[2 Scrapbooks, holiday cards & some correspondences, 1940-1945]

[FIRST CLIPPING] Philadelphia Record Friday July 19 1940

MARIAN ANDERSON BREAKS ALL RECORDS AT ROBIN HOOD DELL

[photograph] [caption] Part of the record crowd of 17000 who heard Philadelphias great Negro singer Marian Anderson in her debut at the Dell last night. The crowd included [included] 5000 listeners out of sight on the hillside above the Dell after the S.R.O. [Standing Room Only] sign was hung out before 8 o clock.

17000 Overflow Park Dell To Hear Marian Anderson

Philadelphia opened its heart last night in its greatest popular ovation to one of its first citizens as Marian Anderson Negro singer [singer] made her first appearance at Robin Hood Dell.

Every previous record for the Dell was broken as more than 17000 persons swarmed into Fairmount Park and sat on the benches on the banks and in the field above - wherever they could get a toe-hold or a square foot of space - to hear Miss Anderson give a program with the men of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Efren Kurtz of the Ballet Russe conducted the program.

12000 Jammed Inside.

[quote] Just 12000 people got inside the Dell enclosure [end quote] reported William [William] K. Huff Dell manager. [quote] At that point we had to turn them away. The ticket sale closed at 10 minutes of 8 o clock 40 minutes [minutes] before the program and we turned away 5000. At least that many people found the best spots they could in the field above the Dell. [end quote]

For that comparison it may be noted [noted] that the Dells greatest previous [previous] audience that for Oscar Levant pianist several weeks ago ran to 10200.

Miss Andersons audeiince was of all sorts from all ranks of Philadelphia life.

Near Riot on Arrival.

Miss Anderson arrived at 8.22 o clock and her arrival though a misunderstanding of her chauffeur [chauffer] resulted in a [quote] near riot. [end quote]

Her car stopped first at the main Dell gate instead of at the stage entrance in the rear and several thousand people surged around the limousine almost tipping it over in their anxiety to get a glimpse of the singer.

For the first time at a Dell concert [concert] too the Star Spangled Banner [Banner] was omitted at the opening of the program.

[quote] With all those thousands on the banks we couldnt risk the accidents that might have followed [followed] their rising for the national anthem [end quote] Huff explained.

Gate Receipts $9000.

While official figures of the gate receipts were not available last night it was estimated that following former averages the total was around $9000.

During the intermission Miss Anderson who appeared in a powder blue gown of crepe de chine with insets of lace was her poised modest self as in her dressing-room beneath the Dell stage she showed her pleasure in Philadelphias great outdoor welcome.

After the program Miss Anderson [Anderson] invited a few close friends to her home to meet Burleigh. She is returning to New York today.

Miss Anderson will sing tomorrow night in Lewisohn Stadium [Stadium] New York and then will take a short vacation until late in August when she will start work on her program for the fall and winter season.

[SECOND CLIPPING]

Music

Marian Anderson At Dell

By Edwin H. Schloss

The appearance of Marian Anderson [Anderson] as soloist of last nights Dell concert not only set a new all-time record for summer concert [concert] attendances in this city but at the same time brought the season [season] to a new peak of artistic achivement.

Miss Anderson is of course no stranger to the music lovers of her native city. She was heard here three times last season. But rarely has she sung better than in her Dell debut last night despite [despite] the fact that the amplification [amplification] necessary to an outdoor appearance [appearance] does not flatter her voice.

Her most elaborate offering was [quote] O Mio Fernando [end quote] from Doniettis [quote] La Favorita. [end quote] This is an aria which Miss Anderson has frequently sung is in fact the vehicle on which she rode to her first major triumph here and in New York about 15 years ago.

Suited to Voice.

It is music particularly suited to her voice and the spacious dignity [dignity] and restrained fire of her style. She has always sung it with distinction. Last night she sang it superbly. Much the same

can be said of her opening number [number] - the familiar [quote] Largo [end quote] from Handels [quote] Xerxes [end quote] which is also music to be sung with all the nobility of expression and loftiness [loftiness] of line which characterize Miss Andersons best moods.

The audience almost frantically [frantically] appreciative at all times seemed particularly responsive to the group of Spirituals with which the evening closed. These snug with inimitable feeling for the spirit and the flesh included [quote] All Gods Chillun [Children] [end quote] and [quote] Sometimes [Sometimes] I feel Like a Motherless Chile [Child] [end quote] as well as the art Spiritual [Spiritual] [quote] Deep River [end quote]. [quote] All Gods Chillun [Children] [end quote] was repeated as one encore [encore] and Schuberts [quote] Ave Maria] [end quote] with Joseph Levin at the piano was another.

Kurtz on Program.

The Anderson triumph somewhat [somewhat] obscured the fact that there was another Dell debutant on last nights stage. He was Efrem Kurtz better known as the conductor of the Monte Carlo Ballet orchestra.

Mr. [Mister] Kurtz not only was on the podium for Miss Andersons accompaniments [accompaniments] but contributed several purely orchestral numbers [numbers] of his own which were all warmly received. These included a most impressive and musicianly reading of the Brahms Fourth Symphony as well as Aubers [quote] Masaniello Overture [end quote] Berliozs [quote] Hungarian March [end quote] an orchestral [orchestral] transcription of a Bach chorale and a Scherzo from the [quote] Symphonie Brevis [end quote] by John Becker a young Chicago composer.

613 N. 43 Street Philadelphia, Penn [January 4, 1945]

Dear Miss Anderson, We the boys and girls of the 7a class appreciated your having made possible for us to see the certificate of invitation and other papers you received at Harrisburg at the last election. The information we received from the documents was especially interesting because we learned something about Electoral College. As a member of the class I am proud to know that you represented your race at such an important event I hope you will visit our school soon and until then I remain Sincerely yours Donald Dickson

4336 [Reno??] St. Philadelphia, Penn [January 2, 1945]

I am a pupil of the Martha Washington School. My name is Barbara Bailey. The children of room 306 thank you very

923 N. 43rd Street, Philadelphia, Penn [January 3, 1945]

Dear Miss Anderson:

I am a pupil of the Martha Washington schools seventh grade. Our class was fortunate to hear and examine your papers

64 N. 44th Street Philadelphia, Pa. [January 23, 1945]

Miss Anderson:

I ama pupil of the Martha Washington School Grade 7a. Our class wishes to thank you very much for sending the papers of the Electoral College to Miss [Booker??]. I think that you are very fortunate to have been a member of the Electoral College. We would appreciate a visit from

1211 Columbia Rd N.W. Washington, D.C. [March 25, 1945]

Dear Alyse, I want to again tell you what a grand piece of work you put over in sponsoring the testimonial for Marshall Shepard. The evening was most enjoyable for everything was perfect. Your program, your dinner and particularly your own intimate gathering of your friends in your home. Though you must have been terribly tired you were a charming hostess. Seeing you again at Evelyn's really topped a most delightful week end.

I shall always be happy to see you. Nell joins me in the best of luck and good wishes.

Sincerely, Sadie Engram

Executive Mansion Harrisburg, PA. [December 20, 1944]

Dear Mr. Wolf:

I don't know that I have ever had a more pleasant surprise than I had when the American Beauties arrived from the Electoral College. They are perfectly exquisite and you can be sure they will much to hasten my recovery. In fact, I am up today for the first and the doctor assures me "if I behave myself" I will be able to leave for Kentucky on Friday night, where the Governor and I plan to spend part of Christmas with our son who is in camp there.

It was a keen dissappointment to me that I wasn't able to at least come down stairs and be with you all at breakfast on Monday but, as you know, I was running a high temperature that day and had to stay in bed.

The Governor and I were delighted to think that the members of the Electoral College would be good enoughto give an hourof thier busy day to us here at the Mansion. It was a privilege which we enjoyed thoroughly and my only regret was that I too could not be with you.

Won't you thank everyone of the members for thier kind thought of me and extend to them my heartiest appreciation, and with every good wish for a Happy Holiday Season,

Most sincerely,

Charity S. Martin