Franklin Kahn
Franklin Kahn | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | May 25, 1934 Arizona |
| Died | April 6, 2010 Arizona |
| NSA member | USA 1969 - 1981 |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Jane Gishie |
| Children | Eunice, Flora, Kevin, Larry |
Franklin Kahn (May 25, 1934 - April 6, 2010) was an American Baháʼí who served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. In his career he was a successful artist and businessman.
Background[edit]
Kahn was born to Jack and Alta Kahn in 1934 and was raised in Pine Springs, Oak Springs, and Klagetoh. His grandmother gave him the name Shkake-Ne-Yah, meaning Bravery Arrived, when he was born. His family were noted silversmiths and rug weavers, and his grandfather was a Navajo medicine man and he shared his knowledge with Franklin.
From 1949 to 1954 Kahn attended Stewart Indian School in Carson City, Nevada, and went on to study fine arts at the University of Nevada after graduating. His schooling was Catholic and he served as an altar boy and he held a positive opinion of Christianity throughout his life, having enjoyed learning catechism.[1]
In 1951 Kahn enlisted in the Army, and from 1953 to 1957 he served in the army stationed in California and working in the Sierra Mountains. After this he moved into commercial art, working for the Boll Sign Company, and later founding the Kahn Sign Company.
In 1955 Kahn married Mary Jane Gishie, who he had first met at school in 1949. In 1956 they heard of the Baháʼí Faith from two Baháʼí women who lived near them and began investigating the religion as did Franklin's brother Chester. They declared in 1962 and later that year Franklin and Chester held a meeting on the Faith at their parents home which was attended by 1200 people.[2] In 1969 he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and was the first Native American to serve on the body.
In the late 1980s he began to serve on the Council of Elders of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, mentoring young Native Americans. Later in life he worked at the STAR School near Flagstaff, Arizona, teaching students Navajo culture and science and helped establish an annual pow-wow and a group called Native Americans for Community Action.
Notes[edit]
