Coverage of the Bahá’í Faith in ''News and Observer''

Main article: Coverage of the Bahá'í Faith and Bahá'ís in the ''News and Observer'' of Raleigh, North Carolina

Though the coverage is uneven there has been a section of the News and Observer made avaialble circa 2017-8 via Genealogybank.com. Unfortunately clipping articles from there keeps copyright information so complete access requires buying a membership. However an annotated compilation of mentions is presented here with links back to the originals though accessible only via a paid membership. Additionally, the News And Observer (N&O) is only available for some issues - 1909-1940, 1950-1960 (((this needs to be updated because GeneologyBank recently changed their implimentation))) and so far in this period only the N&O mentions Bahá'ís especially in Raleigh. But do see Coverage of the Bahá'í Faith in the Carolina Times for the Durham area and their view of things across North Carolina. While these periods are certainly a limit they do include two significant periods - the first significant effort of founding a local community circa the 1938-1944 period with Sara Pereira (as she is now known,) and the founding of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Raleigh and some of their first activities. Note there is also mostly later fragmentary coverage over at The Bahá'í Faith at North Carolina State University at Raleigh. A comprehensive review of developments at Shaw University and other institutions awaits to be done.

Bábí era mentions

Main article: Historical mentions of the Bábí/Bahá'í Faiths

An important milestone after this was the first "paper" written about the history of these events. That was the work of Dr. Rev. Austin Wright. His letter was originally presented in an article in The Literary World of June 14, 1851, as a letter dated February 10, 1851, he wrote to the American Oriental Society. Wright was mentioned in Raleigh newspapers before he went to Persia.

Thought here was not a lot of coverage of Bábí era events in North Carolina newspapers, there was mention of the Báb shortly after the Martyrdom of the Báb.

Bahá'í era

Pre-history, before the first Bahá'ís of North Carolina

One of the earlierst Bahá'ís of North Carolina was Frederick Sadgwar of Wilmington. He was such a prominent African-American that he was mentioned in Raleigh newpapers albeit some years before he joined the Bahá'í Faith in 1925. Frederick returns to some mention in the newspapers in 1897 including the News and Observer shortly before the Wilmington insurrection of 1898.

In 1900 there was mention of the development of Green Acre Bahá'í School before Sarah Farmer's encounter with Bahá'ís and going to see ‘Abdu’l-Bahá when the transcendentalists were one of the major influences there.

In 1901 and 1908 Joseph Hannen, Pauline Knobloch Hannen's husband and fellow early Bahá'í, was mentioned in Raleigh newspapers and in particular a couple trips of his to Raleigh where it is possible he mentioned the religion though the newspaper articles just cover his work giving talks on health.

In 1912 there was a mention of `Abdu'l-Bahá. See ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's journeys to the West for more about this.

Another review of the Bábí Faith was done in 1912 as well though it was written from an outsider and somewhat dismissive academic approach.

In 1919 Charles Mason Remey undertook a trip to promulgate the religion through North Carolina and wrote a report for `Abdu'-Bahá. As part of this trip he made the local news in later March.

Later in 1919 there was also coverage of Ahmad Sohrab who had recently delivered the finished collection of the Tablets of the Divine Plan at the national convention held in New York that year coming out of the shadow of World War I. The coverage makes some mistakes but also has some mention of General Allenby's assistance in Sohrab getting out of Palestine.

A decade later there is an opinion piece written about Bahá'ís.

Local coverage firsts

While Remey was the first mentioned in in a Bahá'í context of the local presence of the Faith, and at least Joseph Hannen as a Baha'i making the news locally before Remey, the first extended mention was that of (also early citizen of North Carolina,) Stanwood Cobb even though his talk was really over at UNC.

After that initial impulse the next was a brief quote of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

The next initiative of Bahá'ís was much more extensive. Terah Cowart Smith and (not married yet) Marguerite Reimer (later Sears) were present in Raleigh several months from January through into March and made a trip to Durham in 1938. Initially they worked out of the Sir Walter Hotel but also and more time at the Carolina Hotel. No coverage has yet been found of Sarah Pereira and her sister Lydia Martin.

Dr Hubert Parris was noted visiting Shaw University before he officially joined the Faith.

Community

Following the initiative in 1938 the first sustained presence of the Faith in Raleigh comes in 1954. From then on there has been continuous presence and activity of some form in the area. The first so far identified is from September 6 when a small notice says one can get information writing to an address in Riverdale, Maryland, which continued some days. After a couple weeks it is clear that Frances Falvey has arrived and her first mention is her presentation for Proclamation Day, a date reserved for the 1893 mention of Bahá'u'lláh at the World Parliament of Religions. She is joined, in the newspapers, by Mrs Harold J. Wilson and their addresses are stated: 919 W. Johnson St, and 204 E Park Dr. They had gone to the state convention to elect a delegate to the national convention - that was William Tucker. The addresses were rentals - 919 W Johnson is a house with upstairs appt, and 204 E Park St was a house. Though they had made alittle news in 1954, in 1955 a larger public presentation was held at the Richard B Harrison Library with a color-slide showing and an exihibit. In March a panel of youth, probably Bahá'ís, were gathered from UNC, NCState, and Shaw University, at Shaw. No names are listed but Bahá'ís from UNC in the period are known, and Glenford Mitchell was known at Shaw University in 1956.

In July the fact that Bahá'ís marked the Martyrdom of the Báb was noted held at Falvey's home. In early September it was noted Bahá'ís had gone to the first regional conference of the Faith. In later September there was mention of Bahá'ís holding Proclamation Day again. In October a UN Day series of events was held in the city and Bahá'ís were noted among them. In November it was reported that Falvey was going to the state convention in Greensboro.

The following year in February there was a letter to the editor by Falvey about Bahá'ís supporting "Brotherhood Week". Then in April came a report of the national convention and that Jack Davis was the NC delegate - information Falvey shared. This was followed by a notice that the Declaration of the Báb was going to be held at Falvey's home. Alittle more than a week later an article reviewed the Bahá'í view on race issues. In the Fall the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh was observed held at Falvey's home at 919 W Johnson Dr but added the name Charles Somers as presenting this information. About two weeks later Somers and Falvey went to the state convention in Greensboro. Ludmila Van Sombeek is also mentioned.

The next year has a mention of the Faith with Falvey writing about Bahá'ís supporting what was then called Negro History Week in February in a letter to the editor. In March came the mention of Bahá'ís holding Naw Ruz at the Charles Somer's home (but the address is not given.) Again there was news that Falvey attended the national convention in April. Not advertised was that the Spiritual Assembly of Raleigh had been elected.

First Local Spiritual Assembly

The fact of the election was a small point in a May article about the observance of the Declaration of the Báb. Falvey was mentioned as the assembly secretary and a new address in the mix of events - 2402 Van Dyke Ave. This address was for sale in 1950, but for rent in 1953. and March 1957. The Martyrdom of the Báb was next observed there. In August news was shared from Greensboro over a Bahá'í teacher being fired, (not re-hired) because of her use of school equipment and circumstances to share invitations to a meeting but note that the in Greensboro noted a few more facts.

October came with the observance of UN Day and that Orpha Daugherty was chair of the assembly, and in November she gave a talk at 2402 Van Dyke Ave on the Faith. The Assembly announced the observance of the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh though no address was mentioned. Another new name Mark Daugherty gave a talk the following week.

In December Falvey sent a letter to the editor about the UN Anniversary and the Declaration of Human Rights though avoids mentioning the Faith. The year closes with a mention of Etta Woodlen from Wilmington Deleware giving a talk at the RIchard B Harrison Library for the Faith and her position as chair of the national Interracial Committee.

1958

There were 6 articles mentioning Bahá'ís in the year before the assembly formed and near twice that the year of the formation. 1958 had a few more. It began with the Bahá'ís holding World Religion Day in January. In April Bahá'i youth were noted meeting at the New and Observer Building. A month later came a report that Falvey was back from an intercontinnetal conference. This would have been held in Chicago in early May before the national convention.

In August Marie Brodie was named leading a commeoration of the Báb at the News and Observer Building. A possible kin of Marie may also have appeared in the news near then. A talk by Margaret Quance was held in October, followed by another by Orpha Daugherty on the Bahá'í claim of the second coming of Christ. In November Ruth Maurer from Augusta, Georgia, came through and gave a talk on the Faith. and another notice for the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh mentioned Glenford Mitchell was chair of the assembly. Marie Brodie gave another talk shortly after on the "Science fo prayer". Orpha Daugherty repeated the theme with a talk ons cience and religion at the end of November. That winter the state convention was held in Raleigh, convened by Glenford Mitchell and the theme was attracting youth. A comment on the convention followed, and the year closed with a mention of Bahá'ís supporting seeing the Golden Rule across religions.

1959

Despite the growth of events in recently years 1959 has a marked reduction in mentions. First comes World Religion Day though the Bahá'ís succeeded in getting a diversity of religious leaders to attend and present. In March the Bahá'í new year was held at 2402 Van Dyke Ave and a talk was given by Glenford Mitchell. In April Gail Curwint of Charlotte gave a talk at a Bahá'í meeting at the News and Observer Building. December closes the year when Matthew Bullock came to give a talk.

1960

The last year of available archives of the News and Observe shows alittle increase in coverage. First Helen G Michaels from North Augusta, Georgia, gave a talk, and then there was a series of basic mentions of teachings of the Faith and a non-address contact info across February and March. In April an article obituary may have mentioned Marie Brodie's mother. Other short mentions of the teachings and contact info came in May and July. UNC alum Walter Wootten came and gave a talk mid-September for World Peace Day, and then a final small advertisement of the teacings and contact info close the year and the available coverage.

See also

• The Bahá'í Faith at North Carolina State University at Raleigh
• The Bahá'í Faith at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• The Bahá'í Faith at Duke University
• North Carolina in the ''Baha'i News''