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Carlotta Robbins Holmes

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Carlotta Robbins Holmes

Carlotta Beatrice Robbins Holmes (20 Dec 1909 or 1910, died 24 May 1988) lived her whole life, less some trips, in Durham, North Carolina. Previous to her marriage in 1938 she was visible as a teacher in the Durham phone book as early as 1932, and then in the Carolina Times as a teacher, playing Bridge card game, and was a Ladies Aide club member of the St. Joseph A. M. E. Church all from 1949. In 1953-55 she was vice-president of the Aide society but she then joined the Bahá'í Faith being visible in meetings from 1957. And in 1954 she was also a founding member of the local chapter of the Phi Delta Kappa educational sorority and rose to be its local president in 1965. She was also a founding member of the first Spiritual Assembly of Durham NC in 1962 and in 1966 went on Bahá'í pilgrimage and in March and May shared slides of her trips including with her former church. Her service to the wider community, the Bahá'ís, and most especially to Phi Delta Kappa, continued into her late years.

Early life[edit]

She was daughter of U. Grant Robbins and Mary B. Davis Robbins, and eldest of several sisters and brothers; Grant was a fertilizer factory laborer in Northwest, Brunswick, North Carolina,[1] and a foreman there by 1920 though living in New Hanover County,[2] and in Durham by 1930.[3] The 1929 Durham phone book noted she was a student at r611 S. Elm,[4] while noted as a teacher in 1932,[5] and specifically at East Durham school r809 on Glenn Rd. in 1933,[6] Then she is was listed as Lyon Park School r809 Glenn Rd in 1936.[7] The Carolina Times noted Carlotta worked as a school teacher in January 15, 1938.[8] Next it has a notice that she married James Robert Holmes July 5, 1938, in Durham.[9] In 1938 she was also noted a member of a "junior ladies board" for Lincoln Hospital.[10] The 1939 local phonebook lists James as a NC Mutual Life insurance agent,[11] and the 1940 US census reports them living with her parents on Walton Street - she was listed as a teacher in the 1940 US census.[12] The 1947 phone books lists James with Calotta having a job with Holmes Cleaners,[13] though he was listed into 1946 with it too.[14] The next newspaper mention of her was when she attended a national organizational meeting of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity of Black men - she was one of three women noted from North Carolina.[15] And then she was aiding a homecoming celebration by alumni of NCC for a homecoming football game for NCC in 1948 in their Campus Echo.[16]

Hobbies and work and service[edit]

Starting the Fall of 1949, Holmes initially was mentioned often in a Merry Wives Bridge card game social club[17] including hosting occasional meetings.[18] She was a long term teacher usually at W. G. Pearson Elementary School,[19] though sometimes at another school.[20] She supported school related activities outside of school too. She would also assist at some children's birthday parties.[21] And she presided at the banquet phase of the Durham Classroom Teachers Association meeting.[22]

She was also an active member of the St. Joseph A. M. E. Church Ladies Aide club for many years (at least 1949–1955.)[23] One time she offered a devotional at a meeting of the Aide club.[24] She was also vice president of the club in 1953,[25] and 1955.[26] However she is not visible with the club after 1955. By 1957 she had joined the Bahá'í Faith.[27]

Holmes was listed among the ill on the society page of the Times in December 1949,[28] and attended a reception in honor of Getrude Timmos in 1952,[29] as well as an organizer for a regional fund raiser working at the College Heights District for civic work for a Chest Drive,[30] and for the YWCA.[31] Holmes also hosted people at her home - an early example was when she hosted Geneva Holmes, Dean of women at Fayettville State Teachers College.[32]

Her vacations were noted in the Times too.[33]

In 1954 she was one of the local Phi Delta Kappa organizers of a chapter of the sorority in Durham,[34] and she and Julia Harris would often represent the chapter at regional and national meetings,[35] or meeting with other clubs,[36] and judging a scholarship competition.[37] She would carry service to the sorority the rest of her life.[38] Holmes entertained recent master's degree awardees of Phi Delta Kappa in 1955.[39] In 1965 Holmes is noted president of the local chapter of Phi Delta Kappa sorority.[40] In 1967 she was titled publicity chair for the local chapter.[41] In 1968 Holmes assisted at the Sorority hosing of the Central Orphanage of Oxford, NC[42] - which turned into an annual event and was again noted in the Times in 1974.[43] She attended 50th anniversary of the sorority in 1973,[44] and one locally afterwards about it.[45]

There were also specific events Holmes participated in. Holmes appears to have written a Masters Thesis "A critical study of incidence and persistence of eight emotional needs of a third grade class in the W. G. Pearson Elementary School, Durham, North Carolina", ( from NCCU).[27] She published an article "Persistence of emotional needs in young children" with William H. Brown, in Understanding the Child, in October 1954.[46] Another was when she gave an inspirational talk at the Golden Age Club 50th anniversary in Oct, 1956.[47] She also attended the funeral of Florence Hogans Shadding, formerly of Goldsboro, NC.[48] And Holmes was a member of the Durham branch of the National Association of College women in 1957 and that year planning a conference to be held at NCC - Holmes was pictured at the organizational meeting.[49]

Julia Harris and Holmes were visited by Masonic meeting conferees from Philadelphia, one of whom was also a elder sorority representative including the area.[50] Holmes was among those that attended the regional meeting of the Phi Delta Kappa sorority and their memorial service for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.[51]

Holmes attended the January, 1975, meeting of the local chapter of the sorority.[52] And she attended the sorority's presentation on Black History in March 1975.[53]

As a Bahá'í[edit]

Holmes joined the religion in 1957, and began to hold meetings in her home.[27] In December 1957 Holmes was visible hosting Baha’i guests coming to Durham associated with Ludmila Van Sombeek’s efforts.[54] This is about 2-3 yrs after the religion was well established in Durham by pioneers like Louise H. Sawyer and Ludmila Van Sombeek and was part of building a sustained community in the Triangle. We presently do not have a published account of her process coming to the Bahá'í Faith. A note of thanks was published by Holmes through the Times in Oct 1958 over the assistance she had while sick.[55]

A January 1959 meeting in the Quaker Friends Meeting Room with Paul Sanford, of SC State College at Orangeburg giving a talk along with a couple others - local Bahá'ís Ludmila Van Sombeek and Carlotta Holmes are noted.[56] Holmes was pictured on the front page as a "Baha'i leader" meeting with Southern Regional Council at a college group discussion on issues of race in July.[57] Late that year Matthew Bullock, former Dean of Alabama A & M Normal, gave a series of talks in the area as a guest of Mr. and Mrs. JL Moffit. Receptions were held by Van Sombeek and Carlota Holmes at each of their homes.[58]

In January 1960, a photo of group observance of World Religion Day, speakers was published on page 6. The article notes also Mable Powell, Lola Solice, Mrs. J. W. Harris, Luna Holman, Henry Holman, Margaret Minor, Miss Perry, Ernest Manasse, Carlotta Holmes, Mrs EM Manasse.[59] Two weeks later national assembly member Ellsworth Blackwell lead a local conference, as a guest of Carlotta Holmes, while Ludmila Van Sombeek had an open house reception.[60]

In 1961 she served on the 1961 Southeastern Baha'i School Program committee,[61] as well as 1962.[62]

Holmes attended the wedding anniversary of the Wright family during the summer of 1961.[63] That Fall a followup article on the UN Day observance held at Van Sombeek's mentioned the assistance of Carlotta Holmes and Jean Norris.[64] Carlotta Holmes, noting she was listed as secretary of the Bahá'í community, wrote a letter to editor about the Bahá'ís supporting Human Rights Day.[65] 1961 closes out with a notice that Bahá'í Margery McCormick gave a talk at Duke on the Faith as well as at Carlotta Holmes' home; she was then serving on the Auxiliary Board and spent last year touring the country and in 1959 was on a world tour.[66]

Holmes attending the wedding of Beverly Ann Wright, formerly of Durham, and Henry Michaux, held in Columbia SC in the Spring of 1962.[67] This is also the year of the election of the first assembly of Durham - members Carlotta Holmes, Jean Norris, Kathryn Potter, Pari Rowshan, Norma Sarji, Joe Sawyer, Earl Smith, Thelma Stevens, Ludmila Van Sombeek, and notes newest community member Ethlynne Thomas.[68] Following this the next mention is in August when many in the Durham community attended the Bahá'í Summer school at Frogmore SC with attendees - Carlotta Holmes, Pari Rowhan, Ludmila Van Somebeek, Kathryn Potter, Joseph Sawyer - and that the event marked the 50th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visit to America; Eulalia Bobo gave the opening address and other speakers included Alan Ward, Ruth Moffett, and Paul Pettit.[69] Holmes began to hold meetings in her home regularly for children around 1962-4 and served on the assembly some 19 yrs, (so until around 1981.)[70] That early children's class Holmes held was assisted by two sisters - Wendy and Terry Blackwell, and sometimes classes were held in a neighborhood center in Few Gardens and then later in Chapel Hill. She attended the Bahá'í World Congress held in London, 1963, and then went on to her first pilgrimage.[70]

Several Bahá'ís from Durham went to the state convention in Greensboro in 1964 according to the Times - Early Smith, Carlotta Holmes, Ludmila Van Sombeek, Wiley Allison, Thelma Allison, Andrew Allison, Jean Norris along with Bahá'ís fom 20 other towns in NC.[71] That closes out 1964.

January 1966 begins with notice that Carlotta Holmes, Margaret Quance, Marie Brodie and Frances Falvey all went on Bahá'í pilgrimage on the front page of the Times January 1, 1966.[72] The sorority and chapter recieved Holmes giving a slideshow and talk at the Durham Business College in March after returning various countries in Europe and Israel. it was not stated she was returning from Baha'i pilgrimage but the article does include a picture of her.[73] In May Holmes was able to present slides of her travels during Baha'i pilgrimage to the St. Joseph's A. M. E. Church evening program.[74]

January 1967 begins with a notice that the Southeastern Bahá'í Winter School was held at FFA-FHA State Headquarters near Covington GA. Among those there included Van Sombeek, Mr and Mrs Andrew Allison, Carlotta and Jean Norris.[75]

Holmes offered a prayer in March during a program held at the Pearson school on reading following one held in January.[76]

In 1970 she sponsored for a debutante ball for Alpha Theta Omega.[77]

The observance for the Martyrdom of the Bab for the Durham community was held at the Holmes home in July 1974.[78] She held or helped hold children's classes in the early 1970s and from 1984 the community was able to support children's classes continuously - as of early 1999 there were some 65 children attending the Carlotta R. Holmes Bahá'í School in Durham, NC, dedicated in 1999.[27] The site of the Intercommunity Bahá'í Center was acquired as an active location for the school in 1996 and planning had begun in 1985, the year of the first Assembly for Durham County, and a formal mandate was set in 1994.[70]

Later years[edit]

Holmes was among the 15 inductees of the YWCA Life Members in December, 1975.[79] And she attended the Daughters of the Dorcas club, a Christian service society, in April 1977 and 1981.[80] She was also given a ceritificate of recognition by the local chapter as one of the past Basillei (chairs) for the Phi Delta Kappa sorority.[81]

Holmes attended the national meeting of the sorority held in Detroit in 1979.[82]

In September 1979 sister Cora Robbins Wilson died,[83] and she was the executrix of her estate.[84]

Both out of her involvement in schools and the sorority she stayed involved in Teach-a-Rama events.[85]

And in her last years she also still managed a trip In March 1980 going with the West Durham Blosson club to see the "Southern Living Gardens" show in Charlotte.[86]

The main source for this research, the digital collection of the Carolina Times provided at the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center ends in 1982.[87] She was burred in Glenview Memorial Park.[88]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Carlottie Robbins Census • United States Census". FamilySearch.org. 1910. Retrieved Aug 28, 2022.(registration required)
  2. ↑ "Carlotta Robins Census • United States Census". FamilySearch.org. 1920. Retrieved Aug 28, 2022.(registration required)
  3. ↑ "Carlotta B Robbins Census • United States Census". FamilySearch.org. 1930. Retrieved Aug 28, 2022.(registration required)
  4. ↑ Hill's Durham (North Carolina) City Directory, 1929, page 462
  5. ↑ Hill's Durham (N.C.) City Directory, 1932, page 337
  6. ↑ Hill's Durham (North Carolina) City Directory, 1933, page 377
  7. ↑ Hill's Durham (Durham County, N.C.) City Directory, 1936-1937, page 468
  8. ↑ First grade teachers hold monthly meeting, The Carolina Times, Jan 15, 1938, p. 2
  9. ↑ Mr. and Mrs. U. G. Robbins…, The Carolina Times. / July 30, 1938 / page 2
  10. ↑ Thirty-Eighth Annual Report 1938:Electronic Edition.Lincoln Hospital (Durham, N.C.),
  11. ↑ Hill's Durham (Durham County, N.C.) City Directory [1939], p. 263
  12. ↑ "Carlotta Holmes Census • United States Census". FamilySearch.org. 1940. Retrieved Aug 28, 2022.(registration required)
  13. ↑ Hill's Durham (Durham County, N.C.) City Directory [1947], p. 219
  14. ↑ Hill's Durham (Durham County, N.C.) City Directory [1945-46, p. 206
  15. ↑ Kappa Alpha Psi Silhouettes entertain wives of Kappa delegates; plan national chapter, The New York Age (New York, New York)11 Jan 1947, p. 7
  16. ↑ For homecoming tilt; Alumni plans colorful celebration, The Campus Echo, NCC, September 1, 1948, p. 3
  17. ↑ * Durham Socety; Mrs. Mae Ryan of New York…, ed Mrs. P. W. Harris, The Carolina ttimes, / August 13, 1949 / Image 5
  18. ↑ Durham society; Mrs. Carlotta Holmes proved…, ed. by Mrs. P. W. Harris, The Carolina Times / February 11, 1950 / page 5
  19. ↑ Teachers Appoints; Schooler is named Whitted head; Burnett at Lyon Park, The Carolina Times, / August 20, 1949 / page 1
  20. ↑ * Hill's Durham (Durham County, N.C.) City Directory [1940, p. 254
  21. ↑ Durham society; Little Sandra rogers celebrates her sixth birthday, ed. by Mrs. P. W. Harris, The Carolina Times / May 06, 1950 / page 5
  22. ↑ * Class room teachers banguet at Hillside Fri. night, The Carolina Times / April 30, 1960 / page 6
  23. ↑ * Durham Society; Mrs. Lenier is hostess, ed by Mrs. R. W. Harris, The Carolina Times / October 15, 1949 / page 5
  24. ↑ Durham society; Ladies Aid club meets, ed. by Mrs. P. W. Harris, The Carolina Times / March 11, 1950 / page 5
  25. ↑ Durham society notes; Church society meets, ed. by Mrs. P. W. Harris, The Carolina Times / September 12, 1953 / page 4
  26. ↑ Ladies aid of St. Joseph Church in regular meeting, The Carolina Times / March 12, 1955 / page 8
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 "Baha'i school to be named for Durham teacher of 4 decades", by Lynn Jaluvka, The Herald-Sun, Durham NC, Feb 27, 1999, pp. C1,4
  28. ↑ Durham Society; Don't forget our sick and shutins…, ed. by Mrs. P. W/ Harris, The Carolina Times / December 03, 1949 / page 5
  29. ↑ Durham society notes; Saturday night, March 8…, ed. by Mrs. P. W. Harris, The Carolina Times / March 22, 1952 / page 4
  30. ↑ Durham society notes; Community Chest workers meet, The Carolina Times / October 04, 1952 / page 4
  31. ↑ -Kick-off- (continued from page four), The Carolina Times / October 29, 1955 / page 5
  32. ↑ Durham society notes; House guest, ed. by Lillian Buchanan, The Carolina Times / March 20, 1954 / page 4
  33. ↑ * Durham society notes; Mrs. Carlotta Holmes and…, The Carolina Times / September 05, 1953 / page 4
  34. ↑ * The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa…, The Carolina Times / June 12, 1954 / page 1
    • "Phi Delta Kapp in debut…", The Chicago Defender (National edition) [Chicago, Ill] 24 July 1954, p.16
  35. ↑ * Durham society notes; Mrs. Julia W. Harris…, ed Lillian Buchanan, The Carolina Times / September 11, 1954 / page 4
  36. ↑ * Durham society notes; Azalea Club, ed by Lillian Buchanan, The Carolina Times / March 26, 1955 / page 4
  37. ↑ * $5,000 awarded by Phi Delta Kappas to high grads, The Carolina Times / June 18, 1955 / page 10
  38. ↑ * People in the news; Phi Delta Kappa meet, by Loris Ray, The Carolina Times / February 13, 1960 / page 5
  39. ↑ Durham society notes; Phi Delta Kappas, ed. by Lillian Buchanan, The Carolina Times / June 18, 1955 / page 4
  40. ↑ -Sorority (Continued from 3A), The Carolina Times / September 11, 1965 / Page 4A
  41. ↑ --Deltas (continued from page 4A), The Carolina Times / August 26, 1967 / Page 5A
  42. ↑ Sorority host to teenagers, The Carolina Times / January 27, 1968 / Page 5A
  43. ↑ Sorority sponsors party for Central orphange, The Carolina Times / January 19, 1974 / Page 4A
  44. ↑ Phi Delta Kappa commemorate 50th anniversary of sorority, The Carolina Times / September 08, 1973 / Page 5A
  45. ↑ Raleighite host Phi Delta Kappa sorority meeting, The Carolina Times / October 20, 1973 / Page 5A
  46. ↑ "Persistence of emotional needs in young children" by Carlotta R. Holmes and William H. Brown, in Understanding the Child, vol 23, issue 4, October 1954, pp. 120-125
  47. ↑ Durham society notes; Golden Age Club anniversary, ed. by Lillian Buchanan, The Carolina Times / November 03, 1956 / page 4
  48. ↑ "Greensboroan dies in Philly", Afro-American [Baltimore, Md] 10 Nov 1956, p. 12.
  49. ↑ College women plan for conference in Durham, The Carolina Times / February 02, 1957 / page 1
  50. ↑ Durham Social Happenings; In city to attend Masonic meeting, ed Virginia Alston, The Carolina Times / July 08, 1967 / Page 4A
  51. ↑ Annapolis, Md. hosts Phi Delta Kappa sorority's regional meet, The Carolina Times / May 18, 1968 / Page 6A
  52. ↑ National Phi Delta Kappa Beta Zeta chapter meets, The Carolina Times / January 25, 1975 / Page 5A
  53. ↑ Phi Delta Kappa observe Black history week, The Carolina Times / March 08, 1975 / Page 5
  54. ↑ Baha'is national chairman guest at Van Sombeek's home in city, The Carolina Times / December 28, 1957 / page 8
  55. ↑ Card of thanks, The Carolina Times / October 11, 1958 / page 8
  56. ↑ SC State man, scientists set for Baha'i meet, The Carolina Times / January 17, 1959 / page 4
  57. ↑ Human relations leaders at NCC institute, The Carolina Times / July 11, 1959 / page 1
  58. ↑ Matthew Bullock to deliver series of lectures in area for Baha'is, The Carolina Times / December 05, 1959 / page 4
  59. ↑ Baha'i celebration (picture, caption), The Carolina Times / January 23, 1960 / page 6
  60. ↑ National Baha'i official leads four state conference in Durham, The Carolina Times / February 06, 1960 / page 5
  61. ↑ Baha'i directory changes, US Supplement Baha'i News, February, 1961, p. 4
  62. ↑ Baha'i directory changes, US Supplement Baha'i News, February, 1962, p. 4
  63. ↑ Dr. and Mrs. Howard E. Wright observe 25th anniversary Aug 5, The Carolina Times / August 26, 1961 / page 5
  64. ↑ Baha'is hear Hammarskjold's voice on UN Day, The Carolina Times / November 04, 1961 / page 9
  65. ↑ Support for human rights, The Carolina Times / December 09, 1961 / page 2
  66. ↑ * Baha'i teacher to lecture on the Faith Friday, The Carolina Times / December 16, 1961 / page 4
  67. ↑ -Wedding (continued from page 3-A), The Carolina Times / March 31, 1962 / page 6
  68. ↑ First Durham Baha'i Assembly established, The Carolina Times / June 16, 1962 / page 10
  69. ↑ Durhamites at Baha'i confab, The Carolina Times / August 04, 1962 / page 9
  70. ↑ 70.0 70.1 70.2 "Ayyám-i-Há dedication of the Carlotta R. Holmes Family Bahá'í School" (program), published by the Spiritual Assembly of Durham County, NC and the Family Bahá'í School Board, Feb 27, 1999
  71. ↑ Baha'is attend state meeting, The Carolina Times / December 12, 1964 / page 5
  72. ↑ Quartet on visit to Holy Land…, The Carolina Times / January 01, 1966 / page 1
  73. ↑ Sorority presents travelogue, The Carolina Times / March 12, 1966 / Page 3A, page 3
  74. ↑ -Missionary (cotinued from front page), The Carolina Times / May 21, 1966 / Page 2A
  75. ↑ Durhamites are among 300 attending Baha'i meeting, by Jean Norris, The Carolina Times / January 07, 1967 / Page 8A
  76. ↑ Mini reading clinic held at Pearson Elementary School, The Carolina Times / March 08, 1969 / Page 6A
  77. ↑ Alpha Theta Omega's 1970 Debutantes, Thirty-Third Annual Debutante Ball [1970], p. 28
  78. ↑ Baha'is note Holy Day, The Carolina Times / July 13, 1974 / Page 4A
  79. ↑ 15 new members recieve membership life certificates at 'Y' breakfast, The Carolina Times / December 13, 1975 / Page 7
  80. ↑ Daughters of Dorcas club meets, The Carolina Times / April 23, 1977 / Page 7
  81. ↑ National sorority of Phi Delta Kappa inc observes 56th founder's day, Beta Zeta Chapter celebrates 25th, The Carolina Times / June 02, 1979 / Page 13
  82. ↑ * Phi Delta Kappa, inc. meets in Detroit, The Carolina Times / August 25, 1979 / Page 9
  83. ↑ Deaths and funeral services; Wilson, The Carolina Times / September 29, 1979 / Page 4
  84. ↑ Legal Notice; Executrix notice, The Carolina Times / November 10, 1979 / page 10
  85. ↑ * Sorority presents teach-a-rama, by Carlotta R. Holmes, The Carolina Times / April 29, 1967 / Page 4A
  86. ↑ West Durham Blossom Club makes trip, The Carolina Times / March 15, 1980 / Page 13
  87. ↑ Browse Issues: The Carolina Times, 1982, North Carolina Digital Heritage Center, 2016
  88. ↑ Carlotta Robbins Holmes, by Scout731, Jan 6, 2016
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