[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 23 (Thursday, February 27, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E347]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                MARIAN ANDERSON--100TH BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE

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                           HON. CHAKA FATTAH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 27, 1997

  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of the 100th birthday of the 
great American opera singer, Marian Anderson, Carnegie Hall will 
resound with a tribute in her honor. On Thursday, February 27, 1997, 
Robert Shaw will conduct the orchestra of St. Luke's and the Morgan 
State University choir in the Marian Anderson 100th Birthday Tribute. 
The program will feature a range of music from operatic arias to 
spirituals reflecting the broad artistic reach of Ms. Anderson's 
repertoire. Celebrated guests, friend, and family will gather to 
remember this amazing woman with song, photographs, letters, and 
personal reminiscences. From her first performance at Carnegie Hall in 
1920 until her last in 1989, Ms. Anderson performed over 50 times on 
the Carnegie Hall stage--more than any other venue in her career.
  Born to Anna and John Anderson on February 27, 1897, in Philadelphia, 
PA, Marian Anderson became an internationally renowned contralto and an 
aspiring symbol to all who strive to achieve against tremendous odds. 
Ms. Anderson began her singing career like so many African-Americans, 
by singing in the church choir of Union Baptist Church where funds were 
raised to help pay for her voice lessons.
  In 1925, she won first prize at a contest held by the New York 
Philharmonic at Lewisohn Stadium. In 1930, she toured Europe, winning 
from Toscanini the tribute, ``the voice that comes once in a 100 
years.'' In 1939, Ms. Anderson became the center of national attention 
when the Daughters of the American Revolution [DAR], barred her from 
singing at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC and the subsequent 
refusal of the Washington, DC School Board to grant her use of Central 
High School's auditorium. Resulting publicity and DAR's public snub of 
Ms. Anderson, led the First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt to resign from DAR 
and Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes to invite Ms. Anderson to 
sing at the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939, which she 
did, to a huge crowd of supporters.
  In 1955, Ms. Anderson became the first African-American artist to 
perform at the Metropolitan Opera and was named as a delegate to the 
General Assembly of the United Nations by President Eisenhower. She 
earned many distinctions during her lifetime which included more than 
24 honorary degrees from various colleges and universities, medals from 
the Governments of Sweden, Finland, and Japan, America's 1986 National 
Medal of Arts and the first recipient of the Presidential Medal of 
Freedom.
  It is fitting, Mr. Speaker that we pause to create an official record 
in the annals of Congress in honor of this great American.

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