Robert Hayden

Robert Hayden

Robert Hayden, a native of Detroit, was a world-renowned poet and the first black to be named consultant in poetry to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. For more than two decades he taught English and creative writing at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, and at the time of his death was a professor of English at the University of Michigan. He authored more than a dozen books of poetry including American Journal (nominated for the National Book Award in 1978), Angle of Ascent, The Night-Blooming Cereus, Words in the Mourning Time, Heart-Shape in the Dust, Figure of Time and A Ballad of Remembrance (winner of the grand prize at the first World Festival of Negro Arts in Dakar, Senegal, in 1966). A Baha’i for many years, Robert  served for more than a decade as poetry editor of World Order magazine. (Adapted from Baha’i News, April 1990) 

Patricia Locke

Patricia Locke (right) and a young Baha'i woman from Pasto Grande, Bolivia, 1989.

Muhammad Arbab -- a Baha'i courier in early days of the Faith

Muhammad Arbab

Muhammad Arbab was born in Kashan, Persia, a place which was noted for the narrow-mindedness and fanaticism of its inhabitants. His mother was a believer and had received Tablets from Baha’u’llah. Though born of a Baha’i mother, Muhammad investigated the Cause thoroughly as a youth before accepting it most enthusiastically. This was a the time when Baha’u’llah had just declared His Manifestation in Baghdad (Iraq).

While in Kashan He was subjected to all sorts of hardships and persecutions on the part of the Muslims. He was once attacked by a fanatical mob, his house was set on fire and all his belongings pillaged. Following these hardships, Muhammad could find no other alternative but to quit his home town and emigrate to Tihran. He later managed to successfully engage in commercial pursuits for a period of fifty years. During all this time he was cleverly and tactfully giving the Message to the Mullas, merchants and notables with whom he had dealings. Among these were two well-known Muslim ecclesiastics, Mulla Ali Kani and Haji Aqa Muhammad Najm Abadi.

Arthur Dodge -- a Disciple of 'Abdu'l-Baha

Arthur and Elizabeth Dodge

Elizabeth Stewart -- Baha'i American nurse resident in Tihran, Persia, for many years

Elizabeth Stewart 

Elizabeth first heard of the Baha'i Movement in 1899 from her aunt M Isabella D. Brittingham, a Baha'i teacher. It is significant that the only question she asked was, "Are there any martyrs in this Cause?',' She possessed the spirit of the martyr, and lived the life of a humble maidservant, never aggressive, but always and sacrificing as a true Baha'i.

She was graduated from the Medico- Chirurgical hospital in Philadelphia in 1899 and in 1911 went to Tihran, Persia, to become the assistant to Dr. Susan I. Moody, who had preceded her by two years. Undoubtedly these two women saved hundreds of lives. Nursing patients with typhoid fever and other contagious diseases, Elizabeth succumbed to typhoid and later to amoebic dysentery, recovering her strength each time sufficiently to resume her professional services.

Lydia Zamenhof

Lydia Zamenhof, youngest daughter of Dr. Ludwig Zamenhof, 

creator of the Esperanto language

Dizzy Gillespie

Jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie shows his great pleasure during a tribute September 16, 1985, by the Baha'is of Los Angeles honoring his half-century in music. More than 500 people attended the gala event at the Los Angeles Baha'i Center. (Baha'i News December 1985)

Ruya Ishraghi and parents -- three Baha'i martyrs

Twenty-two-year old university student Ruya Ishraghi (right) with her father, Enayatu'llah Ishraghi, a retired oil company executive, and mother, Ezzat Janami Ishraghi. All three were executed in 1983 in Shiraz, Iran. 

(Baha'i News, April 1985) 

Eskil Ljungberg, a Knight of Baha'u'llah

Eskil Ljungberg, a Knight of Baha'u'llah in the Faroe Islands 

(Baha'i News, February 1985)

G.G. Paul - first translator of Baha'i Writings into Maori

G.G. Paul, first translator of Baha'i Writings into Maori 

(The Baha'i World 1932-1934)

Florence Evelyn Schopflocher

Florence Evelyn Schopflocher

She undertook travel teaching trips to Far East in 1920's.

Landing in Bengazi, Africa, in the Libyan desert. Florence is fourth from right.

Hands of the Cause of God 'Ali-Akbar Furutan and John Robarts

Hands of th Cause of God 'Ali-Akbar Furutan (left) and John Robarts embrace before addressing the International Youth Conference in Canada -- London, Ontario, August 25-27, 1984 (Baha'i News October 1984)

Pauline and Joseph Hannen

Pauline and Joseph Hannen, early Baha'is of Washington, D.C. They natured Louis Gregory's interest in the Baha'i Faith.

Mirza Abu'l-Fadl -- an Apostle of Baha’u’llah

Mirza Abu'l-Fadl

Dr. Susan Moody --Amatu’l-A’la (The Handmaid of the Most High), who “forged first link in (the) chain uniting (the) spiritual destinies” of Persia and the American Baha’i Community

Dr. Susan I. Moody

Cable from Shoghi Effendi on October 31, 1934:

Passing dearly beloved Susan Moody deprives Baha’i world (of the) far-famed pioneer who, through her indomitable spirit, ceaseless services, earned unique distinction. (She) forged first link in (the) chain uniting (the) spiritual destinies (of the) cradle of our Faith (i.e., Persia) and (the) community (of its) stalwart defenders in (the) great American Republic. (I am) instructing Persia rear monument perpetuating memory (of) her noble mission. (I) am gladly defraying whatever expense incurred as token (of) my admiration for community (i.e., America) to which she originally belonged and on which her consecrated life shed imperishable lustre. Advise hold befitting Memorial gathering (in) Temple Foundation Hall. 

(Signed) Shoghi.

(Baha'i News, no. 88, November 1934)

Zia and Zinat Baghdadi

Dr. Zia Baghdadi with his newly wed wife Zinat

Juliet Thompson and May Maxwell

Juliet Thompson(left) and May Maxwell

Antonio Cruz, first Baha'i of the Totonaco tribe in Veracruz, Mexica

Antonio Cruz, first Baha'i of the Totonaco tribe in Veracruz, Mexica (wearing traditional dress) 

(The Baha'i World 1979-1083)

Louis Bourgeois -- famous architect of the Mother Temple of the West

Louis Bourgeois

Effie Baker

Effie Baker, a Melbourne Baha'i who traveled through Australia and New Zealand in 1924 with Martha Root.

A message from the Guardian to the N.S.A. of the Bahá’ís of Australia and New-Zealand dated 3 January 1936 states:

“Miss Effie Baker is leaving for Australia with the consent and full approval of the Guardian. As you know for over ten years she has been devotedly working for the Cause in Haifa, as keeper of the Western Pilgrim House and also as the custodian of the International Bahá’í Archives. During this long period of service she has accomplished much for our beloved Cause, and she is now in need of some rest after so many years of strenuous labours.” (From a message written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi; ‘Messages to Australia and New Zealand’)

Hidayatu'llah Dihqani -- a Baha'i martyr

Hidayatu'llah Dihqani, executed in Shiraz, Iran, on March 17, 1981

Dr. John Esslemont, Hand of the Cause of God

Dr. John Esslemont

Siyyid Mustafa Rumi, Hand of the Cause of God

Siyyid Mustafa Rumi

Siyyid Mustafa Rumi of Burma, named by the Guardian as one of the Hands of the Cause of Baha’u’llah, contributed his imperishable services from the year 1875, when he embraced the Faith through the inspired efforts of Jamal Effendi, the first teacher sent to India by the instruction of Baha’u’llah. He was nearly ninety-nine years old at the time of his tragic death at Thingagyun. (The Baha'i World 1944-1946)

Lua Getsinger -- “The immortal Lua, mother-teacher of the American Bahá'í Community, herald of the dawn of the Day of the Covenant …” (Shoghi Effendi, Messages to America), a Disciple of 'Abdu'l-Baha

Lua(Louisa) Moore Getsinger

Lua, studio portrait taken in the blue costume she had made for the numerous occasions when she was required to speak in public

Lua, a portrait taken in Paris. As a young woman Lua loved dressing up in fashionable clothes; later she gave them all away in obedience to 'Abdu'l-Baha's preference for simple dress.

Lucinda Louisa Aurora More Getsinger - 'Lua', circa 1897-9

Dr. Auguste Forel

Dr. Auguste Forel, distinguished scientist, scholar and humanitarian

Mountfort Mills and Fujita San

Mountfort Mills of New York and London, international lawyer and distinguished Baha'i who has represented the Baha'i Cause at Geneva and other important places, here pictured with Fujita San in Haifa, the little man who contributed a big service to the pilgrims.

Her Majesty Queen of Rumania

Her Majesty Queen of Rumania

From an autographed photograph presented to Martha Root

Haji Amin -- Apostle of Baha'u'llah, Hand of the Cause, the Trustee of Huququ'lláh

Hand of the Cause Mulla Abu'l-Hasan-i-Ardikani, surnamed Amin, Apostle of Baha'u'llah, the Trustee of Huququ'lláh

Mulla Abu'l-Hasan-i-Ardikani, who is known as Haji Amin or Amin-i-Ilahi, was born in about the year AH 1232 (AD 21 November 1816 -- 10 November 1817) in Ardikan, a small town near Yazd. At seventeen years of age he married into a family of Bábís of the town. He was persuaded to investigate the new religion and eventually, shortly after the martyrdom of the Báb, he declared his belief. When news of the Declaration of Bahá'u'lláh came, he accepted immediately and travelled throughout Iran meeting other Bábís and teaching them of the advent of Bahá'u'lláh. After a time he became the assistant of Haji Shah-Muhammad Manshadi, Aminu'l-Bayan, who was the Trustee of the Huququ'lláh.[1] He would travel about the country, earning his living by trading and also by acting as a writer for those who could not write. At the same time he collected the Huququ'lláh and any letters that the believers wished to forward to Bahá'u'lláh, and also distributed Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh when these were received. He came to 'Akká while Bahá'u'lláh was still imprisoned in the citadel and succeeded in establishing contact with the exiles. He was the first Bahá'í from the outside world to be able to meet Bahá'u'lláh in 'Akká (in the Public Baths). He returned to 'Akká on several further occasions. When Haji Shah-Muhammad Manshadi was killed in 1880, Haji Abu'l-Hasan was appointed Trustee (Amin) of the Huququ'lláh. In 1891 he was imprisoned with Haji Akhund for three years in Tihran and Qazvin. In the time of 'Abdu'l-Bahá he continued his travels, visiting 'Akká and Haifa on several occasions. Towards the end of his life he resided in Tihran and Haji Ghulam-Rida, Amin-i-Amin, was appointed his assistant. He died in 1928 and was posthumously named a Hand of the Cause of God by Shoghi Effendi. (Balyuzi, ‘Eminent Baha’is in the Time of Baha’u’llah’, p. 263)

[1]. The 'Right of God' -- a payment by believers instituted in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.

Sarah Farmer -- Founder of Green Acre

Sarah Farmer

Sarah Farmer was one of America's early religious innovators. She owned the Green Acre Inn in Eliot, Maine, and offered conferences on progressive subjects in the sciences, arts, and religion. These gatherings brought together leading writers, educators, and philosophers. Farmer eventually became a Baha'i and travelled to Akka for pilgrimage at the turn of the century. When 'Abdu'l Baha visited America in 1912, he stayed at Green Acre. 

Tablet from ‘Abdu'l-Baba to Sarah Farmer

O Maid-servant of God! Be rejoiced at this glad tidings, whereby the hearts of the people of the Kingdom of Abha are moved with joy. Verily, I beseech God to make Green Acre as the Paradise of Abha, so that the melodies of the Nightingales of Sanctity may be heard from it, and that the chanting of the Verses of Unity may be raised therein, to cause the clouds of the great Gift to pour upon it the rains falling from heaven, to make those countries become verdant with the myrtles of Truth and Inner Significances, and to plant therein blessed trees, with the Hand of Providence, which may bring forth pure and excellent fruits wherefrom the Fragrances of God may be diffused throughout all regions. These signs shall surely appear, and these lights shall shine forth. 
(The Baha’i World 1936-1938)

Lady Sara Louise Blomfield – Sitarih Khanum

Lady Sara Louise Blomfield – Sitarih Khanum

Prominent British Baha'i, named Sitarih ('star') Khanum by 'Abdu'l-Baha. Of mixed Catholic-Protestant Irish background, she became Part of London high society, marrying the architect Sir Arthur William Blomfield, a son of the bishop of London. After her husband's death in 1899 she became increasingly interested in movements such as Theosophy and in 1907 encountered the Baha’is in Paris. Her home (97 Cadogan Gardens) was 'Abdu'l-Baha's base during His visits to Britain (1911, 1912-1913). She and her daughters also attended 'Abdu'l-Baha in Paris and published their notes on his talks (Talks by Abdu'l-Baha Given In Paris, 19L2;later re-titled Paris Talks). After World War I she became involved in the work of the Save the Children Fund and sought to pro mote the Bah a'i teachings within League of Nations circles. She accompanied Shoghi Effendi back to Haifa after 'Abdu'l-Baha's death and wrote with him the memorial booklet ‘The Passing of 'Abdu'l-Baha (1922)'. She was amongst the group of prominent 'Western Baha’is who consulted with Shoghi Effendi about the future progress of the Faith in 1922, and was subsequently involved with the development of the Baha'i administration in Britain. During lengthy stays in Haifa she gathered notes on Baha’i history - many of them from the sister, wife and one of the daughters of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. These were subsequently published as ‘The Chosen Highway (1940)’. 
(Adapted from ‘A Concise Encyclopedia of the Baha’i Faith’, by Peter Smith)