Mrs. Ferguson and Mr. Barboza look over her settlement agreement with the DAR in May 1984, as he ponders the next steps leading up to the memorial project.

In 1980, Mr. Barboza suggested to his aunt, Lena Santos Ferguson, that she join the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Reminding him of Marian Anderson’s experience in 1939, Mrs. Ferguson’s reply was “I’ll do it, but it won’t be easy.”

“But this is 1980,” Mr. Barboza replied.