Collection First Children
What was it like to grow up in a home where some of the most important political decisions are being...
Main Content
Beginning with James Buchanan’s administration in the 1850s, black entertainers have held a prime spot among White House performers. Their contribution to the musical history of the White House has been a rich and generally little known segment of American cultural life. A performance by Thomas Greene Bethune, "Blind Tom" created a sensation in 1859. Although blind and likely autistic, he possessed extraordinary musical gifts and is said to have played like Beethoven, Gottschalk and Mozart. In 1878, diva Marie ("Selika") Williams appears to have been the earliest black artist to present a musical program at the White House. The Fisk Jubilee Singers introduced the "spiritual" as an American art form and came to the White House as part of a tour in 1882 that raised funds to benefit Fisk University. They became the first black choir to perform at the White House and their performance of "Safe in the Arms of Jesus," moved President Chester Arthur to tears. Another great performer was Sissieretta Jones (Black Patti), the daughter of a former slave, who sang opera arias and ballads for the Harrisons in 1892. A sensational vocalist, Jones received rave reviews and fame in a career that included performances at the White House for the Harrisons, McKinleys and Theodore Roosevelts. Black entertainers in the 19th century established a grand tradition of performance that evolved to embrace every variety of music–from opera to gospel and from jazz to symphonic.
What was it like to grow up in a home where some of the most important political decisions are being...
Since the James Madison presidency, St. John’s Church has been an important part of the life of Lafayette Square an...
This year marks the centennial of the 19th Amendment, the culmination of the suffragists' fight to secure the right to...
The collection of fine art at the White House has evolved and grown over time. The collection began with mostly...
Every year since 1981, the White House Historical Association has had the privilege of designing the Official White House Christmas Ornament....
Wine has a long and important history in the White House, playing a unique role in entertaining, public ceremonies, and...
In this first episode of 2021, White House Historical Association President Stewart D. McLaurin introduces the Association’s popular virtual program Hi...
President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to office at the height of the Great Depression. He ushered in an environment...
The White House Historical Association presents The 1600 Sessions, a podcast that explores the history, untold stories and personal accounts of...
Americans are familiar with the ceremonies of Inauguration Day, when a new President takes the oath of office at the...
President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s advocacy for the arts endures as a vital part of th...
Biographies & Portraits