Marian Anderson

Marian Anderson
Carl Van Vechten · Public domain · source
Name	Marian Anderson
Caption	Marian Anderson in 1940
Birth date	27 February 1897
Birth place	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Death date	8 April 1993
Death place	Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Occupation	Contralto
Years active	1920s–1965
Spouse	Orpheus Fisher, 1943, 1986

Marian Anderson was an American contralto and one of the most celebrated singers of the twentieth century. Her career became a pivotal symbol in the struggle for racial equality in the United States, most famously when she was barred from performing at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. in 1939. This act of discrimination led to her historic open-air concert at the Lincoln Memorial, a landmark event that galvanized public opinion against segregation and elevated her to an iconic status in the fight for civil and political rights.

Early life and education

Marian Anderson was born in 1897 in Philadelphia, the eldest of three daughters. Her family was active in the Union Baptist Church, where her vocal talent was recognized early; she joined the church choir at age six. After her father died, her mother worked as a laundress to support the family. Anderson attended Stanton Elementary School and later the William Penn High School, though she transferred to a dedicated music program at South Philadelphia High School. Her church congregation raised funds for her to study with renowned vocal coach Giuseppe Boghetti. Despite being denied admission to the Philadelphia Musical Academy (now the University of the Arts) because of her race, she continued private studies and won first prize in a competition sponsored by the New York Philharmonic in 1925.

Music career and rise to prominence

Anderson's professional career began with tours in the United States, but she achieved major acclaim in Europe during the 1930s. She studied in London and performed across the continent, receiving critical praise from figures like the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius and the Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini, who reportedly said hers was a voice heard "once in a hundred years." Her American breakthrough came with a triumphant recital at Town Hall in New York City in 1935. She subsequently performed with major orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra under Leopold Stokowski, and became a regular soloist with the New York Philharmonic. Her repertoire spanned spirituals, German lieder, and opera arias, and she signed a groundbreaking contract with RCA Victor, becoming one of the first African American artists to do so.

1939 Lincoln Memorial concert

In 1939, Anderson's manager, Sol Hurok, attempted to book a concert for her at Constitution Hall, owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The DAR, citing their "white artists only" policy, refused the booking. The ensuing controversy drew national attention, with prominent figures like Eleanor Roosevelt publicly resigning from the DAR in protest. With the support of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Interior Secretary Harold L. Ickes, an alternative was arranged: a free open-air concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939. Broadcast nationally by NBC radio, the event drew an integrated crowd of over 75,000 people. Anderson's performance, which included "America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee)," became a powerful symbol of the fight against segregation and is considered a direct precursor to the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.

Civil rights activism and legacy

Following the Lincoln Memorial concert, Anderson became an enduring symbol of the Civil rights movement. She performed for troops during World War II and, in 1943, finally sang at a desegregated Constitution Hall at a war relief concert. In 1955, she broke another significant color barrier when she became the first African American to perform a leading role at the Metropolitan Opera, singing Ulrica in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera. She was an active supporter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). In 1963, she returned to the Lincoln Memorial to sing at the March on Washington, sharing the stage with Martin Luther King Jr.. Her dignified artistry and quiet perseverance made her a role model and a key figure in using cultural achievement to challenge racial injustice.

Later life and honors

Anderson gave her farewell tour in 1964–1965, culminating in a final concert at Carnegie Hall. In her later years, she authored an autobiography, My Lord, What a Morning (1956), and was appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower as a delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Committee. She received numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1963), the Congressional Gold Medal (1977), a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1991), and the Kennedy Center Honors (1978). In 1986, her husband, architect Orpheus Fisher, passed away. Anderson spent her final years in Portland, Oregon, with her nephew, and died of congestive heart failure in 1993 at age 96. Her legacy is preserved at the Marian Anderson Historical Residence and Museum in Philadelphia, and she remains a foundational icon in both American music and the history of civil rights.