Audience enters the Town Hall in New York to hear a recital by Marian Anderson on December 30, 1935. Curtains are opened. Marian Anderson stands beside a pianist on the stage. Audience applauds. She sings while the pianist plays. Marian Anderson bows to the audience. Curtains are closed. Two assistants help Marian sit in a chair because she has been performing with a broken ankle. View of the streets in the District of South Philadelphia., Marian's native hometown. Marian's mother Mrs Anna Anderson at her home. Shots of members of the Union Baptist Church passing an offering plate to raise money to aid Marian Anderson. Marian Anderson talks with manager Sol Hurok in dressing room. Marian Sings during another concert. Crowd applauds as she finishes. View of the New York Times showing name of Marian Anderson in the roster list of great American artists. Montage shows Marian's concerts cards, awards received by Marian from city foundations, the Philadelphia Bach Award of 10,000 dollars in 1941. Marian performs outside at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, USA on Easter Sunday April 9, 1939. Thousands in attendance at the concert as she sings My Country Tis of Thee.
Opening scene shows a military parade along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, in honor of the visit of British King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The parade is led by a contingent of mounted Army cavalry. Spectators line the sidewalks. The Capitol building is clearly visible in the background. Closeup of Cavalry passing the camera. Closeup of King George VI with President Roosevelt conversing in an open automobile. Both are formally dressed. The President wears a top hat. Riding in the back of a car are First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt and Queen Elizabeth, together with a Navy officer. Next, seen posing on the porch of the Roosevelt family home, Springwood, at Hyde Park, New York, are: First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt; King George VI; the President's mother, Sara Ann Delano Roosevelt; Queen Elizabeth; and President Roosevelt. Camera pans in closeup across the group, as they engage in friendly conversation.
Senator William Edgar Borah,Republican Senator from Idaho,addresses in a conference in Washington DC. Borah warns U.S. to pay heed to Washington's advice and continue adopting the Monroe Doctrine as part of U.S. National Defense.1939.
A bird's eye views of Department of agriculture building, Department of commerce, The U.S. Capitol, Administrative building of department of agriculture and White house. On the front of administrative building of department of agriculture inscription "US department of agriculture" can be clearly seen. Employees' entering the department of agriculture, corridor of the building can be seen. October 1939.
Front of East wing bureau of animal industries. Interiors of Agronomy laboratory of department of agriculture. People at work, grains are cleansed, weighed and graded for tests. Agronomists are shown placing oats into thrasher, then oats going into thrasher. Grains stored in sacks and corns are kept in boxes. A botanist weighing the corn kernel. October 1939.
Capitol Building and Lincoln Memorial (2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NW, Washington, DC 20002) at Washington D.C. U.S. Military Academy cadets marching at West Point. Scene then blends to close up view of U.S. Army troops marching, wearing helmets and shouldering rifles with fixed bayonets, in World War I. Scene then blends again to U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen marching at Annapolis. Visitors walking the grounds of Mount Vernon. Statue of George Washington at 1939 New York World’s Fair. Re-enactment of the Crossing of the Delaware. Lincoln's Statue at the Lincoln Memorial. An actor portrays Abraham Lincoln in a theatrical film. A view of a New York City victory parade for American soldiers returning World War I in February 1919.