# Selected Archives on Robert Durr *Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-18 — 1 clipping.* --- > d---1"'} ..I-~ > 1315 South 29th Street > BirminJham 5, Alabama > i., > V. > /ti- > > February 14, 1944 > > Dear Mr. Holley: > On going through my secretl:...Tial notebook I find that I / > have never reported our new colored believer, Mr. Robert Durr. > He is the editor of a colored newspaper herP. in Birmingham. > At our last Feast he was elected to the Assembly to replace > Mrs. Myra Brayant who asked to be released. > > You will note that my address has again been changed. > Expect that I will be here for quite some time, at least I hope > sol Movin0 t~ice in two weeks is almost too much for me. There > was a cat at the last address and they give me asthma so I had > to move. Was fortunate to find this lovely place and it is only > half a block from Martha Fettig and Gertrude Gewertz. > > Sincerely and faithfully, > -~It/~ > (Miss) Nina K. Howard > Secretary > 1315 South 29th Street > Birmingham, 5, Alabama > March 12, 1944 > > Dear Mr. Holley: > At our last Assembly meeting we welcomed t1'iO new meubers into the > Community. Their names and addresses are given below: > > Mrs. Robert Durr - 30 Twelf'th Avenue, North > Mrs. J. H. Lohner - 1027 Eighth Court, South > > Sincerely and faithfuly, > ~/{~ > Nina K. Ho ,-ard > Secretary > ., > > CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION > > T iE SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BARA' IS > > OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. > > We, the undersigned Trustees of the Spiritual Assembly > or the Baha' is of Bir.minghaci., Alabama, all being~ fu.ll age and citi- > > zens of the United States or America, and residents or the State > or Alabama, desiring to form a corporation pursuant to the laws > or Alabama providing for the incorporation of Churches and Societie > contained in Article 3, of Chapter 7, Sections 124 to 130, inclu- > sive, of 'i itle > 10, or the Code or Alabama. or 1940, do hereby make > and sigh this Certificate and certif"y as follows: > > FIRST: The purpose and objects for which the corporation > is formed is to administer the affairs of the Baha'i Religion, tor > the benefit of the Baha'is or the City of Birruingha.cn, Alabaua, in > accordance with the rellgio~s teachings and administrative princi- > ples of this Faith. > > SECO..ID: The na.L!Oof the (.;Or,)Oration is to be > "T:IB SPIRITUAL ASSh"'?fBLYOF THE BARA' IS OF BIRMIUGHA1I, AI.AB.A..A." > > THIRD: Tne territory in whic~ its activities are prin- > cipally to be conducted is the City of Birminghamfna vicinit}, > _.. > and tho county in which the corporation is to exercise its function > is Jetterson County, in the State ot Alabama. > ., > > FOURTH: The number of trustees is to be nine. > > FIFTH: The names and places ot residence of the trustee > elected to serve until the first annual meeting, which is to be > held on the 21st day of April, 1945, are as follows: > > NAME PLAC~or RESIDENCE > Martha Fettig 2930 ~awnee Avenue, Birmingham, Alabama. > Verna A. Inglis 3431 011ft Road, Bir.minghaci, Alabama. > Anne E. Lohner 1027 ~ighth Court, douth, Bimingham., Alaball > > Nina Howard 1315 South 29th Street, Birmingham, Alabama. > Noble Johnson. 2117 Fifth Avenue, ~orth, Birmingham., Alabruna. > Robert Durr JO Twelfth Avenue, North, i1rm.ingham, Alaba.mal > W. R. Brown 47 Ninth Avenue, North, ~irmingham, Alabama. > Rose Brown 47 iiinth Avenue, Uorth, Birmingham, Alabama. > John Inglis 3431 Cliff Road, Birmingham, Alabama. > > SIXTH: The time for holding its annual meeting ts to be > on the twenty-first day of April in each year. > > SEVENTH: The corporation shall tave the power to ac- > quire and hold real property and personal property, to reoe1Te > property by gift, will or devise, and hold the same in conformity > with all lawful conditions, and to exercise such other powers as > are incident to private corporations. > > EIGHTH: The members of the Spiritual Assembly ot the > Baha'is of the City or Birmingham, Alabama, desiring to become > incorporated, at a meeting held on the day ot > 1944, adopted a resolution signifying such intention, and elected > the nine persons hereinbefore named as trustees to serve until > the next annual meeting. > > IN WITNESSWHEREOF,We as Trustees of The Spiritual As- > sembly of the Baha'is of Blr~i.agham, Alab&:ia, have ~ade 8.tld signed > this certificate, on this the day of 1944. > > TRUS~S. > //~~ > WEE~HE BIRMINGHAM - .~~ f > I > Q.lAH·COHSERVATIVE NEWSPAPO.@j > > "COVERS ALABAMA LIKE THE DEW" > 1622 Fourth Avenue, North - Phone 3-1973 > BIRMINGHAM 3, ALABAMA > "erruarv 10, 1045 > > a ional Spiritual Assembly of the > la'· a1s of the n1 ted States & Canada > •.·::.1mette, Illinois > Eahai Fr1eni s: > For qui t.e some t11"e I have been debating in > my mind if I sbould bring to your attention a > natter which I t~ink has er1t. At last I decided > I should after havin• cons11lted with my wife over > the atter. > It is this--for fifteen years I have been > 1.'dltor and Publisher of the Birmin5ham eekly Re- > view which is kno'.m in this section as a Negro > newspaper. > The Ne5ro Press in A~erica is celebrating > its 118 Anniversary this weel::. It <"ee'1s to me > that the •ay to go forward in the fie+d of jounal- > ism is by ·oing forward. > ,:'he ·regro newspaper exist in the Hni ted States > because of pre~udice, discrimination and exploita- > tion, No Ne ro Journalist no matter ho~, ,:ell train- > ed is ·iven ~ . o :,portun1ty to serve and he erved 0 > > on the basis o~ equitable e-ploy~ent on ~o-called > white newspa~ers, therefore it seems to a now is > the ti'!le for my newspaper to be-in to become a news- > pa.ner and ce,..,e being a Ne ·ro newgpaper and develop > a <1etup wric"i would emplov ca>able people re~ard- > le~s of race or color in all depar~ e ts--a ners- > paper ,~ose features and eoitorials wo1ld reflect > the thinkin5 of folk of all races "'n !lations with > an lnternatlona.l outlook. And rti thout saying so in > so rn ny Hords u"'ltil the time is ripe be guided in > its editorial viewpoint by the teachings of the Cauce. > I can think of no step which might be taken > that would be ""ore rr.eaningf11l in this our Second Cen- > tuary effort. ~lon the line of achieving unity, > pro~ot~n5 international understandin5 a"'lc goodwill > with the :ost ~reat Peace as ultimate ·ocl. > This could be done if each real Eaha1 in the > THE BIRMINGHAM > I > I > > "COVERS ALABAMA LIKE THE DEW" > 1622 Fourth Avenue, North - Phone 3-1973 > BIRMINGHAM 3, ALABAMA > > :aahei ,:,riends -2- Fe~ruary 10, 1045 > > 'eqt uere advised of y deeire in thi,, connection > cou Jed with an expr&sejon fro t~e N8tional Snirit- > ual As~e bly su5geftinc that eacn adult Eahai ive > me a one or two year subscription for the Weelrly > Review. I would use n9 e to develop in an inter- > nation ....l ,ewspaper out of my present racial news pub- > lication. > ~ ost sinct rely, > > RD/nlc > > 'P.5, > ~( > ,~. > I • > t .,lb "JUO to neiot. ▪ A > l l ~1 edl 1 ■aei,oua -wo~ ,o • > ,., i::- ns •'1.£oe.t.t '\:.ld o eA d 'io > 17 t 'j -~• .-:req "11101( > > Jlr. Robert Durr• Edi tor, > eekly Peview, > 1622 Fourth Avenue, N., > Pirnincham, 3, hl~barr.o.. > > Tho correspondonce we had has been turned over to the National Spiritual > Assembly and tha members have recorded their gratification of your intention > to serva tho Baha'i Faith by devoloping a newspapor fr~• from all racial bias > or limitation. > > It ifi an intention '1hich the Nation~l Asse~bly has t}1e Utl!loet reopect for > and sympathy ..... e share 11ith yo1.. tht.1 thought tha"i. the graat cause of race unity > can well be served at this tlm~ by the development or a ne epnper along such > lines. > > f.e ask you now to raulizo ·that the National &•een1bly i teelf sen•• the > Cause unoer certain dofinite limitations of authority and power. However,ever > since the institutions described in the eter's Will and Testament were first > developed, the 1.ational Assembly has refrained from calling upon the body of > the believers to contribute to any activity of an in Bata'i who joins our comunity can do so knowing that hie only obli,zation finan- > cially speaking is to the local and national Baha'i "1nd and that any other > expenses he my incur in connection with the Cause are of hia own voluntary > choice. > > We feel also that particular attention ~ust be givdn to Shoghi Effendi's > state~ent concerning Baha'i News. Thia statement made many years ago w feel > indicates that the news letter is to develop into a great and representative > Baha'i newspaper and in its development it will naturally at all times be > entiroly free of racial bias and employ the services of representatives of all > races representad in the Baha'i coltXl'unity. > > ,e think you will be very much interested in these words of the Guardian, > and we quote theM as follows& "The News Letter which you h~ve lately initiated > fulfills a very vital function and has been started admirably well. I would > urge you tQ enlargo its scope, as much as your resources permit, that'in time it > may devote a special section to every phase of your aotivitiee, administrative, > devotional, humanitarian, financial, educational and othenriee." •••• :It should be > made as representative as poeeibl•, ehould be replete with newe, up-to-date in its > information, and should arouse the keenest interest among believers and admirers > alike 1n every corner of the globe. I cherish ereat hopes for its immediate future, > and I trust you will devote your special attention to its development, and by de- > vising well-conceived and worldwide measures transform this News Letter into what > I hope will become the foremost Baha'i Journal of the world." > As a token of our direct interest in your plan and our be1t wish•• > for your aucceaa, the National Asse~bly enters a eubacription in th• name > of the Assembly itself, and th& Membern vill be very cuch interested in readia > your paper. > # > > 1th all good wishes, > Ml > I. > > .[ > > • > THE BIRMINGHAM > > WEEKt-Y: t > CUAH ll~"lll' ~JEW > AIAM..:SGUATESTHEWSPNBl@j > > "COVERS ALABAMA LIKE THE DEW" > 1622 Fourth Avenue, North - Phone 3-1973 > BIRMINGHAM 3, ALABAMA > l, > I > t > I THE BIRMINGHAM > > WEE~ t > a!At+COHSERVATIVE JEW > "COVERS ALABAMA LIKE THE DEW" > 1622 Fourth Avenue, North - Phone 3-1973 > BIRJ.\flNGHAM 3, ALABAMA > > c.. ,# _... -#' > l.'ay 11 ,l 945'. > > Mr. Robert Durr, > 1he Rirmingha~ eekly Review, > 1622 Fourt~ Avenue, North, > Bir· ingha~, 3, Alabl!llta. > Dear r. Lurrs > The 1:1embersof the Nation!ll Spiritual Asserz.bly were very glad > > indeed to meet you and have even the brief op-ortunity for conversation. > > D \·e know that you will h!lve u:any important opportunities to serve the > > Cause and we want you to feel that all poesible encourageaent and cooperation > will al~ays be extended. > > As a little souv~nir of the visit we are sending you a copy of the > > Baha'i Cen•enary book with our sincere compliments. > > With every good wieh, > Faithfully yours, > > Secretary > \ > THE BIRMINGHAM > > -.;ft£-VIEW > ~ALABAM..:SGREATEST NEWSPAPER > > "COVERS ALABAMA LIKE THE DEW·• > 505 17,h Street, North-Phone 3-1973 > BlllMINGHAM 3, ALABAMA > > July 15, 19-:1.? > > Mr. Harlan Ober > 53 Conant Street > Beverly, Massachusetts > Dear Bahai Brother: > I hope you have gotten rid of your cold by this time. > You may be very sure that whatever you do, if anything, will > facilitate the acceleration and prosecution of a long range pro- > gram. And regardless to what has been your experience with others > upon whose requests for assistance you have looked with favor, I > assure you that you will be repaid. And I could not spoil such a > trust if vested in me. In the event of death, my wife would see to > the paying of the debt. > Pray and meditate over the matter. Baha 'u' allah will guide > you in making the ri~ht decision. If it is that you should not > look ~th favor upon my request, I will regard it as the better > thing; even though I know you can not possibly know how far reach- > ing assistance in helping me get m:, house in order, as it v,ere, > would be. All Negroes who asoire to do the impossible in this > section seek real aid outside the area. It was true with Booker T. > Washington and George \lashington Carver. > A lot of people in this city and state---both white and black, > young and old---look to me to lead the wav in doing what owzht be > done as a leader, to the end that we may have improved human re- > lations. > I asn Chainnan of the Negro Advisory Council to the Birmingham > and Jefferson County Cooununity ChPst. I was re-elected to this po- > sition this year for the eighth consecutive year by a unanimous vote > of a cross section representation of Negro life in this district, > with its 250,000 Negro population. > The Governor of the State had me fonn a ccm.otission early this > yeax' anu work out a progr~ :!'or the State, bearing (J.n all that has > to do ui th Negro welfare. He sent. me to Philadelphia recently as > the Stat~s representative, and at thA States expense. > I won one of the "lendell L. Willkie Awards for Negro journalism > L.r. Ober -2- July 15, 1947 > > in 1946. The award was received at the hands of the President of > the United States, at the National Press Club in 'lashington on ldarch > 1, 1947. > I merely point out these things to shov, that I am so situated in > the hearts of people that I can do more good than perhaos any other > member of my race in this area, if I can sunnount this crisis. > Being able to secure what I want will insure my being able to > serve more effectively. If I were in your position anu you were in > mine, I would do all I could for you in His Name. > God bless you and keep you. > > Most~ely, > > R~}t1;;1:r~ > bw > P.S. Pray for me. > I > I > > • > > April 7, 1948 > • > > rars. ··/i?•ginia Godfries > 164: .!jroaa .3ti > i-:ea !:3ank, .N. J. > > Dear Baha::. l''rienc.ls > .r·or :fifteen years, .L have uperateu a Heekly ne•;spa1Jer in > t.hi::; c.:ity. HeiLb a Ne_,ro, a ne\lspaper publisher ana ~ Ychai > :.,Akes rr,e susceptibl.:: to great pI'essure by rea•.!t.ionari(;s, > especially in this hour • rh n so much auo is beint: ..,adl in the > deep South over the I-resident's Civil dght.s com:nittee's re- > port. > r.y effort to secure a loan of '1round ":4, 000 ...or i.c.11rove- > rnents h~s so far r.i~t •;i t.h failure :'or the reasons stat.1;.;ct, , .."ld > because I crui not bri1,P-: myself to beccxne the. tool of r, c"t~onary > racists \;ho fear even n ·eekly nevrspaper not controlled by them. > ny ,object in '.1riting .rou is to say that .1. hnve been think- > in of settlin~ eome pl,ce in !le·· Je::.,sey, because .l. have a > large family and l thou~ht educational opportunities ...i£;ht be > good there, anu to say that l. houlo like to lr•.nov i..."' there is, > in your opinion, a comouni ty in the state in ,...nich .1. 1.1ight en- > gage in a profitable ne•,spape:- ventu:::-e. > l atn a .ue.aber of the Bim1ingham Bahai Communi t.y, h'"lving > served as "ice-Chair. 1rui o~· t,"1 =- LSJ\ for th~ pa 't t.wo yec_!·s. At > present, l am r.i.cti!:lg Chr.iin:11-u1, qlso a member o:' the /\labar ..a > • Tennesee .Ke ion.tl. Teaching ,,1.111ittee. > > bu > Hobert wrr, ~di tor > ,;)irmingham /eekly 1'1,Y: - 6th !\Ve. , !, • > Birr!linr-ham, Ala. > BIRMINGHAM > > WEEKt - v-.:...;~ > CLEAN·CONSERVATIV£·CONSTRUCTIVE > I > VIEW > ..:sGIUATEST NEWSPAPER > > 1602, 6th Avenue No. - Phone 3-1973 > BIRMINGHAM 3, ALABAMA > > r.r .. 1orce ..oley, Jecretary > ational 3piri tual Assembly Bahai' s > of the tr;ted 3tates 0£ erica > /il!.1et., , _llinois > Jear Bana' i ..,rother: > i believe in this busines~ of tlJ getting facts, > (2) inter .. ret~ saue and ( ) t.r iI..g to eet done rhat > uuht be uone in spiritu 1, iocial Md allied ,reas. > Md i am convinced that ~ <=iveto begin • •i th people > on the level •here we '.Cina 1,ne.u. > lease elieve 1e hen .L say that .!. '!" 11ot • ·-:t > to nppear pre ur..iptuous or o1~fic.:ous in tl l , iN., > l ful.y recogniz that as Quch s .L belicve~i~ .t > quite possible for me to • enti.,..eJ:y ,,;rongf .;,O 1 1., us > s· y that in this in tan<. , .L ata thibkine out loud • > .Lf .L rer,1ember > correctly, the u'Uardian s :·o this > is the time to go out for the aGses -- time to go > ou~ ~or all the peop: and uild in their hearts the > CMuse of Baha'u'llah. it follm1s that he must be > convinced t. a if t:.is is cou ar;eously and audaciously > done, nll th necess ry things , rill he added. > l think it is t~le for th /'J~JrO be thinking in > terms of makinu plaiis to acqui ..,. ., facts dealing ti th > the ph~'sic~l needs of the poor or all groups in t'<•e > United .::itates, eng~ing in interpreting these fact->, > presentins them to key people and trying to get do. e > that ous;ht be done as a me-ms o bri.1eine ell m n 1.0 > see the e uty of Baha'u'llnh in us and creat~ a > ground-s ,ell of wantin~ on the p rt of people to > surrender thernselv s in His service in spirit and deed. > Page 'J:'10 > mr • ..l'oley > July , 1948 > Cat ..olic sister, representative of a group > five 01' > rho came to irmingham ten yea s ~o ·1ith0ut r.. ney, sent > me an invit tion a cou le of ·eeks ago to attend the ground > bref3.king excises of a high school and a 2OO-bed hospit 1. > i att~-~ ~ the hospital excises, t~lked ith Priests and > . oor ·Jr<\ ld be n helped in sickness and need by these > peor .L R . l assistanc 1as not to their kno\lledge availa' le > els 1... And l. recalled that the L: th , .:c church is > makints ...,.1• t gair'.., "long r, egro ::ind hi te people in the > South, bee use i __g__ san ood. Un this basis, they > are gettin,G you~. > t:01 1 not pione rs make tl eir r.iissions ...wo ·'Jl in > the future (1) eive ...:.e cru.se and (2) try to ... done rhat > ou~h t b uone for the sick, e,eed, 01f.ressed, i...,norant p_'ld > oth 'Wise handicapped. > . uf c rse, > • supportin > we can not ask othe1 ..s to as ist > +'1-te promulgation > ... > of the Cause in the ,J.,. c,:, s h.-:ie > ~~ > o.: t e ·or .., :ut hy could e not set up some sori:. of social > s rvice s .., .1 to as:ist in et ting for others, in need, the > t· .ings t:1ey ao not •.ave the cap city to et for themselves, > r. er took me up to see .. ow1t valvat la.st f 11 ·1hile > l. ·as in that ~r a t e din the nnual (J nfere1.ce of the > ation 1 Urban Lea,gue. ..1. .l cane a\Tay •1i th the f • ling th~ t, > asap r.~ of the ureen Arce : roj ect or on that mountain, -e > shoula have a bo rdin e_ > •1t.,_r' an high school st'lf 'cd ii:.n > instructors :10 are Haha' :J. > > .1f '.;! f il to 1in y uth or 1'ail in our children, ·e i'ail > in everythin 0 • And 1e can get done ,hat \le uant to get done. > People are dr4\tn to things '3.11dpl ces here there is action~ > action! ~ction! on the level o: their needs. > You are a busy m:lfl ·rith great responsibilities in ofar > as t· e asministration of the t;ause L, concern, and .l do not > ,ant to add one 1hit to your urden - so just.think on these > things. You need not bother to ccmment by letter. > hen i. :!'11 in t· .at secti r., .l • •ill try o t an > a pointJ .ent ;:. th you a: d tal 'u •ther on th ::- i.1eutions > raised in this letter. > > ~00 l"t .J ....., > 30, 12th ,ve., Uo . > .3in ...il1t,n~.i, , la • > .Jee. 1, 1H52 > > ~,r. :iornce Holley, ::iecty. > N'qtion3l ~"piritual ,~sse1nbly > Beh3is of the Uni :.ed ~tates > Tilnette, Illinois > > The Guardian nas urged nd ia pr:Jying that the ~1- > mighty ru3y guide r~e in .,inding ~ way to "lt~enu ·the A!'"'ricM > N tional Bahai f.ieet in l'.,t..1pol1., Ugand·l, Afric~. > Ti11 "Ou "ldvise the most uir~ct. :::-oute to Ke nva > by :¾ir and ship, the date of th1: meet, l;c,1efi o.: tu1e to > m~ke the rounu t.:-ip ~nd other pertinent det·iils. > > s of no, my going s.:-e-11s 1,lclo3t il.1oosoible, but I > thought I •• :ight do soo1e further checking on t.he : ~t.tPr > just in case the ·va..v should open ~nd I should ...'inu it os- > sib.J..e to c1ake the trip. I naln ":.o SPe Jou and pay you ;:it > tne Canten-:iry. > THE BIRMJNGHAM > > "Covers Alabama Like The Dew" > 1602 Sixth Avenue, North - Phone 3-1973 > BIRMINGHAM, 8, ALABAMA > > January 16, 1953 > > Mr. Horace Holley, Secretary > National Spiritual ».Ssembly of Bahai's > 1ilmette, Illinois > Dear Mr. Holley: > I deeply appreciate letter received from the NSA joining > with the Guardian in urging that I attend the conference in > Campala. > So far as 1 oan see as of now it is impossible for me to > make the trip, because it would cost me upwards of a twelve > hundred ($1,200) or more dollars to absence myself from my re- > sponsibilities here for the time i would have to be away plus > the expenses involved in making such a round trip. > dere it not for the above I would suspend publication of > my paper for the month of February and go to Campala and as > the guardian suggested do some speaking around the country upon > my return. > It is my feeling that there is a terrific strugele going > on 1n Africa for possession of the minds of the real native > people of th&t great country and it is most import·nt th t they > may have the fullest opportunity possible to be exposed to the > taus~ and l truly wish for those serving on the African committe > and the conference great success. > ,1th kindest personal regards ~nd most sincere best wishes, > I am. > Mos: JJnoerely, > > }tu1f\-~AA-v- > Rober t Durr > RD/mf > > Res: #30 12th Ave. N. > Birmingham, Ala. > > — *Selected Archives on Robert Durr (Used by permission of the curator)*