4/9/1939: Contralto Marian Anderson performed at Lincoln Memorial. Daughters of the American Revolution barred her from performing at Washington DC’s Constitution Hall because Anderson was Black; First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt invited her to sing at the Lincoln Memorial.

Image: Hilton Archive/Getty.

April 09, 2026 - 20:31 UTC

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Never occurred to me that this was on Confederacy Defeat Day, the anniversary of Lee’s surrender. This only makes it more awesome.
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DAR claims it was a scheduling conflict
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See also: People and organizations are capable of change (at least to some extent):
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/04/black-daughters-american-revolution/686688/
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The DAR has made great efforts to amend that wrong, not enough but - better late than never as they say.
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Four decades later, I saw Peter Tosh and Jimmy Cliff perform at DAR Constitution Hall — complete with a giant cloud of ganja smoke!🤯😂
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Why isn’t the digital image available online from the Library of Congress?
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My grandmother was the second soprano for the Boston opera in 1890. She was also a founding member of the DAR. She resigned from the DAR in 1939 because Marion Anderson wasn’t allowed to sing.
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Also, my grandmother’s sister was the first soprano of the Boston opera in 1890
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new follower. love history. enjoying the bites of old, modern and new. thank you.
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Bigger venue
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I just learned about this (and many other events from that time period) when reading The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.
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We need Eleanor now
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Eleanor was a classy dame, and so was Marian.
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I adore Eleanor Roosevelt
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Just listen
youtu.be/mAONYTMf2pk?si=VQxrvRCaXxcCzpIF
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We need more Eleanors.
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What a moment that must have been. Due to obvious technology limitations, most old opera recordings I find off putting (lots of quavery voices). Anderson’s voice in this 1939 recording is both clear and majestic - and she certainly won over that massive crowd. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF9Quk0QhSE
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Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was one of the greatest Americans to ever live. Named my daughter Anna as a tribute.
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I learned this from Eddie Murphy of all people
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