National Register of Historic Places

Robeson, Paul, House

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Listed
November 22, 2000
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
00001345

About this property

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. Robeson lived in the Walnut Hill neighborhood of West Philadelphia from 1966 until 1976, with his sister Marian Forsythe. In declining health, Robeson spent his time in Philadelphia in retirement. He refused most interviews, and saw only family and a few friends. In 1998 the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, under the direction of Ms. Frances Aulston, initiated a major campaign to restore the Paul Robeson House. Since then, the Pennsylvania Historical and 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. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. The "House" produces lectures, concerts and exhibits to promote Robeson's legacy. Media related to Paul Robeson House at Wikimedia Commons Coles, Kelli R. (2005). "Interpretation & Design: The Last Residence of African-American Activist Paul Robeson" (thesis). University of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on July 25, 2010. Historic Preservation on the proposed restoration of Paul Robeson House {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

Location

4951 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
39.95664, -75.22136

Categories

BLACK
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Robeson, Paul, House

This page lists Robeson, Paul, House. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Robeson, Paul, House report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

La Blanche Apartments
Industrial
0.2 mi
Overbrook High School
Industrial
0.3 mi
West Philadelphia High School
Industrial
0.3 mi
Lea, Henry C., School of Practice
Industrial
0.3 mi
Breslyn Apartments
Industrial
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Germantown Oct 4 1777
1777Revolutionary War
0.5 mi
Battle of Barren Hill
1778Revolutionary War
1.7 mi
Battle of Fort Mifflin (Pennsylvania)
1777Revolutionary War
5.1 mi
Battle of Fort Mifflin
1777Revolutionary War
5.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Robeson, Paul, House listed on the National Register?

Robeson, Paul, House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 22, 2000.

What type of historic resource is Robeson, Paul, House?

Robeson, Paul, House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Robeson, Paul, House?

The period of significance for Robeson, Paul, House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Robeson, Paul, House?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Robeson, Paul, House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Philadelphia County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Philadelphia County.

Explore PhiladelphiaCounty ›

More historic places in Pennsylvania

Browse all historic places in Pennsylvania.

View Pennsylvaniahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Pennsylvania history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Pennsylvaniahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Robeson, Paul, House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report