PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 3045
PRINTER'S NO. 3146
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
417
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY YOUNG, MAYES, HILL-EVANS, OTTEN, KHAN, WAXMAN,
GIRAL, KINSEY, BURGOS, ISAACSON, M. JONES, BOYD, SANCHEZ,
HOHENSTEIN, VITALI, PARKER, D. WILLIAMS, DALEY, CIRESI, SCOTT
AND GREEN, MAY 3, 2024
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON TOURISM AND ECONOMIC AND
RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS
AMENDED, MAY 21, 2024
A RESOLUTION
Designating June 8, 2024, as "Marian Anderson Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Marian Anderson was born February 27, 1897, in
Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, In 1919, Marian Anderson won the first scholarship
awarded by the National Association of Negro Musicians; and
WHEREAS, In 1924, Marian Anderson was the first African-
American artist to sign with RCA Victor Recording Company; and
WHEREAS, After winning a musical competition, Marian Anderson
became the first African-American artist to solo with the New
York Philharmonic on August 26, 1925; and
WHEREAS, In 1936, Marian Anderson was the first African
American to be invited to perform at the White House; and
WHEREAS, Even though she was quite famous at the time,
Marian Anderson was still denied rooms or service at certain
hotels and restaurants while touring across the country; and
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WHEREAS, Nevertheless, Marian Anderson was hosted on many
occasions by Albert Einstein; and
WHEREAS, On Easter Sunday 1939, after being granted approval
from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Marian Anderson became the
first individual to perform solo at the Lincoln Memorial, which
took place in front of an integrated audience of more than
75,000 people and was heard by millions of people on the radio;
and
WHEREAS, Marian Anderson continued to break borders for Black
artists by entertaining the troops in hospitals and bases during
World War II and the Korean War; and
WHEREAS, In 1941, Marian Anderson received the Edward Bok
Award for distinguished service to the City of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, In 1955, Marian Anderson broke the color barrier by
becoming the first African American to perform on the main stage
at the Metropolitan Opera; and
WHEREAS, Marian Anderson sang at the inaugurations of
President Dwight D. Eisenhower and President John F. Kennedy;
and
WHEREAS, Marian Anderson was officially appointed goodwill
ambassador to the United Nations by President Dwight D.
Eisenhower; and
WHEREAS, In 1963, Marian Anderson received the Presidential
Medal of Freedom from President John F. Kennedy; and
WHEREAS, In 1984, Marian Anderson was the first recipient of
the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award of the City of New
York; and
WHEREAS, Marian Anderson has been awarded honorary doctoral
degrees from Howard University, Temple University and Smith
College; and
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WHEREAS, Marian Anderson retired from singing in 1965, and
her achievements were honored with many recognitions, including
the Congressional Gold Medal in 1977, Kennedy Center Honors in
1978, the George Peabody Medal in 1981, the National Medal of
Arts in 1986 and a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in
1991; and
WHEREAS, Marian Anderson died of congestive heart failure on
April 8, 1993, at 96 years of age; therefore be it AND
WHEREAS, ON JUNE 8, 2024, THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA WILL
REDEDICATE ITS HOME, VERIZON HALL, AS THE FIRST MAJOR
PERFORMANCE SPACE NAMED MARIAN ANDERSON HALL, 85 YEARS AFTER
MARIAN ANDERSON WAS DENIED ACCESS TO CONSTITUTION HALL BECAUSE
OF HER RACE; THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate June 8,
2024, as "Marian Anderson Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize Marian
Anderson as a role model for young women, especially women of
color; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the legacy
of Marian Anderson, not only as one of the best contraltos of
the 20th century, but as a civil rights icon and native
Philadelphian.
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