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.
Aerial views of the Washington DC area, including the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial. Potomac River seen. Aerial view flying by the National Mall areas leading to the Capitol Building, including Bureau of Supplies and Accounts buildings; Bureau of Ships buildings; National Museum of Natural History; National Gallery of Art; various Constitution Avenue buildings, the Main Navy Building, the Munitions Building, and Union Station. Fly-by of various city and suburban areas of Washington DC metropolitan area, with many construction projects underway, north and east of the U.S. Capitol.
A film depicts steps in Libyan independence. Allied soldiers on tanks during World War II. A tank goes past a ruined building. People gathered look as the Union Jack is unfurled. People read a proclamation pasted on a wall. Ruins of World War II. A meeting in the United Nations in 1945 where it is suggested that Libya be placed under temporary UN trusteeship. A resolution in the UN on 21st November, 1949 to create an independent Libya. The Russian delegate to the UN states his disagreement. The United Kingdom delegate speaks in favor of the resolution. A UN aircraft lands and taxis in Libya. Advisory Council members, led by Mustafa Qasim Mizran, who is first to exit the plane and is head of the National Party and Director of the School of Arts and Trades in Tripoli, are joined by UN Commissioner in Libya Adrian Pelt as they are greeted by dignitaries. The headquarters of the Commissioner and the Advisory Council in Tripoli. A sign reads 'Office of the United Nations Commissioner in Libya'. Members of the Advisory Council include representatives from Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, Fezzan, Egypt, France, Italy, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, the United States and a minority group delegate. Cars carrying the representatives drive out of the gates of the headquarters. They meet people to become aware of their problems. People greet the UN Commissioner and the members of the Advisory Council. A visit to Benghazi where they meet the Emir of Cyrenaica. People holding placards in front of the Emir's palace to greet the Advisory Council. They meet the Emir, who is the religious Muslim leader, in his place. The headquarters of the Commissioner and the Advisory Council, where Mustafa Qasim Mizran is seen touching his face, as he stands behind king Idris,
A torchlight parade protesting war. Marchers are principally women. At start of film, a group of about 10 Women, all dressed in white, hold white streamers descending from a dove-like symbol of peace. The parade is conducted along a city street. Smoke rises all around from torches or bonfires beside the line of march. Some women carry a large banner reading: "Thou Shalt Not Kill." Other signs held by marchers appeal to Chemists and others who create tools of war, such as poison gas, to cease and desist such activities One sign reads: "Scientists Use Your Genius for Peace, Not War." A Bahai banner is carried by some marchers. Police officers monitor the march and marchers. Several women drape themselves in American flags. They are accompanied by a Civil War Union Army officer, carrying a sword. Many in the parade carry the same or similar signs and banners. Some are more legible when seen several times. Examples include: "Chemists, Help World Peace, Refuse to Make Poison Gas" and "Exploitation Leads to War, Abolish it." Other notable signs and slogans include: "Mothers pay the Heaviest War Tax;" "War is Not Inevitable. Human Nature does change;" "Immediate Universal Complete Disarmament;" and "We stand with Gandhi for World Peace." The last new one seen reads: " We will not give our children for another war."
Combined Amateur Athletic Union ( AAU) championship and Olympic trials at West Point in New York, United States. A man jumps up and down on a bouncing mattress. An athlete performs a high jump. People applaud. Lieutenant Quinn performs gymnastics. Another athlete performs. Selectors and people watch the performances.
With the surrender of Germany, World War 2 in Europe ends, on VE (Victory in Europe) Day, May 8, 1945. Scene opens with church bells ringing and view of west front of St. Paul's Cathedral, on Ludgate Hill, in London, England. Crowd is celebrating in the square. around the statue of Queen Anne. Amongst the crowd are men and women in uniform. Here and there Union Jack flags are seen, one held by a little girl hoisted upon a man's shoulder. Camera pans across various parts of the celebrating crowds. View from above, of several couples dancing within a circle of people. Several uniformed U.S. Air Force officers in a jeep celebrate with the crowd. High altitude view of Trafalgar Square in London, England. 'Victory over Germany 1945' banner draped on base of Nelson's Column. Crowd of British citizens celebrating on streets of Whitehall and closeup of the Cenotaph with inscription "The Glorious Dead".