Selected Archives on Robert Durr
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1315 South 29th Street
BirminJham 5, Alabama
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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<OHSTRUCTIVE .__.         ABAM-4:SGR.EATEST
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,
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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<lividual b liever. Every
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<OHSBVATM<OHSTRUCTIVE
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<OHSTRUCTIVE
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      <evie·;r
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)