Civil Rights Activist

Civil Rights Activist

Home Front Workers

Eleanor Roosevelt

Resigning from the DAR

"...your organization has failed."

"...I am in complete disagreement with the attitude taken in refusing Constitution Hall to a great artist. You have set an example which seems to me unfortunate, and I feel obliged to send in to you my resignation. You had an opportunity to lead in an enlightened way and it seems to me that your organization has failed."

Editor's Note: On February 26, 1939, Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the Daughter's of the American Revolution following the performance ban of renowned opera singer Marian Anderson. The racially segregated Constitution Hall barred African-American performers, like Anderson. Roosevelt's resignation thrust the subject of segregation onto the national stage. Marion Anderson received presidential approval to perform at the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday.

1939

Roosevelt, Eleanor. "Eleanor Roosevelt’s Resignation from the Daughters of the American Revolution.” Letter. From Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. http://docs.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/restxt.html (accessed December 14, 2017).