Paul Robeson House

This article is about the house in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For other uses, see Paul Robeson House (disambiguation).

Paul Robeson House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
4951 Walnut Street (2009)
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Location	4951 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	39°57′29″N 75°13′17″W
NRHP reference No.	00001345
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	November 22, 2000[1]
Designated NHL	November 22, 2000[2]

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 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.[3] In declining health, Robeson spent his time in Philadelphia in retirement. He refused most interviews, and saw only family and a few friends.[4]

In 1998 the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, under the direction of Ms. Frances Aulston, initiated a major campaign to restore the Paul Robeson House.[5] 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.[6]

It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2000.[6] The "House" produces lectures, concerts and exhibits to promote Robeson's legacy.[5]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
2. "Paul Robeson House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
3. "Historic Paul Robeson House". University City Historical Society.
4. "Died". Time. February 2, 1976. Archived from the original on August 19, 2007.
5. Scott, Emily (January 26, 2020). "With a ceremonial mortgage burning, the Paul Robeson House marks its next chapter". WHYY. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
6. "Paul Robeson's Philadelphia Story|Community". WHYY. Archived from the original on November 18, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2011.

External links

Media related to Paul Robeson House at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website
• "Listing". Philadelphia Buildings and Architects.
• Coles, Kelli R. (2005). "Interpretation & Design: The Last Residence of African-American Activist Paul Robeson" (thesis). University of Pennsylvania. Historic Preservation on the proposed restoration of Paul Robeson House {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)