In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Marian Anderson’s historic Lincoln Memorial concert, the DAR launched a project to create a subject guide on documents related to Marian Anderson found within the NSDAR Archives. This online gallery features a sampling of these documents, including new primary source documents that were uncovered during the processing of a 2016 NSDAR Archives’ acquisition, the Sarah Robert Papers (DAR President General from 1938-1941). The archival project is ongoing, but the NSDAR Archives Marian Anderson Resource Guide can be accessed on the Marian Anderson Resources page.
This online exhibit provides a glimpse into some of the materials found within the DAR’s various collections. The featured documents have been organized based upon the general timeline of events related to the DAR’s refusal of Marian Anderson to perform in Constitution Hall, an action which ultimately led to the historic concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on April 9, 1939.
For more information about the launch of the archival project, please visit: www.dar.org/MarianAndersonArchivalProject. To learn more about how the DAR celebrates the life and legacy of Marian Anderson, visit www.dar.org/MarianAnderson.