Marian Anderson (1897-1993) was one of the great voices of the 20th Century. Her rich, vibrant contralto and extensive vocal range captivated audiences worldwide while the grace and dignity she displayed as an artist and as a citizen of the world made her a symbolic figure in one of the most important events in the struggle for civil rights.
Shantung silk jacket (redesigned in 1993) and black velvet skirt worn by Marian Anderson. (National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Ginette DePriest in memory of James DePriest, Photograph by Hugh Talman, Smithsonian Institution)
Shantung silk jacket (redesigned in 1993) and black velvet skirt worn by Marian Anderson. (National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Ginette DePriest in memory of James DePriest, Photograph by Hugh Talman, Smithsonian Institution)
The case on display in 2 East (Photograph by Jaclyn Nash, Smithsonian Institution)
The case on display in 2 East (Photograph by Jaclyn Nash, Smithsonian Institution)
Marian Anderson performing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, 1939 (Photographs by Robert S. Scurlock, Scurlock Studio Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History)
Marian Anderson performing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, 1939 (Photographs by Robert S. Scurlock, Scurlock Studio Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History)