Items

• Letter, John Hassett to Miss Marian Anderson, December 31, 1957
  Little is known about John Hassett, the person. The letter was written on proprietor’s stationery for a South Norwalk, Connecticut retail shop specializing in religious goods, greeting cards, novelties, and gift wrapping (HASSETT’S Religious Goods1962).
• Letter, Charlie Hall Jr. to Miss Anderson, May 5, 1939
  A letter from Charlie Hall Jr., a 16-year-old African American farmer and 10th-grade student from Lawndale, North Carolina, to singer Marian Anderson, dated May 5, 1939. Written shortly after Anderson’s historic Easter concert at the Lincoln Memorial, the letter conveys Hall’s admiration for her artistry and resilience, as well as parallels to his own life. Weeks earlier, Charlie had heard Anderson’s voice—maybe through the radio, maybe from news of her historic performance at the Lincoln Memorial and called it “beautiful”.
• Letter, Jane Frink to Miss Marian, September 9, 1974
  Hoosier Jane Frink was an avid singer in high school and college. She garnered numerous awards and medals, according to print media accounts (The Terre Haute Tribune 1974), (The Terre Haute Tribune 1976). She married in 1981, though it was uncertain as to whether her vocal career blossomed (Frink n.d.).
• Letter, Mary Helen Stanek to Marian Anderson, February 21, 1952
  Mary Helen Stanek, age 71 was never married but was a lifelong cat lover (Mary Helen Stanek Obit 1941 ). The birthday card and brief letter was from Mary age 10, of Lehigh, Iowa, to Marian Anderson, dated February 21, 1952. Stanek writes to wish Anderson “years and years of happiness” upon discovering they share the same birthday, February 27th.
• Letter, Dutch Barhydt to Miss Anderson, May 16,1971
  Dutch’s (b. 1958) letter implies that he is a dedicated collector. For a 13 year old (U.S., City Directories: Dirck Barhydt Jr, n.d.), his objective is collecting original signatures from famous and influential people, including presidents and prime ministers. The teenager successfully acquired Miss Anderson’s signature.
• “Meet the Hinksons.”
  “Meet the Hinksons of Philadelphia, Penna.” is a six-page magazine article published in the Ladies’ Home Journal series “How America Lives” in August 1942. The article highlights the everyday life of the Hinkson family, including education, careers, fashion, travel, and home, and the impact of various wars on their lives.
• Mrs. M. S. Patterson annual event news clipping
  News clipping about dance recital, "The Unveiling of Spring". Mary Emma Saunders (1872 - 1950) was not widely known beyond Philadelphia's church circles and musical societies. Mrs. Mary Saunders Patterson had cultivated a reputation for nurturing young voices with precision and discipline.