Coverage of the Bahá’í Faith in the Carolina Times

Coverage of the Bahá'í Faith in the Carolina Times begins in 1942 and does so a significant number of times over the coming decades. Though the newspaper dates from 1930 the earliest editions are believed lost and an online archive covers most of 1937 through 1982, “except 1927-1936, 1944-1948, and 1951”) and there are nearly 400 mentions of the Faith directly. There are undoubtedly more of individuals that are Bahá'ís but the article didn't say so, or where OCR scanning failed to find a mention of the Faith. Further review should be done and this article updated as more details are uncovered.

In 1927 Louis E. Austin made the Carolina Times a significant voice for black North Carolinians during the 1930s as its editor from 1927 until his death in 1971. Though there are a few mentions of the religion before local Bahá'ís gained attention it wasn't until some Bahá'ís moved to Durham that coverage began. The fact that Bahá'ís had previously been active in Greensboro, the cite of the first Bahá'í Assembly of the state and notably African-American in large part, or in Raleigh, again with a significant presence of African-Americans, tends to frame the Carolina Times as very Durham focused in terms of Bahá'í coverage. Sporadic before 1950, such as mention of Joy Hill-Earle of Detroit visiting in 1942, coverage began in earnest in April and May 1955 when the first public talks on the religion are undertaken by A K Kalantar and Elsworth Blackwell respectively. That December Bahá'ís are mentioned attending then normal state-wide convention of Bahá'ís to elect a delegate for the national convention to elect the national assembly. Among these are Ludmila Van Sombeek and her husband George though other Bahá'ís also appear early on. After a mention of the late 1955 destruction of Bahá'í properties in Iran, early 1956 coverage begins with advertisements and "society page" mentions of activities and trips Bahá'ís undertake. Meetings began to be mentioned in stand alone articles that would take place in homes of Bahá'ís; first and foremost held at the Van Sombeeks (who were white hosting integrated meetings), and then often at the Friends Meeting House in Durham. Early events observed by Bahá'ís include World Religion Day, World Peace Day, Race Unity Day, Naw Ruz, (though at first it was just noted as the New Year for Bahá'ís in March,), and Bahá'u'lláh's Birthday. There were traveling presenters of the Faith - Dwight Allen, Matthew Bullock, Sarah Pereira, Allan Ward, and others. Coverage of Ludmila Van Sombeek highlighted her engagement in African-American centers - Fisk University professors of note or elsewhere in the country as well as locally hosting or attending receptions of notable figures. Her engagement reached the point that she began to appear in pictures in the African-American newspaper and was known to meet Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr and family. Ludmila's activity across the state also began to be covered. Another Bahá'í, Carlotta Holmes, began to be mentioned in 1957. The Van Sombeek home began to be known for hosting events with international students and faculty from area universities.

In 1960 Louise Sawyer was noted as secretary of the Durham community (a registered group one presumes.) In 1961 Jean Norris Scales (though not married yet in 1961) is mentioned. Shortly before the election of the first local Assembly in Durham there was notice of the first observation related to the Bab - His Martyrdom specifically. The members of the first local assembly in 1962 were: (in order as pictured) Carlotta Holmes, Jean Norris, Kathryn Potter, Pari Rowshan, Norma Sarji, Joe Sawyer, Earl Smith, Thelma Stevens, Ludmila Van Sombeek, and, newest community member, Ethlynne Thomas. Hand of the Cause noted in the State was Zikrullah Khadem in 1964. Overall coverage of the Faith more than doubled that of the 1950s mostly because Bahá'ís were visible mostly from 1955 on - but even so the coverage was higher than that of just more time - 135 if you extend the rate of coverage in the 1950s over the entire decade and 146 in the 1960s. Events were more and more often held in public venues like the Jack Tar Hotel or rooms at Duke or NCCU and meetings began to be co-sponsored by other organizations. Civic proclamations began to be made of Bahá'í events and then civic leaders began to appear at them. Notoriety was clearly on the rise coming into the 1970s, a period of obvious growth of the Faith in South Carolina and beyond.

However coverage in the 1970s was episodic - either many stories in a few months, or significant caps of any mention for months at a time - 7 to 11 months. The first was for 7 months across late 1970-early 1971 and the story that broke the gap was news of the first assembly of Chapel hill was noted - members - Jerry Cott, Eugene Howard, John Watson, Mack Ezzell, Ellen McAllister, William Zucker, Carolyn Wootten, Daphna Stewart, and Emma Allen. The next gap was for 9 later months in 1975 which is broken in later December with an advertisement and a Human Rights Day observance mention. The last gap is most of 1978 - between a talk at NCCU in December 1977 to some advertisements in December 1978 there is nothing at present known but in 1979 coverage of the new persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran begins. Whether this was because the Bahá'ís were busy with events in South Carolina or internally otherwise, or with some change in policy at the newspaper following the pacing of its long time publisher and main editor, or some other cause the change was significant though not to the point that coverage precipitously fell - the religion was noted 95 times whereas it had been 146 times in the 1960s. There was also a significant shift from articles covering mention of the religion to generic advertisements highlighting a quote rather than an event that Bahá'ís bought.

Though coverage of the 1980s is limited because the archives currently end in 1982, the rate of coverage had clearly rebounded - 47 articles are found in just three years, a rate greater than that of the 1960s. Many stories mention the persecution in Iran. 1981 notes the County Assembly members elected for the first time: Forouz Alahverdi, William Head, Sonja Head, Gary Hugler, Eileen Kugler, Kenneth McLeroy, Paula Pope, Robert Tansik, and Melissa Tansik.

Firsts

Bahá'í Joy Hill-Earle of Detroit spent two weeks around June-July 1942 in the area of Durham giving talks, as a guest of Bernie Jones, with the goal of raising a group of Bahá'ís in Durham. At first, and into the 1950's, the spelling tends to be "BaHai" when it is a locally produced article. If the article is sourced from Bahá'ís (such as using the term "Bahá'í World Faith") it tends to be spelled correctly. Into the later 1950s spelling becomes uniform usually continued ok thereafter.

In November 1952 there is a photo of the Bahá'í House of Workship in Wilmette and noted its opening dedication.

Rising pattern

1950s and the furthering of the Durham community

There are some 59 mentions of the Faith across the 1950s and only some seven are advertising but almost all of them come after 1954. Some 20 alone are due to the Van Sombeeks, particularly Ludmila, starting in 1955 - the year they moved in. Her service continued after George died in 1958. Though only 55 appearances occured in these later years, the pace is that of 137 for the decade.

1950-1954

All of these entries are through the syndicated columnist Robert Durr, (keeping mind 1951 is missing from this survey and the 1952 mention of the House of Worship noted above.) First he has a profile of the religion that is published; nothing about Durham or the area save that the column speaks "from the south". The second reviews the call of Bahá'í pioneers to Africa as part of the Ten Year Crusade but the proposition he submits is that "white missionaies" wont be trusted, or "will accomplish little unless he forgets he is white and even becomes ashames of his white skin…" He does speak of the Faith as providing "genuine God-guided responsible leadership", "I recommend the Bahá'í teachings as the recipe" and commends Black youth to the work. Therre is an additional if brief mention by Durr a month later. All that being said, there are no mentions of the Faith in 1954.

1955-1956

The first known large scale meeting of the religion seeking interested individuals covered in the Carolina Times is in April of 1955 when A K Kalantar talked in Durham sponsored by the Inter-Racial Committee of the National Spiritual Assembly and the Durham Bahá'í community. Spelling of the name was well and clearly information from the group was used primarily to setup the article as it had biographical information of Kalantar briefly noted. However the article appeared the very day of the meeting, but at least it was on page 1 and notes that meetings have been racially integrated for the Faith a long time, "since its inception" it says.

Elsworth Blackwell, member of the National Spiritual Assembly, is noted at the "first public presentation to be made in Durham" though this one was about two weeks later than Kalantar's. The talk is sponsored, again, by the Inter-Racial Committee of the National Spiritual Assembly and Durham community. However the article feels more locally produced as the mis-spelling "BaHai" is used. And this article was an after-the-fact review of what happened at the meeting. Blackwell's remarks spoke of the promise of things in the United States and the persecution Bahá'ís had suffered under Communism. See Bahá'í Faith in Russia; though persecution in Iran is more famous these days and was soon to be in the news again, persecution in Russia had been remarkably severe in the 1930s. But five months later, speak of the…, the destruction of Bahá'í buildings in Iran is in the Carolina Times. To push the point further George Van Sombeek wrote a letter to the editor about it the next month and it was published on the traditional date of the Birth of Baha'u'llah - November 12.

A rough summary of the Bahá'ís of Durham by December 1955 finds a list of people going to Greensboro for a state-wide convention of Bahá'ís - Mr and Mrs George Van Sombeek, Margaret Quance, Orpha Daugherty and son Mark; Louise Sawyer was in Florida and will attend convention there.

An intermittent couple of advertisements (rather than articles covering events) begin to appear in Spring 1956. A March 1956 article generally makes the point that the Golden Rule is what is needed between the races, and mentions the Bahá'í Faith, though there is no event presented in light of it.

The society page of the newspaper began to make mention of various Bahá'ís traveling. The first was Ludmila Van Sombeek's speaking trip before going to national convention - her plans listed were Cincinnati, Chicago(for the national convention), and then Phoenix, Dallas, Forth Worth, Birmingham, Altanta and other smaller cities, before her expected return in a month. A Bahá'í advertisement appears in between. Though delayed until the end of June, a brief story does appear covering her trip though it also mentions places not originally on her list of places she was going like Tennessee.

Ludmila and George Van Sombeek were off to attend the August 1956 Blue Ridge Conference at Black Mountain with Elizabeth Snyder who is now living in Florida; Peter McLaren and Bernard Streets were also going - from Hamburg NY and Indiana respectively - and were house guests of the Van Sombeeks.

Briton Challoner Chute from the University of Virginia gave a talk at a weekly meeting on world affairs at the Van Sombeek home in October. Then Ludmila left on a tour of some cities - Birmingham, Mobile and Gulfport AL, Jackson and Meridian Miss - on a speaking trip for the Faith. During the trip she also visited with Rev. Dr and Mrs. Martin Luther King. Just a week or so later there is a notice that Matthew Bullock of Boston, but a NC native, was going to speak at the Van Sombeek home on the religion as a basis of world peace. The next week Sarah Pereira, Chair of a department of the integrated West Virginia State College, spoke in Durham at their home, noting she served on Auxiliary Board with responsibilities across the Americas.

1957-1958

In Mid-January a meeting is arranged at the Quaker Friends Meeting House near Duke University called "World Religion for World Peace". The notice is in the form of an advertisement but is one of a specific meeting with specific people presenting: Thomas Jones of Earlham College and Fisk Universities and national figure on progressive education and Bahá'í, Stanwood Cobb, gave talks. This is the first notice of meetings at the Friends Meeting House that will host a great many Bahá'í meetings. In addition to an advertisement there was an article reviewing the coming meeting which was a World Religion Day. There was another advertisement the night before, and another afterwards noting the Meeting House was full to capacity. It was noted the speakers were house guests of the Van Sombeeks. It is worth noting that the home of the Sombeeks is not being mentioned in the newspaper not because it is a remarkable home physically - it is because at the time a home owned by whites would often not host African-Americans in their homes.

Mid-February 1957, George Van Sombeek wrote a Letter to the editor on race unity and an appreciation of Black history. A couple weeks later there is a story of Ludmila Van Sombeek returning from a 10 day speaking tour - but now lifted off the society page and in an article of her own. It noted she gave talks and visited individuals in Chattanooga, Memphis, and at Fisk University having spoken there in 1934.

An article covered the buffet dinner for the Bahá'í New Year observance, (the term Naw Ruz was not yet used,) served at the Van Sombeek home. Music was provided by two Australian artists, it said. This appears to also be the first time a Bahá'í Holy Day was noted in the newspaper. In June Ludmila Van Sombeek returned from a three week speaking tour. She went to Phoenix, where she met with Percy Julian, a Black scientist and spoke to 6 classes of Black, Mexican and Indian students. While there she was invited to present to Hopi Indians and then Navajo Indians. Then she went on to Oklahoma City and Cincinnati and the article continuing to highlight other African-American connections in her travels. Then she was at the national Bahá'í convention in Chicago and the article underscored core Bahá'í themes. There was also an advertisement on the same page of the Bahá'í House of Worship.

A notice of the Bahá'í history of supporting Race Amity meetings was printed June 8, though there is no mention of a local event. Next, in August, there is a brief article of the Van Sombeek's return from trip to Toronto, Ohio, where one of their daughters lived - the daughter, son in Phoenix, and two children in Europe are noted as all active Bahá'ís.

The August conference in Black Mountain was noted having participants from Durham, Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte and other places in NC. In mid-September a letter to the editor by Ludmila Van Sombeek was about the Golden Rule across religions including the Bahá'í Faith. This inter-faith approach on page 2 of the newspaper was noted by a Presbyterian hosted "tea", at which Ludmilla was the lead speaker, on page 4. An advertisement was published in later September.

In early November visiting lady professor E. Thomas at Duke from India and Leonard DeSheild from Liberia gave a talk on UN Day with Ludmila Van Sombeek presiding at the E. D. Mickle Community Center. The event was cosponsored by L and S Y'ers Club of a local YWCA and Durham Bahá'ís. A week later the Bahá'ís were noted observing Bahá'u'lláh's Birthday though no local event was mentioned. There was also a Bahá'í advertisement of the Bahá'í House of Worship.

A month later in December Carlotta R. Holmes was visible hosting Baha’i guests coming to Durham associated with Ludmila Van Sombeek’s efforts. And Ludmila Van Sombeek was among speakers at WILPF's NCC forum with a picture on the front page of the Times. The end of December saw Etta Woodlen, chair of national Inter-Racial Committee of Bahá'ís, had stayed at the Van Sombeek home a month touring several NC cities. A number of receptions were hosted during the stay at the Van Sombeek and Carlatta Holmes homes and the article noted some of the guests - Mrs. G McLean, Stanley Hal, Violet Rehnberg. Other presenters at these meetings included Mr. Beecher Coward and Cara Kelson. James Helmlund and his mother had arrived in late December from NY and participated in a fellowship supper for some 31 students from colleges and universities across a few states.International students addressed the group about their homelands. A Bahá'í advertisement of the House of Worship was noted a week later on page 4 of the newspaper, and a letter to editor by G. Van Sombeek about World Religion Day noted on page 7 though no local event was highlighted. Instead Ludmila Van Sombeek spoke at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte for the observance.

Elsie Austin (pictured) talked for Brotherhood weekend event at NCCU (as it is known today) in early February cosponsored by many organizations including the Bahá'ís - leaders in charge were Josie Powerll, Inez Jones, and Ludmila Van Sombeek. Austin was a guest of the Van Sombeek's who also hosted a reception at which Austin spoke of her recent work in Africa.

In April an article appeared about the Persian dinner (and prayer by Mrs. Sopikian) held at the Van Sombeek's home for the Bahá'í New Year (still not called Naw Ruz) at which also was played a tape by Hand of the Cause William Sears. Also Ludmila was speaker at Elizabeth City State Teachers College. A week later Ludmila is pictured at a local meeting with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Note George Van Sombeek died a few hrs after this meeting. He is buried in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Durham. Note this was Ludmila's second husband - her first was Adolph George Bechtold who died in 1944 in New York.

A week later Challoner Ricard St. Clair Chite of the Institute of Textile Tech at UVa visited NCC accompanied by Ludmila Van Sombeek. A month after her husband's death Ludmila Van Sombeek and Mrs Joe Sawyer returned from an Intercontinental Conference in Chicago. She was then off to Tennessee for an inauguration at Fisk,and then to Indiana and in both states addressed audiences on the Faith.

Ludmila's home hosted Indian diplomat and Bahá'í Eruch Munsiff, and her speaking engagements and interviews in July. After July the next newspaper item was about the observance of Birthday of Baha'u'llah.

1959

The last year of this decade of rising activity begins with a January 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. In February Van Sombeek's home hosted a conference on race relations sponsored by national Bahá'í Interracial committee with people from North Carolina and Virginia attending. Thirty four attended, and a picture was published as well. The next week Dr and Mrs. Raymond Piper visited Durham's colleges and Van Sombeek's home on a world tour.

Bahá'í new year is observed at Van Sombeek's home with a talk by (UNC?) graduate returned from France. Late in May the Carolina Times noted A. K. Kalantar talked at Van Sombeek home during a tour with his wife. Attending were students and faculty from nearby universities.

Bahá'í Carlotta Holmes was noted with a college group discussion issues of race in July. A few weeks later Van Sombeek returned from Black Mountain for a UN and NC Council of Churches conference.

In October the Times published a note on the anniversary of introduction of the Faith to the US at 1893 Colombian Expo at the end of September. Later in October Van Sombeek home hosted international students and teachers at her home for a UN party. Then alittle more than a week later, and closing out 1959, 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.

1960s and achieving an Assembly

There are some 2 and a half times the mentions of the Faith in the 1960s compared to the 1950s. That's 146 mentions though some 14 are advertisements. About 60 involve Ludmila Van Sombeek. It is also fairly apparent that whenever she would go on a tour somewhere there were less public events of the Faith held locally. However other events would take place and whereas since the 50s events would be held at her home increasingly events were held in area venues - the Friends Meeting House or the Jack Tar hotel. And indeed in 1969 Van Sombeek moved to Reno at age 73. Before the 1960s there were the occasional engagement of Bahá'ís in other organizations, Bahá'í activities themselves while open were just of our own work. In the 1960s civic leaders would produce proclamations of the Bahá'ís though not personally appear at events. Other religious leaders would participate in a few cases.

1960-1961

1960 coverage of the Faith begins noting that Ludmila Van Sombeek returned from a brief tour attending a meeting at the Bahá'í Temple at Wilmette, and then family in Toronto, Ohio. A few weeks later World Religion Day was celebrated - there was a proclamation by Mayor Evans, talk by Adolphe Furth, and Albert James, on page 4. A photo of group observance of World Religion Day, speakers was published on page 6.The article notes also Mable Powell, Lola Solice, Mrs. JW Harris, Luna Holman, Henry Holman, Margaret Minor, Miss Perry, Ernest Manasse, Carlotta Holmes, Mrs EM Manasse. 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.

A month later there is a notice that Ludmila Van Sombeek returned from Wake Forest College where she was a guest of Dr and Mrs. Emerson Head and gave her talk at the Gallery of Fine Arts museum sponsored by the Bahá'ís of Winston-Salem.

Late in March there is a story of the "New Year" observance of Bahá'ís hosted at the Van Sombeek home with music by Henry Market. A month later Van Sombeek is noted talking at Duke University Women's College on the Faith. In late June Ludmila Van Sombeek held a reception for Dr and Mrs. R. Piper of Syracuse NY with music by Henry. Markot. In July Ludmila's daughter's family Mr and Mrs Bruce von der Heydt and children visited and friends with children had a picnic several times; and a presention slide show by G. Van Busschback showed Holland and South Africa in a context of Christian and Bahá'í ideals as an inter-racial metting.

In September the Times ran an article of Van Sombeek's summer trip of many stops - Elliot Maine (aka home of Green Acre) and Flint Michigan (aka the home of the then called Davidson Baha'i school), and New York City where she was guest of David Thomas. A week later there was an observance of Bahá'í World Peace Day hosted at Van Sombeek's home. A few weeks later in October a picture was published on page 4 of a Bahá'í meeting held at Wilmette showing participants in a discussion about racism - David Ruhe, Amoz Gibson, Arthur Dahl, Edna True, H. Borrah Kavelin, Charlotte Linfoot, Charles Wilcott, Ellsworth Blackwell, and Florence Mayberry.

November 12th, the date Baha'u'llah's birthday was observed at the time, had an article in the newspaper noting that Van Sombeek returned from a trip where she was guest of Bahá'í Sarah Prerira, entertained by Mrs. Stephen Wright, wife of Fisk President. While there Van Sombeek gave firesides as well as a talk at the University. A week later there was a notice that Bahá'u'lláh's Birthday was noted by Bahá'ís around the world, though no local event was mentioned. A week later "another" International Bahá'í fellowship evening was held at the Van Sombeek's home, and with guests Dr. and Mrs. Peter Tadley showing slides, music by Afrika Hayes and Henry Markot.

1960 closes out with a Letter to the editor by Louise Sawyer as secretary of the Durham community (a registered group one presumes) noting Human Rights Day, and noting separately that Challoner Chute is talking on the themes in the letter to the editor for Human Rights Day at the Van Sombeek home. Both notices came out the day of the event.

January 1961 starts with Van Sombeek entertaining foreign students from various universities near and far at her home highlighting a Bahá'í quote. A week later there is a World Religion Day observance at the Van Sombeek home with contact information for Louise Sawyer presented. Two weeks later an article noted Van Sombeek was returned from a weekend in DC inauguration ceremonies as a guest of Lillian Evanti and among the events attended a talk by Ali Kuli Khan at the home of Mrs. Frank Snowden. There was also a talk at the DC Bahá'í Library Van Sombeek gave. A month later, durring Ayyam-i-Ha but not stated in the article, the Van Sombeek home hosted a party for Jean Norris (we know her today as Jean Scales), English teacher at NCC, and Henry Markot, church choir conductor, and with international guests. This is Jean Scales first appearance in the Carolina Times. Alittle over a month later, now early April, Van Sombeek hosted Bahá'í Allan Ward who spoke at a NCC (NCCU as we know it now) series on religion and at a luncheon reception. Another piece at the end of April profiled the religion working in Africa and over other places, noting especially the opening of the Ugandan House of Worship and elected new national assemblies in Africa and South America.

In May a short piece reports on Van Sombeek returned from attending the national Bahá'í convention. A bit less than a month later Van Sombeek hosted a picnic party for Bahá'í Jean Norris on her birthday with students from area universities and a talk on intuition based on the Writings. Allan Ward returned to Durham, guest of Van Sombeek, and spoke at a series of meetings in the area. A week later Van Sombeek hosted Bahá'í Maude Dixon from New York. In later July a notice was posted that the Martyrdom of the Bab was observed as part of the regional Bahá'í School at Penn Community Center in Frogmore, St. Helena Island, SC which some Bahá'ís from Durham attended. This appears to be the first mention of the Bab in the Carolina Times. In early September the Times noted Van Sombeek returned from a 5 week trip starting at Frogmore, then up to Maine (again, where Green Acre is), then Flint Michican, (again, where Davidson Bahá'í School is) where she gave talks/classes. A week later Van Sombeek gave a farewell party for Henry Markot, soloist of Duke Chapel, Minister at Trinity Methodist Church with party of are colleges and community, noting it reflected the quote "The earth is but one country…". A week later there was a notice of the observance of World Peace Day held at the Van Sombeek residence. A followup article noted there was attendance from NCC and Duke as well as details of the event.

Early October has a notice that Van Sombeek was returned from a tour to Nashville where National Service Committee of the Bahá'ís met and she spoke to groups while guests of Dr. and Mrs. E. G. High, related to E. N. Tooles of Durham. A week later Van Sombeek wrote a letter to the editor noting the observance of UN Day and Bahá'ís. A week later a profile of Faith notes working it for peace, that it has advised revising the UN charter, and announces a meeting of UNA at the Van Sombeek home with talk by Dag Hammerskiold, (the article also lists prominent political figures of Adlai Stevenson, and Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt but the succeeding article does not mention them.) A followup article on the UN Day observance held notes the assistance of Carlotta Holmes and Jean Norris.

The Birthday of Baha'u'llah observance was held at the Van Sombeek home with a slideshow of the Holy Land. It was briefly noted again a couple weeks later. A week later Carlotta Holmes, secretary, writes a letter to editor about Bahá'ís supporting Human Rights Day. 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.

1962-1963

1962 coverage of the Faith begins in March when Van Sombeek returned to Durham after she spoke at the Nashville Bahá'í Center as part of a panel - Herman Long (Fisk), Amoz Gibson (Bahá'í National Assembly) - among a set of conferences. A few days later there is a photo published of a Bahá'í meeting at Van Sombeek home. A month later during Ridvan, but not advertized as such, had Van Sombeek hosting a piano recital with an international audience and performers featuring Mr and Mrs Head from Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The next coverage is in June when there is notice of Van Sombeek returned from Phoenix after two weeks with son and Pine Spring Bahá'í conference with Indians and visitors from many countries. And there is a notice 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. Following this the next mention is in August when many in the Durham community attend the Bahá'í Summer school at Frogmore had 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, Mrs. Robert Lee Moffett, and Paul Pettit.

September mention included the story of Ludmila Van Sombeek's son and family touring many states giving Bahá'í talks on their way to visit her and on arriving in the area they all reflected on Bahá'í conferences that had been held with Indians about experiences in New Mexico. At the end of September the provisional Duke Bahá'í club had Winston Evans give a talk series. About a week later the Bahá'ís noted World Peace Day and commemorated George Washington Carver with talks by Joseph Himes and Stanwood Cobb. This was covered in a second article as well - the event was held at Friends Meeting House, and it was mentioned that Kay Potter was the Chair of the Assembly. Later in October regional (DC, Maryland, …local) colleges Bahá'í students and friends gathered at home of Van Sombeek.

In November there was notice that Van Sombeek returned from Dayton from a meeting of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History at Central State College where Hobart Taylow spoke, Charles Wesley presented awards, and Van Sombeek also visited with the Bahá'í Wesley family. In November a tribute to the late George Washington Carver included talk by Jack McCants. It was also noted that he was a former ordained Methodist minister, speaks in Greensboro, Raleigh, and Durham.

In December notice appeared that Van Sombeek returned from visiting family in Toronto Ohio and Phoenix Arizona and offered a dinner talk with slides and music. Then in a couple weeks it is noted that Bahá'ís observed Human Rights Day at Van Sombeek home, with recorded talks by Dag Hammarskjold and Eleanor Roosevelt, ending the year.

January 1963 then begins with Matthew Bullock giving a talk for World Religion Day sponsored by the Bahá'ís. In February a picture of a regional national assembly in Africa - members Hassan Sabri, Ariz Yazdi, Max Henyerdzi, Philip Hainsworth, `Ali Nakhjavani, Kolonerio Oule, Isobel Sabri, and Oloro Epyery, (and 9th unnamed) - noted the multi-racial make up. A couple weeks later a notice had Bahá'í Dwight Allen giving a talk in Durham in Flowers building of Duke and a prayer meeting held at the Van Sombeek home to support the Moroccan Bahá'ís - see Bahá'í Faith in Morocco - and noted Kathryn Potter was chair of the assembly. The situation was referred to again in March when Durham Bahá'ís note persecution with several quotes from Jean Norris, a well as a Bahá'í advertisement. A week later it was noted that NCC teacher Dwight Harris gave a talk at the Van Sombeek home, which was followed by a few advertisements. The end of March saw Van Sombeek invited to speak to A and B Circle of Kyls Temple AME Zion Church, and she showed slides of Holy Land and Vienna. However from April through June no meetings are noted; instead just advertisements. Note this was the period of the first Bahá'í World Congress.

The next article mentioning Bahá'ís noted they are not segregated in an article by Langston Hughes. Two months later a Bahá'í observance of World Peace Day was held at ED Mickie Community Center, noted by recording secretary of the Durham assembly, Ethlynne Thomas. This was timed with another Bahá'í advertisement.

In October an article noted that Van Sombeek had returned after six months in Europe following the Bahá'í World Congress in London. Sombeek had visited nine countries giving talks including some behind the Iron Curtain.

In November a piece noted Etta Woodlen of Delaware, member of or former member of many committees and institutions, talked at a Bahá'í meeting in the Van Sombeek home. A month later the Bahá'ís of Durham offered prayers for President Kennedy at home of Van Sombeek. The last story of the year noted Walter Wooten gave a Human Rights Day talk.

1964-1965

January coverage begins with Bahá'ís observing World Religion Day with a talk by Greensboro Bahá'í Terah Cowart-Smith, the article notes Kathryn Potter is chair of Assembly. A few weeks later Van Sombeek is noted returned after month trip along east coast showing slides of her trips. On her return she also hosted Mr and Mrs Ted Lipitt of West Virginia who gave talk slide series at a Bank meeting room and Van Sombeek's home. In another couple weeks Van Sombeek hosted Bahá'í Aileen Beale, from Bournemouth UK, who gave talks about supporting the UN. A month later there was a notice of Bahá'ís observing New Year (not called Naw Ruz) at Van Sombeek's home with international visitors.

In later May, published on the Declaration of the Bab but not noted, Van Sombeek returns after 3 weeks tour inc national Bahá'í convention, family, New York UN events, World’s Fair (in New York?). Almost a month later in mid-June there is a notice of a birthday party for Jean Norris at Van Sombeek's home and arrival of Valerie Wilson with friends from Duke and NCC all punctuated with quotes from the Faith. A week later Van Sombeek hosted Mrs. Roan Orloff Stone of Gallup NM who was working with Indians.

In July three Bahá'ís from Durham are noted going to Camp Dorothy Walls at Black Mountain - Ethlynne Thomas, Ludmila Van Sombeek, and Jean Norris. A particular teacher at the school was (Hand of the Cause) Zikrullah Khadem. A month later in late August Van Sombeek hosted Mary Browne of High Point and Ann Homes of New York - both from the Peace Conference at Climac sponsored by Quakers and keynote speaker Norman Whitney - with a picnic with Bahá'ís and community and reception indoors. A week later in September Jean Norris gave a talk at Van Sombeek's home on Bahá'í views of the age of peace coming as prophesied. The same day it was noted in the paper that Van Sombeek hosted Glenford Mitchell who will speak at World Peace Day event with guests from Raleigh Duke and NCC at the home of Van Sombeek, Coverage speaks of him also talking at World Peace Day held at AME Church two weeks later.

There is a notice after the fact that the Durham Bahá'ís observed Baha'u'llah's Birthday at the Van Sombeek home. A month later the Human Rights Day observance by Bahá'ís was held at the Van Sombeek home. And then several Bahá'ís from Durham go to the state convention in Greensboro - 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. That closes out 1964.

January 1965 begins with a notice that Bahá'ís had gathered at Penn Community Center in Flagmore SC - including Jean Norris, Ludmila Van Sombeek, and others from 15 states for over 200 people with Hand of the Cause William Sears. Later in January it is noted that Bostonian Bahá'í Matthew Bullock was the main speaker at the World Religion Day observance. He was hosted by Van Sombeek and stayed to give talks in area some two weeks.

April 1965 there is a notice for the first time that Bahá'ís observed "Naw Ruz", by name, at the Jack Tar Durham hotel dining room with a talk by Fereydeun Jalali, and music by Jerrye Williamson and Kathnel Blai. This would be the first of several meetings at the hotel which has since closed. In later April, about the time of Ridvan but not noted as such, Van Sombeek hosted Bahá'ís Eugene Byrd and family who spoke at the NCC Bahá'í club. Another visitor was Bahá'í Albert James. There was a break in cover from then until September - when Gerald Underwood spoke at the World Peace Day held at Friends Meeting House as part of 72 anniversary of mention of the Faith in the West. In October it is noted Van Sombeek (pictured) returned from a five month European tour overseen by the "International Bahá'í Center". That December, and the last story of the year, sees Daniel Sampson speaking at the Human Rights Day observance at a Savings and Loan sponsored by Bahá'ís.

1966-1967

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. Next George Goodman (pictured) was going to talk at an NCC meeting for World Religion Day. A month later there was notice that Van Sombeek had visited DC area for days for a Legislative Seminar for Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and to hear a Foreign Relations Committee report on Viet Nam. Sombeek was house guest of Sarah Pereira and upon return was asked to speak at a couple of local engagements. Another month later, in March, the A&T Bahá'í Club presented a panel at NCC sponsored by the NCC Bahá'í Club - Evander Gilmer, Charles Bullock, Charmion Gordon students and faculty Charles George and Fereydoun Jalali. In later May it was noted Van Sombeek returned after going to Bahá'í national convention and then visiting daughter and giving a talk in Stony Brook NY. Upon her return she hosted a picnic for guests from NCC and Duke, and international visitors. Also G. Hardin offered a paper and Bahá'í quotes. From late May until late October there is a break in coverage. Then there is a notice that the Bahá'ís of Durham will observe UN Day on the 23rd instead but it is held at NCC Home Economics Building by Terah Cowart-Smith from Greensboro. A month later there is notice that the Bahá'ís gathered for state convention at City Hall Club in Greensboro.

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 Holmes and Jean Norris. A week later Bahá'ís observed World Religion Day with a prelude of a slide show by Jules Lauret and Van Sombeek at her home and then an interfaith presenters of Rev John Chappell, Jay Scales (as a Moslem, we know him today as a Bahá'í), Kent Auter (UU), Fath. Joseph Woods (Cath), Jules Lautret (Bahá'í) at the Allied Arts Center.

In March Allah Kuli-Khan Kalantar (pictured) returned to Durham, hosted by Van Sombeek, and gave talks at area meetings. Notice of the coming Naw Ruz observance at Wedgewood room at Jack Tar Hotel was made a couple days in advance of it with speaker Mrs. William Maxwell. From then until September there is no coverage of the Faith in the Carolina Times and then it is an echoing by the Durham Assembly quoting the National Assembly statement on race conflict issues. In another month there is notice that 30 North Carolinians attended the international Proclamation Centenary conference as it was called in the Times. Speakers included Episcopal Bishop James Pike, Yale Professor and Bahá'í Firuz Kazemzadeh, Executive director of the Chicago Urban League Edwin Berry, UN NGO Bahá'í representative Mildred Mottahedeh, and Fisk University faculty poet and Bahá'í Robert Hayden. In November, a month later, there is notice that Van Sombeek (pictured) toured 10 European countries and two international summer conferences, going to Israel and Iran (on pilgrimage), and she attended the setting of the cornerstone at the House of Worship at Panama. A week later the Durham Bahá'ís gathered for the Birthday observance of Baha'u'llah at the Van Sombeek home showing slides of Iran and there was music by Evander Gilmer. The last story of the year in the Times was when Bahá'ís and Quakers presented the Human Rights Day observance at the Friends Meeting House.

1968-1969

1968 begins with coverage that World Religion Day was observed at the Friends Meeting House with speakers - Rev Herbert Eaton, Rabbi Resenzweig, and Helen Underhill (Bahá'í). In February there is a brief notice that Bahá'ís are associated with Project Equality. In March the third time Durham Bahá'ís host Naw-Ruz at the Jack Tar Durham Hotel. This year the Bahá'ís of Durham gave an award to Carolina Times editor Louis Austin - speech by William Schumacher from Elizabeth City (and review of his career). A week later Van Sombeek returned after a 1 month tour to DC, Maryland and Pennsylvania showing slides of her Panama and Iran Bahá'í trips - she also attended a retirement reception at Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana.

In May, Van Sombeek attended the 4th annual human rights conference seminar at the UN sponsored by the US national assembly. The US national convention was covered, albeit in June, in general and especially for the election of the national assembly which elected African Americans to the national assembly. A week later it was reported that Van Sombeek was returned after attending national Bahá'í convention and trips to Ohio and Arizona to see family and show slides of her travels to small groups. After June there is a break in coverage until September. In September Bahá'ís Gerald Underwood and Mr and Mrs. Walter Wootten served on panel for a World Peace presentation. Two weeks later there is a notice that Van Sombeek had returned after touring 8 countries after the Palermo Baha'i Oceanic Conference on centenarry of Baha'u'llah's arrival in Holy Land.

In October there is a brief advert at the top of the page saying Bahá'ís will have a booth at the annual state fair.

The first obituary and funeral of the Bahá'ís is published Nov 9 upon the death of Theodore Minor of Durham in Raleigh Crossroads Church Cemetery. Two weeks later Van Somebeek(pictured) was invited to tour communties in New England speaking on the "Bahá'í Peace Plan". Two weeks later Bahá'ís offered a Human Rights Day observance at Friends Meeting House with speaker Teresita Myers,(pictured) and Ellen Parmele, which closes out the year.

The next obituary and funeral notice of the community is in January for Cashius Mosby Thomas at Covenant United Presbyterian Church and burial at Glenview Memorial Park. Music by Henry Brooks and Gwendolyn Tait Haskins That same day there was an advert for Bahá'ís holding World Religion Day with a talk by Terah Cowart-Smith. A week later Bahá'ís James T. Taylor of Durham and Fred Myers of Columbia, Maryland, (pictured) speak at World Religion Day observance at the Friends Meeting House. A month later there is notice Van Sombeek attended a 3 day conference in Atlanta on Bahá'í spiritual varieties for the Universal House of Justice with presentations by Layd Gardner, Albert James, "a Navajo" and Mrs. J. Khadem. Notice was made of African-Americans on local, national and the Universal House of Justice as well as a Navajo on the national assembly. In March it was noted Durham Bahá'ís gather at Wedgewood room at Jack Tar Durham Hotel with talks by William Allison and Fereydoun Jalali.

In April it was noted that Van Sombeek retuned from Chicago attending Naw Ruz at the House of Worship and a wedding followed by an invitation of area groups to hear her speak. A week later there is a marriage announcement of a Bahá'í wedding of Jean Norris and Jay Scales. Van Sombeek attended reading the Marriage Tablet. A few weeks later Durhamites Van Sombeek, Mr and Mrs Andrew Allison and Wylie Allison had gone to the national convention - highlights included that Van Sombeek gave talks to area meetings, there was comment that there was a 35% increase in adult enrollments in the Faith and 89% of youth across the nation, and also announced were eight conferences to be held over the next few years. A week later there was notice that Van Sombeek had toured after attending the national Bahá'í convention. She spoke in areas around Chicago as well as locally in Kinston, NC.

In June there was a Race Unity Day observed in Durham with a picnic at Umstead Park with a talk by Henry Ginn of Augusta GA. And there was notice that Van Sombeek (pictured) was moving to Reno Nevada after living in Durham 14 years to live with her daughter and nearby family. The Van Sombeeks had moved here from New York to support the "Bahá'í Peace Plan" and George passed in 1958.

In September Mr and Mrs Reuben Budby of Bowie, Maryland, presented slides and naration at a Bahá'í Fireside at their home. Busby was a former ordained minister. In November, and closing out the year, "A New Wind" film by George C. Stoney was to be shown at a home.

Turbulence of the 1970s

During the 70s there is a drop to just 95 mentions of the Faith and 75 of these are generic advertisements in the form of quotes of the Writings. 10 of the articles would appear on Bahá'í events in 1970 alone.(got to redo this count - the math doesn't add up on this decade yet.) Indeed there are signs of a precipitous drop in coverage after the Fall of 1972. Whether this is from Bahá'ís being preoccupied with events in South Carolina, or a change in attitude in the newspaper after the death of its publisher, or some other issue is unknown. The fact that Ludmila Van Sombeek moved away in 1969 after being so visible in the newspapers in Bahá'í activities seems unrelated as 1970 continued to have a high level of visibility in the newspaper. But this relative paucity of stories on the religion would be deep in the Summer-Fall of 1976 and the longest across most of 1978 though at the same time in the first half of 1976 was the first time nine stories would again appear in a year since 1970. And for the first time observances like Ridvan are then mentioned and some events were now held at the YMCA or YWCA instead of the Jack Tar hotel. Indeed even with the gaps, counting advertisements nearly as many appearances of the Faith occur as in the 1960s. But 1970 would mark another high point in progressing relations with the community with the appearance of then Chapel Hill Mayor Howard Nathaniel Lee at events among a few others.

1970-1971

January 1970 begins with Durham Bahá'ís observing World Religion Day at the Friends Meeting House with talk by Walter Wootten. Naw Ruz was noticed with Durham area Bahá'ís observing it at Bamboo Room in the Ivy Room Restaurant with a talk by Mrs. Jane McCants and music by Reesa Smith with international guests. After a break until early June there was then notice that Bahá'ís from Henderson, Kinston, Greensboro, Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Asheville joined Durhamites for a Race Unity Day in June at Satterwhite Point overlooking Buggs Island Lake in the Kerr Reservoir for a picnic and entertainment - Henderson youth did a skit, and there was a talk by Charles Abercombie.

Again there was a break in mentions of the Faith from June to September. But a series of articles In September covered World Peace Day. First was notice that it was going to be observed with symposium with Chapel Hill Mayor Howard Lee, Rev Grady Davis, and Terah Cowart Smith for the Bahá'ís held at a YMCA. Durham Mayor R. Wense Grabarek proclaimed World Peace Day sponsored by Bahá'ís of Durham. Then came the coverage on the day that Mayor Howard Lee, Rev Grady Davis, and Bahá'í Tereh Coward Smith were host the symposium on world peace sponsored by Bahá'ís of Durham. There was a second observance by the Bahá'ís from Durham and area and beyond - Henderson, Raleigh and Kinston - gathered for World Peace Day observance at NCCU with the Whitted Jr High group featuring Claudette Thomas performing. And there was a followup coverage of the event with Mayor Howard Lee, Rev. Grady Davis, and Baha'i Tereh Cowart Smith.

In October it was noted that the Bahá'í International Community had gained consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN, and that Durham Bahá'ís went to state convention in Charlotte, NC. That closes out the year. Major events were brewing in South Carolina but news was yet building about that and though suggestions were noted in 1969 above, nothing was said of it. A gap from October to May then occurs. This is the first substantial gap of the decade and already larger than previous gaps but two more gaps, each progressively larger, are still coming up.

In May there was a notice that, (with the declaration of at least Chathamite Eugene(Gene) Howard,) the first Chapel Hill Assembly was elected - members pictured were Jerry Cott, Eugene Howard, John Watson, Mack Ezzell, Ellen McAllister, William Zucker, Carolyn Wootten, Daphna Stewart, and Emma Allen (pictured). News of events in South Carolina had appeared elsewhere by now but nothing was said here.

In August 1971 there was notice of the guests for Mariam Parmelee and Tom Dessent's wedding including: Sarah Barden, Sylvia Parmele, Ethlynne Thomas, Jay Scales, Andrew Allison, Adrienne Winful, Ludmila Van Sombeek, Carol Miller, and Jessie Bullock. In September Bahá'ís Dwight Allen and Charmion Winful talked at the monthly meeting of the NAACP in Durham. In later October Bahá'í Fran Thompson spoke at UN Day observance at YMCA.

Coverage of the Bahá'ís ends in December 1971 with Durham Bahá'ís sponsoring a Human Rights Day program with William Allison speaking. Jean Scales was mentioned as Chair of the Assembly.

1972-1973

1972 opens with a notice that Durham Bahá'ís observed Naw Ruz at the Ivy Room Restaurant with Charles Bullock speaking, and music was provided by Elton(sp?) McNair. There was coverage of the 63rd national convention and Jay Scales was the local delegate. Then there was a break until June when there was notice that the Bahá'ís of the US had presented NAACP president Roy Wilkins with the Louis Gregory Award. Glenford Mitchell chaired the event and Firuz Kazemzadeh presented the award. Music was presented by Donna Kime, accompanied by Tom Pautz, Hank Drake, and Warren Kime. Then in September the World Peace Day was observed by Durham, Chapel Hill and Raleigh Bahá'ís at the Chapel Hill New Town Hall with a talk by Evelyn Arbell(Aabel?). But from later September through October a series of Bahá'í advertisements appeared. There was a notice of some 4000 Bahá'ís gather for dedication of the Panama Bahá'í Temple that was hosted by 1200 Panamanian Bahá'ís. And there was news that the Bahá'í Louis G. Gregory Institute (LGI) to be established in South Carolina. The closest the article comes to noting the growth of the religion was saying there were Bahá'ís "in every county" of South Carolina. Another Bahá'í advertisement appeared the following week. Dedication of LGI then appeared in November with Continental Counselor Edna True, national assembly member Sarah Pereira, Chairman of the national assembly Firuz Kazemzadeh present.

From that coverage in November 1972 through February 1973 there were only Bahá'í advertisements in the Carolina Times.

That February Bahá'í Allah Kuli Khan Kalantar was noted touring North Carolina. While in Durham he also appeared on the Peggy Mann Show Feb 8 and an informal meeting at Mr and Mrs Paul Lang. He had already in many cities and colleges. "At Home with Peggy Mann" was a WTVD show. March and April was mostly about Bahá'í advertisements, though there was a notice that Durham Bahá'ís observed Naw Ruz gathered at the Holiday Inn West with a talk by Paul Lang, with music by Linda and Debbi Eckert, and in April Bahá'í William Allison gave talk at the East Duke building. Again a Bahá'í advertisement, and followed by a May story on Jean and Jay Scales going to national convention as delegates. Then another Bahá'í advertisement Then there was coverage of the national Bahá'í convention. Through June to September, rather than no mention whatsoever, there were advertisements about ever two weeks. In mid-September Durham and Chapel Hill Bahá'í communities observes World Peace Day at the Forest Theatre at UNC with a talk by Jane McCants. Bahá'í advertisements again followed about every two weeks into November.

In December Bahá'í observances were noted "coming up" for the November Ascension of `Abdu'l-Baha and the Day of the Covenant and there was a long profile of `Abdu'l-Baha. A Bahá'í advertisement followed, and then a story of Bahá'ís observing the anniversary of the Universal declaration of Human Rights - a meeting was held and viewing of filmstrips. In late December Bahá'í David Clayborne from Duke University spoke at monthly NAACP meeting on Bahá'í view of racism.

A couple Bahá'í advertisements closed out 1973,

1974-1975

1974 opens with a Bahá'í advertisement. Bahá'í Paul Lang was noted chair of the Durham Assembly in an article of his being hired for another job. Bahá'í advertisements followed closer to a weekly pattern than bi-weekly across February and into May.

In May there was notice of area delegates to the Bahá'í national convention were Paul Lang and Jean Scales. Now comes the first notice of the remarked on 6x growth of the Faith in the US in a decade ending 1973. There is also a photo of Jean Scales and Paul Lang (pictured) attend nation convention published. Coverage repeats Bahá'ís Jean Scales and Paul Lang were delegates to nation convention but then extends that officers of national assembly were elected - Firuz Kazemzadeh chair, Daniel Jordan vice-chair, Glenford Mitchell secretary, Charlotte Linfoot asst secertary, Dorothy Nelson treasurer, Dwight Allen, Franklin Khan, Richard Betts also members. But all three stories of the national convention appeared the same day.

Bahá'í advertisements then ran from May through November. The Martyrdom of the Bab was held at the Holmes home. In December Durham Bahá'ís were noted observing Human Rights Day at East Duke Building with talks by Erdman Palmore and Jane Faily. A couple more Bahá'í advertisements close out 1974.

1975 begins with notice that Bahá'ís observed World Peace Day at the YMCA with a talk by Jay Scales, mentioned as Chair of the Assembly. In February there is a Bahá'í advertisement, and in March a notice that Durham Bahá'ís held the "new year" observance at home of Mr and Mrs Allen Bentz. A picture of the community and friends was included. From March until December there is no mention of the religion which is the second substantial gap in coverage of the Faith in the decade. Then there is a Bahá'í advertisement, and then a notice that Human Rights Day was observed by Bahá'ís with a talk by Arthur Zucker.

1976-1977

1976 opens with notice that Jean and Jay Scales finished a workshop held at LGI taught by Rahmatu'llah Mohair (pictured). A Bahá'í advertisement occurs in February, and then a notice of a talk by Richard Beane at Scales residence. In March a profile of Dizzy Gillespie notes he is a Bahá'í and he gives talk at Mr and Mrs. David Claiborne’s home (pictured). A couple weeks later Bahá'ís are noted holding our new year, Naw-Ruz, with a potluck at Jean and Jay Scales home and talks by Michael McCandless and Gregory Suhm. It was published that the Scales home was 1903 Essex - the same home Van Sombeek had.

In April the Bahá'ís observance of Ridvan held at a home, and an explanation of Ridvan offered in the newspaper. A Bahá'í advertisement followed in May, and then the Declaration of the Bab was observed and explained in May, followed by an article on the observance and explanation of the Ascension of Baha'u'llah. A Bahá'í advertisement followed in June, and a notice of the observance of the Martyrdom of the Bab at home of Mr and Mrs Andrew Allison with program presented by Mr and Mrs Tom Dessent appeared July 10. That was the last mention of the Faith in 1976 and the third large break of the appearance of the Faith in the Carolina Times so far identified.

1977 opens with Bahá'ís observing World Religion Day at the Perkins Library of Duke University where Jean Scales gave a talk. Bahá'í advertisements appeared in May and June - nothing in between - and then in July Bahá'ís gathered at the home of the Scales for a slide presentation by Rev Kimsey King with a potluck dinner. The next mention of the Faith occurred in a September advertisement, followed by notice that the Durham Bahá'ís held a public meeting at Duke University for World Peace Day with a talk by Ronald Butters.

A Bahá'í advertisement appeared in October, and then a notice of Lumbee Indian Louise Maynor (pictured) was guest speaker at a Bahá'í potluck and discussion. A review of the history of the Bab, noting Birthday, appeared before the traditional observed date in October, followed by notice that the Bahá'ís sponsored a UN Universal Chidren's Day celebration at Duke's Music Room. A Bahá'í advertisement followed in November and then a profile of Baha'u'llah and noting the Birthday observance was published.

A Bahá'í advertisement followed in December, and then an article that UN Human Rights Day was observed by Bahá'ís at NCCU student union with a talk by Tom Moore, and then a Bahá'í advertisment closed out the year.

1978-1979

1978 opens all the way into November when Bahá'ís of Durham observe Birth of Baha'u'llah in a home, brief profile. This is the next large gap - the largest one in fact being near 11 months long. There is only a Bahá'í advertisement closing out the year in December. Two mentions of the Faith represents the low point of the decade and all coverage going back to before 1955 when Durham became a focus of activity. Of course this doesn't mean the Bahá'ís disappeared - just that they didn't appear in the Carolina Times.

Indeed 1979 opens with a notice of Marian Dessent as Corresponding secretary of the Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Durham reviewing the new persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran. A couple weeks later Bahá'ís of Durham observed World Religion Day, and Jean Scales was noted as Chair of the Durham Assembly. In February the Bahá'ís of Durham sponsored an International Potluck Dinner for the International Year of the Child and the YWCA and a talk by Richard Beane.

In March an obituary notice for Bahá'í Andrew J. Allison appeared, followed by a summary and the new designation for the Bahá'í House of Worship in the National Register of Historic Places. In April a notice appears that the Bahá'ís hosted Standwood Cobb (pictured) speaking at Duke University, and a Bahá'í advertisement appeared. The next mention of the Faith is in late July with a notice that the Bahá'ís of Durham were hosting a potluck dinner at the Lindsey Newman home with a talk by Fred Hall.

The next mention of the Faith appears with a Bahá'í advertisement in September, followed by a notice Bahá'ís of Durham were to observe a World Peace Day with a potluck supper and a talk by Cornelia Rutledge. Then a Bahá'í advertisement follows in October and a notice that Bahá'ís of Durham presented the book "Bahá'í World Faith" and childrens books for new branch of the Durham Library. A notice followed in November of Bahá'í Sarah Pereira (pictured) speaking at the Scales’ home; and a thanks for use of "Poetry, Childhood and Spring" used in International year of the Child poems in a display. 1979 closes with Bahá'ís gathered at a library branch with talk by Melissa Tansik.

1980 - 1982

Even though only a few years of the 80s are digitized there are some 47 articles, a rate greater than in the 1960s when averaged out to a decade.

A Bahá'í advertisement appears in March 1980, followed by a notice of Naw Ruz held at the YWCA.. Then there is a gap until an advertisement in June. Then in July there is notice of the Bahá'í observation of the Martyrdom of the Bab in Durham at the Sarah P Duke Gardens. In August the Bahá'í film "Just a Beginning" was viewed at the Durham Public Library. In September another Bahá'í advertisement appeared, followed by a local award for individuals on World Peace Day - Howard Fitts, Jr, Mr and Mrs John Moore III, Mary Whetstone and Ernestine Young - and Marian Dessent noted secretary of Assembly. In October Bahá'ís held a memorial for Bahá'ís executed in Iran at Duke Perkins Library; Jean Scales chair of the Durham Assembly. In November and December there is one advertisement each, and in later 1980 there is an editorial that briefly mentions the Bahá'ís in an editorial calling on blacks of any religious persuasion - including Bahá'ís - to "get together".

January 1981 begins with a couple Bahá'í advertisements, followed by another one in March. In middle March there is an obiturary of Bahá'í Thelma Whitaker Allison, burried in the Inglewood Park Cemetery, and of Bahá'ís holding Naw Ruz at the YWCA. April mentions Bahá'ís of Durham hosting a discussion meeting at a home,followed by one each over the next two weeks. In May a Bahá'í advertisement is published, and a notice of the execution of three named Bahá'ís - Yad'u'llah Vahdat, Ehsan'u'llah Mehdizadeh, and Sattar Khoshkhou - in Iran. Secretary of the national assembly Glenford Mitchell called it a genocidal campaign.

June 1981 opens with the Durham City and County communities each posting their Assembly elections - City assembly members are: Susan Clarke, Marian Dessent, Paul Dunn, Luther Edwards, Marjorie Edwards, Augusto Lopez, Rose Motley, Jay Scales, Jean Scales; and the County Assembly members were: Forouz Alahverdi, William Head, Sonja Head, Gary Hugler, Eileen Kugler, Kenneth McLeroy, Paula Pope, Robert Tansik, and Melissa Tansik. In August and September there is one advertisement each. In October humanitarian awards were presented by the Bahá'ís of Durham to Lyda Merrick and Hean Wilbur for World Peace Day at the YWCA. And Robert James Jr (pictured) spoke at the Scales residence. Additionally the Bahá'ís of Durham held UN Day observance at a home with Jack Fobes, UNA president from Chapel Hill will speek; Sally Jamir did too.

In November, Paul Dunn, chair of the Assembly of Durham, summarized persecution in Iran in a notice in the paper. A Bahá'í advertisement followed in December, closing out the year.

January 1982 opens with the Bahá'ís of Durham holding World Religion Day at a home.And echoing a national open letter to Iranian leadership to end persecution, Paul Dunn, chair of Durham Assembly, again writes of the recent history of persecution. A Bahá'í advertisement appears in early March, followed in a couple weeks when there is a notice that Durham Bahá'ís would observe Naw Ruz at YWCA with a potluck dinner. A week later a summary of persecution in Iran was repeated adding there would be a prayer service at the downtown Durham County Library. In April the 20th Anniversary of the Durham Assembly was to be held at Edison Johnson Recreation Center with Dwight Allen speaking. A profile of Bahá'ís in general and interview with two Bahá'ís - Jean Scales. and Marian Dessent - was published as part of the anniversary coverage. A picture of the community was also published, and a thank you letter for the article on the anniversary by Marian Dessent, Durham Assembly secretary. Bahá'í advertisements followed in June, July and August. Later in August there was a notice of election of, and profile of, Glenford Mitchell to the Universal House of Justice; noted he is the "second black to be elected" and "fills a vacancy created in May by the death of Amoz Gibson, a black American from New Mexico". Also in August the Bahá'ís sponsored a talk and discussion of Iranian persecution at a home with a talk by Shah Rahmani, son of one of those arrested. In September Durham Bahá'ís attended a Montreal conference - Raben Diaz, William Rogers, John Canipe, and Cristen Lengowski, along with other conferences held around the world and also specifically of the Third Continental Indigenous Council held in Alberta, Association for Bahá'í Studies meeting in Ottawa, and First International Bahá'í Children's Conference were all wrapped up in one article.. The coverage ending in Oct 1982 with a Bahá'í advertisement.

Content after 1982 has not be digitized as of the summer of 2016.

See also

• The Bahá'í Faith at Duke University
• The Bahá'í Faith at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Coverage of the Bahá'í Faith in Charlotte, North Carolina
• Coverage of the Baha'i Faith in the Chicago Defender
• The Baha'i Faith in Ebony and Jet Magazines
• Bahá'í Period of Historical mentions
• Historical mentions of the Bábí/Bahá'í Faiths