Marian Anderson House

Marian Anderson House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Marian Anderson House, June 2011
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Location	762 South Martin Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	39°56′32″N 75°10′29″W
Area	less than one acre
Built	c. 1870, c. 1925, c. 1940
Architectural style	Italianate
NRHP reference No.	11000198[1]
Added to NRHP	April 14, 2011

The Marian Anderson House is a historic home located in the Southwest Center City neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Built circa 1870 in the same neighborhood where opera singer and civil rights advocate Marian Anderson was born 27 years later, this two-story, brick rowhouse dwelling was designed in the Italianate style. Purchased by Anderson in 1924, the same year she became the first African-American concert artist to record spirituals for a major American recording company, she continued to reside here until 1943.^[2] The house is currently home to the Marian Anderson Museum and Historical Society.^[3]

History and architectural features

The Marian Anderson House was built circa 1870 as a two-story, brick terraced dwelling in the Italianate style. A studio was added above the previously one-story, rear kitchen ell sometime around 1925. The home was then extensively renovated circa 1940. It served as the residence of opera singer and civil rights advocate Marian Anderson from 1924 to 1943.^[4]

This historic residence was added to the National Register of Historic Places in April 2011.^[1][5][6]

Marian Anderson Museum and Historical Society

The property currently houses the Marian Anderson Museum and Historical Society. The organization was founded by Blanche Burton-Lyles. Its current CEO is Jillian Patricia Pirtle.^[3][7]

Flood damage and restoration

In 2020, pipes burst in the home causing significant damage to both the structure and Anderson memorabilia.^[7]

In July 2021, the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced plans to grant the Marian Anderson Museum and Historical Society $75,000 for the purpose of repairing the home's exterior.^[7] The Marian Anderson Memorial Fund Task Force, a group that is working to erect a monument to Marian Anderson at the Academy of Music, has stated that it plans to use some of the funds raised to assist with additional repairs to the home.^[7]

In December 2022, the Daughters of the American Revolution donated $150,000 to the museum to help with restoration costs.^[8]

See also

• Marian Anderson: The Lincoln Memorial Concert
• List of music museums

References

1. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 4/11/11 through 4/15/11. National Park Service. 2011-04-22.
2. "Marian Anderson Historical Residence & Museum: Preserving the legacy of one of the world's greatest contraltos," in "Visit Philly." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: City of Philadelphia, retrieved online September 29, 2019.
3. Rivera, Tiffany (2021-07-26). "The Marian Anderson Museum in South Philly gets a financial boost and a statue in front of the Academy of Music". AL DÍA News. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
4. "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania" (Searchable database). CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Note: This includes Lindsey Allen (December 2010). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Marian Anderson House" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-07-05.
5. "William Penn's Legacy: A Tradition of Diversity." Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 2010-2011.
6. "Department of the Interior: National Park Service: National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions," in Federal Register, Vol. 76, No. 61, March 30, 2011, p. 17670.
7. "Proposed Philadelphia sculpture of Marian Anderson advances". AP NEWS. 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
8. "Repairs to the Marian Anderson Museum to Commence with $150,000 Donation from DAR". Daughters of the American Revolution. December 20, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2024.

External links

• Marian Anderson Historical Society website
• "Visions 2018: Touring the Marian Anderson Museum" (video). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: ABC-6 TV, February 12, 2018.
• Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) No. PA-23, "Marian Anderson Heritage Village, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA", 17 data pages