1896 Dec.15Born to John Goode and Eslanda Cardozo Goode in Washington, D.C., the third of three children; brothers John and Frank. Maternal grandfather was Francis Lewis Cardozo, who served as South Carolina's Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury during Reconstruction Days.1912Graduated from Urbana High School, Urbana, Illinois.19121916Attended University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois.19161920Attended Teachers College of Columbia University, New York City. Earned the B.S. degree in chemistry.19181925Analytical chemist and technician in the Surgery and Pathology Department at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York City.1921 Aug. 17Married Paul Robeson in Portchester, New York.1926Became Robeson's full-time manager, booking him for concerts, plays and film roles.1927Gave birth to son, Paul, Jr. (Pauli).19281939Robeson family resided in London.1930Publication of Paul Robeson, Negro.19331935Studied anthropology at University College, London.19351937Enrolled in London School of Economics.1936Traveled to Southern, Central and Eastern Africa to conduct field work for degree in anthropology; accompanied by 8 year-old son, Paul, Jr.1937Played role of cafe proprietress in film, "Big Fella," starring Paul Robeson.1938Traveled to Spain with Paul Robeson, where he entertained members of the International Brigade in Barcelona.1939Returned to United States, residing on Edgecombe Ave. in Harlem, New York City.1940Robeson family moved to "The Beeches" in Enfield, CT. Enrolled at Hartford Seminary to continue studies in anthropology.1941Founded with others the Council on African Affairs, becoming one of its most outspoken and articulate proponents of the cause for African independence; often blunt in her criticism of Western colonial powers.1945Publication of African Journey, based on the diary she kept on her 1936 trip to Africa. Represented the Council on African Affairs at the San Francisco Conference which founded the United Nations.1946Traveled to the Congo, Uganda and French Equatorial Africa.1948Ran unsuccessfully for Secretary of State of Connecticut on the Progressive Party ticket.1949Traveled to China where, during the 3-month trip, she attended the All-Asian Women's Conference in Peking, China.1950Robesons' passports are revoked by the State Department.1958Passports are returned by the Government. Robesons traveled to Great Britain and Soviet Union. Attended the All-African Peoples Conference in Accra, Ghana.1963Awarded the German Peace Medal and the Clara Zetkin Medal by the East German government to women who have been distinguished by their fight for world peace. Robesons returned to the U.S.1965 Dec. 13Died of cancer in New York City.1898 April 9Born in Princeton, New Jersey, to William Drew Robeson and Maria Louisa Bustill; the eighth and last child.1904Maria Robeson died tragically in a fire.1911Graduated from the James L. Jameson School in Somerville, NJ, where the family relocated in 1910.19151918Won scholarship to Rutgers College in New Brunswick, NJ1918Became Phi Beta Kappa, debating champion, valedictorian of his class. Earned varsity letters in four sports.1919Entered Columbia Law School in New York City.1921Married Eslanda Cardozo Goode (1896-1965), the first African-American analytical chemist at Columbia Medical Center in New York City.1923Earned law degree from Columbia. Entered into brief law practice in the firm of Stotesbury and Miner, New York City.1924Starred in Eugene O'Neill's plays, Emperor Jones and All God's Chillun Got Wings. Appeared in Oscar Micheaux's film, Body and Soul.1925 April 19Performed first concert, Greenwich Village Theatre, New York City, accompanied by Lawrence Brown1926Starred in film Black Boy.1927Eslanda Robeson gave birth to son, Paul, Jr. (Pauli)1928Played role of Joe in Jerome Kern's stage production, Showboat, in London.1930Starred in Savoy stage production of Othello in London. Appeared with Eslanda in film Borderline.1932Received Honorary Master of Arts from Rutgers University1933Starred in New York stage production of Emperor Jones.1934Starred in film Sanders of the River. Visited the Soviet Union.1935Appeared in film, Showboat, made in Hollywood1936Played leading role in London stage production, Song of Freedom.1937Visited Spain to support and entertain the Spanish Loyalist Government. Gave concert for the International Brigade. Appeared with Lawrence Brown in film Jericho. Appeared with Eslanda Robeson in film Big Fella. Appeared in film King Solomon's Mines.1938Traveled to Spain with Eslanda Robeson. Appeared in play, Plant in the Sun, to benefit workers' theater in London.1939 Nov. 5Performed in world premiere of Earl Robinson's Ballad for Americans at CBS Radio Studios in New York City. Performed in film Proud Valley. Awarded Badge of Veterans of Abraham Lincoln Brigade (Spanish Civil War).1940Received Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Hamilton College in upstate New York.1943Received Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA.1944Received Donaldson Award, Best Acting Performance for Othello. Awarded gold medal, National Institute of Arts and Letters.1945Awarded the 30th Spingarn Medal of the NAACP. Received honorary degree from Howard University. Gave concert tour in Europe for USO.1949European concert tour, including Soviet Union. Attended Paris Peace Conference. Appeared in concert at Peekskill, New York.1950Robesons' passports revoked by the State Department. Many concerts canceled.1952Awarded International Stalin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union government.1956 June 12Appeared before House Committee on Un-American Activities.1958Passport returned as a result of worldwide pressure and protest. Robesons left fof London residence; from there embarked on European concert tour. Book Here I Stand was published.1959Performed as Othello at Stratford-on-Avon, England.1960Last concert tour, Australia and New Zealand. Awarded the German Peace Medal, by the East German government. Received honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Humboldt University, East Berlin.1961Retired from the stage for health reasons.1963Returned to the U.S.1965Appeared at "Freedomways Salute to Paul Robeson," in New York City. Eslanda Goode Robeson died of cancer.1966Took up residence with sister, Marian Forsythe, in Philadelphia, PA.1973 May 17Received Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Rutgers University.1976 Jan. 23Paul Robeson died. Funeral services at A.M.E. Zion Church, New York City, January 27From the guide to the The Paul and Eslanda Robeson Collection, 1907-1988, (Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University)