Marian Anderson

Marian Anderson gave her first public performance at the age of 6, wowing the congregation at her Baptist church. The community believed in Anderson’s gift so completely that it sponsored her voice lessons. None of them could have guessed that the young Anderson would grow up to be the first black artist invited to entertain at the White House and to sing at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.
Before retiring in 1965, she made concert tours throughout the world and appeared in all the leading concert halls. Anderson is represented in a mural at the Department of the Interior, commemorating the Easter Sunday 1939 concert in which she sang for 75,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial after being barred, because of her race, from performing in Washington’s Constitution Hall. Five years later, Anderson was invited to sing in Constitution Hall at a benefit for Chinese relief. She also performed at the inaugurations of Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy.
In 1957, Anderson toured the Far East as a goodwill ambassador and, a year later, she was appointed United States Delegate to the United Nations by President Eisenhower.
She received decorations from Sweden, the Philippines, Haiti, Liberia, France, Finland, and numerous cities and states in America, including the Bok Award, the Springarn Medal and numerous honorary degrees. She was named to the National Council of Arts in 1966 and received a lifetime-achievement Grammy award in 1991.
She died in 1993 at the age of 96.
BLACKWELL RECIPIENTS
May 16, 2021
Librarian of Congress Carla HaydenFebruary 3, 2021
Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader GinsburgJanuary 22, 2015
Dr. Janet L. YellenNovember 10, 2013
The Most Reverend Doctor Katharine Jefferts SchoriOctober 27, 2011
Eunice Kennedy Shriver-
April 23, 2009
Rabbi Sally J. Priesand -
April 24, 2008
Dr. Wangari Maathai Sc.D.'94, P '94, P '96 -
April 27, 2007
Dr. Priscilla A. Schaffer '64, Sc.D. '94 -
September 7, 2004
Bishop Barbara Clementine Harris September 9, 2003
Loretta C. FordSeptember 4, 2001
Madeleine K. AlbrightMay 15, 1998
Billie Jean KingFebruary 10, 1996
Wilma MankillerSeptember 23, 1993
Barbara JordanSeptember 27, 1991
Margaret Chase SmithFebruary 22, 1991
Dr. Antonia C. NovelloFebruary 19, 1988
Barbara Aronstein BlackOctober 9, 1985
Cicely SaundersMarch 8, 1985
Sandra Day O’ConnorFebruary 11, 1984
Hannah Holborn GrayFebruary 26, 1982
Agnes George de MilleFebruary 15, 1980
Mary Douglas LeakeySeptember 30, 1977
Mary S. CalderoneOctober 3, 1975
Antonia BricoJanurary 23, 1974
Frances Keller HardingMay 28, 1973
Judith Graham PoolJune 8, 1972
Marian AndersonApril 10, 1972
Mary LaskerJune 13, 1971
Mina ReesJune 14, 1970
Helen Brooke TaussigJune 15, 1969
Georgiana SibleyJune 16, 1968
Constance Baker MotleySeptember 8, 1967
Catharine MacfarlaneJuly 10, 1966
Fe del MundoJune 13, 1965
Annette LeMeitour-KaplunJune 14, 1964
Margaret MeadJune 9, 1963
Marty MannJune 10, 1962
Frances PerkinsJune 18,1961
Leona BaumgartnerJune 12, 1960
Miki SawadaJune 14, 1959
Elisabeth Luce MooreSeptember 27, 1958
Gwendolyn Grant Mellon