Collection 'A Tempest in a Teapot'
First Lady Lou Hoover's invitation to Jessie L. DePriest to a White House tea party in 1929 created a storm of...
Jubilee Singers at the White House
Transcription of an 1882 newspaper article on their performance for President Chester Arthur
How Long? 1 minute
Photograph of The Fisk University Jubilee Singers, the first African American choir to perform at the White House, circa 1881.
Fisk University, Franklin Library Special CollectionsBy appointment the colored Fisk Jubilee singers, accompanied by Rev. Dr. Rankin, called yesterday to pay their respects to President Arthur, and while there sang several melodies, among them "Safe in the Arms of Jesus," which actually moved the President to tears. "I never saw a man so deeply moved," said Rev. Dr. Rankin, speaking of the incident last night, "and I shall always believe President Arthur to be a truly good man." The President frankly informed his visitors, after thanking them, that he had never before been guilty of so impulsive an exhibition of his feelings.
You Might Also Like
-
-
Bio Barack Obama
When Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, he became the first African American to hold the office. The framers of t...
-
The Working White House: A Mirror - The 20th Century
Twentieth-century historical forces and social movements left their marks on the working White House. In 1900, nearly 87,000 inhabitants (almost a third...
-
Fashion and Frugality
Sarah Childress Polk (1803–1891) was first lady from 1845 to 1849, during the administration of her husband, James Knox Polk. A fashion trendsetter, sh...
-
Presidential Valets
Throughout the history of the presidency, a president’s clothing choices have been influenced by a number of factors. Personal ba...
-
Emancipators
On April 2, 1814 British Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane issued a proclamation stating that "all persons who may be disposed" to escape...
-
The Association's Decatur House on Lafayette Square
In the year 2011 the White House Historical Association entered its fiftieth year. Established during the administration of President John F....
-
The Working White House: A Mirror - The 19th Century
The occupational culture and management of the 19th-century White House reflected the social climate and ethnic composition of Washington, D....
-
President's Park: A History of Protest at the White House
President’s Park is approximately 80 acres of urban landscape surrounding the White House. A fence encloses the house, providing 18 acres of...
-
African Americans in the White House Timeline
1790s: Construction on the President’s House began in 1792 in Washington, D.C., a new capital situated in sparsely settled re...
-
Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
From the streets of Selma to the walls of the White House, Martin Luther King, Jr. worked tirelessly for the...
-
The West Wing: 1950-1974
1953: President Truman's last speech as president.
