunity to lead in an enlightened way and it seems to me that your organization has failed."

President Dwight D. Eisenhower made Marian Anderson an honorary delegate to the United Nations and she was invited by President John F. Kennedy to sing the National Anthem at his inauguration on January 20, 1961.

She was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Mr. Kennedy.

Marian Anderson

by Carl Van Vechten

Library of Congress Image

*Marian Anderson (1897-1993) was born in Philadelphia, PA.  She grew up in the Union Baptist Church where she began singing in the choir at age six.  Four years later she sang in the People's Chorus.  With a scholarship provided by her church, MA took voice lessons and graduated from high school in 1921.

Although denied entrance into the Philadelphia Music Academy, she won 1st Prize in a 1925 NY Philharmonic contest.  She performed with the group on Aug. 26, 1925 and at Carnegie Hall in 1928.  Miss Anderson died at the age of 96 in Portland, Oregon.