1. Marian Anderson
By Celia Graham

2. Where and when was Marian
Anderson born?
• Marian Anderson was
born on February 27,
1897. She was born in
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.

3. What was Marian Anderson’s
early life like?
• Marian Anderson grew up
in Philadelphia. She had
two younger sisters,their
names were Ethel May,
and Alyse. When she was
six she joined the
children's choir at her
church, Marian loved to
sing! When she was
twelve her father died.
Marian was heart broken!

4. What was Marian Anderson’s
education like?
• Marian Anderson took singing lessons with
Giuseppe Boghetti.
• Marian Anderson’s elementary school was
Stanton grammar school.
• Her high school was Penn high school, then
she transferred to South Philadelphia high
school.
• Marian Anderson did not go to college!

5. What was Marian Anderson’s
adult life and career like?
• Marian Anderson first appeared at town hall. She had begun to sing German songs and
the German songs were her favorites! Marian did not do so well at town hall, the people
there realized that she did not know what she was singing! Marian was sad, she loved
singing. Marian still liked the German songs, so she went to Germany to study German
songs. She also toured parts of Europe. When she sang for the people in Europe the
people loved her. In fact, so many people in Europe loved her the news reporters called
it “Marian fever”! Marian even sang for president Roosevelt and his wife! Now that’s
impressive! One day Marian was having a concert. She needed a place for her concert
to be at. Giuseppe Boghetti had booked for her to sing in the Lincoln memorial but
when she went in, the lady at the front desk said that she couldn’t sing there because she
was black! That hurt Marian a lot, but she didn’t give up and finally she was allowed to
give her concert on the steps of the Lincoln memorial! The concert was on Easter
Sunday in Washington D.C. From that day on Marian gave all kinds of concerts all
around the world! Marian Anderson gave hear last concert in New York in 1965.

6. What were Marian Anderson’s
accomplishments?
• Marian won a singing • Marian also became
contest in New York! the first black singer to
When she won the
sing a part in the
competition she was
thrilled! At first she didn’t Metropolitan Opera.
think she had won because On that day she was
weeks had passed and she very nervous but she
still didn’t get a letter but knew she would do
finally a letter came well and, she did!
saying that she had won!

7. What was Marian’s impact on
the world ?
Marian didn’t like that sometimes when she had
concerts and one side of the room would be for
back people and one side of the room would be for
white people. So one day she refused to sing
unless black and white people sat together. That
brought black and white people together!

8. What was Marian Andersons
the date and cause of death
Sadly, Marian Anderson died
on April 8, 1993 at the age of
96. She died from a wound