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<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, ~( ,~. 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.