Robeson, Eslanda Goode, 1896-1965

  1. Robeson, Eslanda Goode, 1896-1965
  2. Version History
1896 Dec.15 Born 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. 1912 Graduated from Urbana High School, Urbana, Illinois. 1912 1916 Attended University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. 1916 1920 Attended Teachers College of Columbia University, New York City. Earned the B.S. degree in chemistry. 1918 1925 Analytical chemist and technician in the Surgery and Pathology Department at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York City. 1921 Aug. 17 Married Paul Robeson in Portchester, New York. 1926 Became Robeson's full-time manager, booking him for concerts, plays and film roles. 1927 Gave birth to son, Paul, Jr. (Pauli). 1928 1939 Robeson family resided in London. 1930 Publication of Paul Robeson, Negro. 1933 1935 Studied anthropology at University College, London. 1935 1937 Enrolled in London School of Economics. 1936 Traveled to Southern, Central and Eastern Africa to conduct field work for degree in anthropology; accompanied by 8 year-old son, Paul, Jr. 1937 Played role of cafe proprietress in film, "Big Fella," starring Paul Robeson. 1938 Traveled to Spain with Paul Robeson, where he entertained members of the International Brigade in Barcelona. 1939 Returned to United States, residing on Edgecombe Ave. in Harlem, New York City. 1940 Robeson family moved to "The Beeches" in Enfield, CT. Enrolled at Hartford Seminary to continue studies in anthropology. 1941 Founded 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. 1945 Publication 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. 1946 Traveled to the Congo, Uganda and French Equatorial Africa. 1948 Ran unsuccessfully for Secretary of State of Connecticut on the Progressive Party ticket. 1949 Traveled to China where, during the 3-month trip, she attended the All-Asian Women's Conference in Peking, China. 1950 Robesons' passports are revoked by the State Department. 1958 Passports are returned by the Government. Robesons traveled to Great Britain and Soviet Union. Attended the All-African Peoples Conference in Accra, Ghana. 1963 Awarded 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. 13 Died of cancer in New York City. 1898 April 9 Born in Princeton, New Jersey, to William Drew Robeson and Maria Louisa Bustill; the eighth and last child. 1904 Maria Robeson died tragically in a fire. 1911 Graduated from the James L. Jameson School in Somerville, NJ, where the family relocated in 1910. 1915 1918 Won scholarship to Rutgers College in New Brunswick, NJ 1918 Became Phi Beta Kappa, debating champion, valedictorian of his class. Earned varsity letters in four sports. 1919 Entered Columbia Law School in New York City. 1921 Married Eslanda Cardozo Goode (1896-1965), the first African-American analytical chemist at Columbia Medical Center in New York City. 1923 Earned law degree from Columbia. Entered into brief law practice in the firm of Stotesbury and Miner, New York City. 1924 Starred 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 19 Performed first concert, Greenwich Village Theatre, New York City, accompanied by Lawrence Brown 1926 Starred in film Black Boy. 1927 Eslanda Robeson gave birth to son, Paul, Jr. (Pauli) 1928 Played role of Joe in Jerome Kern's stage production, Showboat, in London. 1930 Starred in Savoy stage production of Othello in London. Appeared with Eslanda in film Borderline. 1932 Received Honorary Master of Arts from Rutgers University 1933 Starred in New York stage production of Emperor Jones. 1934 Starred in film Sanders of the River. Visited the Soviet Union. 1935 Appeared in film, Showboat, made in Hollywood 1936 Played leading role in London stage production, Song of Freedom. 1937 Visited 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. 1938 Traveled to Spain with Eslanda Robeson. Appeared in play, Plant in the Sun, to benefit workers' theater in London. 1939 Nov. 5 Performed 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). 1940 Received Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Hamilton College in upstate New York. 1943 Received Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA. 1944 Received Donaldson Award, Best Acting Performance for Othello. Awarded gold medal, National Institute of Arts and Letters. 1945 Awarded the 30th Spingarn Medal of the NAACP. Received honorary degree from Howard University. Gave concert tour in Europe for USO. 1949 European concert tour, including Soviet Union. Attended Paris Peace Conference. Appeared in concert at Peekskill, New York. 1950 Robesons' passports revoked by the State Department. Many concerts canceled. 1952 Awarded International Stalin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union government. 1956 June 12 Appeared before House Committee on Un-American Activities. 1958 Passport 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. 1959 Performed as Othello at Stratford-on-Avon, England. 1960 Last 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. 1961 Retired from the stage for health reasons. 1963 Returned to the U.S. 1965 Appeared at "Freedomways Salute to Paul Robeson," in New York City. Eslanda Goode Robeson died of cancer. 1966 Took up residence with sister, Marian Forsythe, in Philadelphia, PA. 1973 May 17 Received Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Rutgers University. 1976 Jan. 23 Paul Robeson died. Funeral services at A.M.E. Zion Church, New York City, January 27

From the guide to the The Paul and Eslanda Robeson Collection, 1907-1988, (Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University)
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