The Paul Robeson House was the home of internationally renowned American bass-baritone concert singer, actor of film and stage, All-American and professional athlete, writer, multi-lingual orator, human rights activist, and lawyer

Paul Robeson Paul Leroy Robeson ( ; April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was an American bass-baritone concert artist, stage and film actor, professional football player, and activist who became famous both for his cultural accomplishments and for his p ...

from 1966 until 1976. Located in West Philadelphia, the Robeson House produces, presents and promotes traveling lectures, concerts and exhibits so that learning about Robeson is accessible to all ages and cultures.

Background

Robeson lived in the Walnut Hill neighborhood of West Philadelphia from 1966 until 1976, with his sister Marian Forsythe. In declining health, Robeson spent his time in Philadelphia in retirement. He refused most interviews, and saw only family and a few friends. In 1998 the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, under the direction of Ms. Frances Aulston, initiated a major campaign to restore the Paul Robeson House. Since then, the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission and the White House have officially recognized the museum as a national historic preservation site. The Paul Robeson House is an Official Project of Save America's Treasures public-private partnership between the White House Millennium Council and the National Trust for Historic Preservation of our nation's irreplaceable historic and cultural treasures for future generations. It was declared a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...

in 2000. The "House" produces lectures, concerts and exhibits to promote Robeson's legacy.

References

External links

* * * {{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania Paul Robeson National Historic Landmarks in Pennsylvania Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Philadelphia Robeson Biographical museums in Pennsylvania African-American museums in Pennsylvania Spruce Hill, Philadelphia