PHILADELPHIA – A special gift is coming to the Marian Anderson Museum and Historical Society this holiday season. The museum will receive a donation of $150,000 from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

The donation will assist with critical repairs following a 2020 incident when water pipes burst at the historic home of the late singer and civil rights advocate. Furniture and belongings of the late singer, as well as the house itself, were severely damaged. Shuttered to visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Museum remains closed to visitors due to the damage.

"Our great Marian Anderson is one of the most important historical figures of the 20th century, remembered for her groundbreaking exceptional music artistry and humanitarianism. We have faced a devastating loss from our flooding disaster. It is a great blessing to have the support of the DAR during this difficult time,” said Jillian Patricia Pirtle, CEO of the National Marian Anderson Museum and Historical Society. “We recognize the magnitude of this historic and significant donation that is being presented and we are most sincerely and humbly grateful to DAR President General Pamela Rouse Wright and the DAR membership for showing their reverence for Marian Anderson and their desire to see her historic home landmark museum and cultural institution be fully restored to reopen to the public for in person touring and programming once again for future generations to come.”

The funds will cover more than $140,000 in high priority and immediate repairs and restoration at the Marian Anderson Museum. After the repairs are completed, the Philadelphia Historical commission will do a site inspection to determine if the museum can reopen to the public.

“Our honor and privilege is to support the work of the Marian Anderson Museum and Historical Society,” said DAR President General Pamela Wright. “This gift recognizes DAR’s historic relationship with Marian Anderson and helps restore an important historic landmark for the public.”

Repairs will be made to pipes and plumbing, gas heating, the furnace, the kitchen, the washer room, tile and electrical systems. The interior will be painted and damaged artifacts and performance gowns will be restored and repaired. Structured enclosures for artifacts and mannequin displays will also be purchased.

After the pipes burst, the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia conducted a 400-page condition assessment report that identified a total of $492,437 worth of damage. To date, donations and grants have been able to address about $68,000 in repairs at the house.

This donation supports the DAR’s on-going efforts to honor the memory of Marian Anderson. In 1939, opera singer Marian Anderson was denied the opportunity to perform in DAR Constitution Hall because of her race. She subsequently performed an historic concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to a crowd of 75,000 people. Afterwards, the DAR recognized the need for change and Marian Anderson sang at DAR’s Constitution Hall on a number of occasions.

You can learn more about the relationship and history between the DAR and Marian Anderson at www.dar.org/MarianAnderson.

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About the Marian Anderson Museum and Historical Society
Located at 762 Martin Street in Philadelphia, the Marian Anderson Museum & Historical Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Marian Anderson, the late African American classical singer (1897-1993). The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011 and is also a designated Philadelphia Historical Commission landmark. The organization manages and showcases Marian Anderson’s historic residence as a museum giving thematic educational tours about her life and history. The organization also supports the development and performance of young professional classical and performing artist scholars with the National Scholar Artist Program that Marian Anderson created in 1950. For more information visit marianandersonhistoricalsociety.weebly.com.

About the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
One of the largest patriotic women’s service organizations in the world, DAR has 190,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters across the country and several foreign countries. DAR members promote historic preservation, education and patriotism via commemorative events, scholarships and educational initiatives, citizenship programs, service to veterans, meaningful community service and more. For additional information about DAR and its relevant mission, visit www.dar.org.