Music Video

Tell us about Marian Anderson

January 2017

Discussion about Marian Anderson's pivotal concert at the Lincoln Memorial while highlighting the outfit she wore that will be on display in the permanent music exhibition "Musical Crossroads" at the new National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Smithsonian Artifact Featured in this Video

Caption
The skirt and the decorative trim on the orange jacket were worn by Marian Anderson in 1939 when she sang at the Lincoln Memorial. In 1993, with Anderson’s permission, the original velvet jacket was remade using silk fabric.
Description
This is a virtual record for the orange tailored silk shantung jacket and black velvet skirt worn by Marian Anderson at her Lincoln Memorial Concert in 1939.
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Created by
Unidentified
Subject of
Marian Anderson, American, 1897 - 1993
Date
1939; modified 1993
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Ginette DePreist in memory of James DePreist
Medium
Jacket: silk, metal, thread, sequin;
Skirt: nylon velveteen, tulle, metal, cloth
Dimensions
Jacket on form: 26 × 23 × 19 in. (66 × 58.4 × 48.3 cm)
Skirt on form: 44 × 36 × 38 in. (111.8 × 91.4 × 96.5 cm)
Type
jackets
skirts