Marian Anderson’s concert dress goes on view in DC

Courier Newsroom

11 years ago

This April 9, 1939 file photo shows singer Marian Anderson performing on the steps of Washington’s Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday after she had been refused permission to perform in Washington’s Constitution Hall by the hall’s owners, the Daughters of the American Revolution. (AP Photo, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first time, an orange-and-black ensemble Marian Anderson wore during her historic performance at the Lincoln Memorial 75 years ago is going on display at the Smithsonian Institution.

This undated handout photo provided by the National Museum of American History shows a Shantung silk jacket, redesigned in 1993, and black velvet skirt worn by Marian Anderson during her historic performance on the Lincoln Memorial in Washington in 1939. (AP Photo/Hugh Talman)

In 1939, the classical singer was kept out of Washington’s D.A.R. Constitution Hall because she was Black.

Eleanor Roosevelt then resigned her membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution in protest and invited Anderson to perform at the memorial instead.

The two-piece concert attire is part of a collection recently donated to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture by Ginette DePreist of Scottsdale, Ariz.

DePriest is the widow of Anderson’s nephew.

The outfit was put on display Tuesday in Anderson’s honor.

Wednesday marks the 75th anniversary of Anderson’s Easter Sunday performance at the Lincoln Memorial.