Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville
City in the United States
Bahá'í Community of Louisville, 1943.
Location of Louisville
History: Firsts
-	Local Assembly	1943
How to contact:
-	Phone	502-267-0099
-	Address	P.O. Box 99351 Louisville, KY 40269-0351
-	State	Kentucky
-	Country	United States
Official Website		https://www.louisvillebahai.org/
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Louisville is a city of the U.S. State of Kentucky. Thornton Chase visited the city in 1903. The local Spiritual Assembly was first established in 1943 after many years of effort. As with many Assemblies, the community had its difficulties after forming its first Assembly but exists as a strong Assembly today.

Early History

(left to right) Thornton Chase (1847-1912) and Joseph H. Hannen (1872-1920)

Thornton Chase traveled extensively from the Appalachian Mountains to the West Coast for his job. His first known visit to Louisville was in February of 1903 when he probably spent at least 12 days in Louisville. He often spread the Faith wherever he traveled. While in Louisville Thornton was interviewed by a reporter for the Courier-Journal for an article published on December 4, 1903. Thornton Chase was in Louisville from November 29 until December 10 and stayed at the Louisville Hotel. Thornton provided a brief overview of the Faith and emphasized the validity and unity with other religions. Thornton Chase returned to Louisville June 1904, again in November, January and October 1905.

The next known mention of the Faith is not found until 1910 in a review of various religions in the United States. The article mentioned both the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh as the early founders of the Bahá’í Faith and states that in 1906 there were 1,280 followers in 24 locations across 14 states and that the Bahá’í Faith recognized the divinity of all of the major religions.

(left to right) Ellen “Mother” Beecher and Hand of the Cause Louis G. Gregory (1874-1951)

In 1916, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá revealed a tablet for the Southern States of the United States in which Kentucky was mentioned as one of the states that was yet to be opened to the Bahá’ís. The tablet was received by Joseph Hannen of Washington, D. C., Coordinator for teaching in the Southern States and published in the Star of the West in October, 1916. By December 1916, Ellen “Mother” Beecher, grandmother of Dorothy Beecher Baker, visited Kentucky to teach the Bahá’í Faith. Louis G. Gregory visited Louisville in late 1916 where he presented the Faith. He reported that his presentations were well attended and there was a hearty response. The Ministers’ Alliance in Louisville passed a vote of thanks for his presentation.

Mrs. Emma B. Stott pioneered to Louisville in 1917. She was a firm Bahá'í and would arrange a number of meetings with visiting speakers.

Louis G. Gregory visited Louisville in the fall of 1919. Mr. Gregory met a minister.

Extensive efforts were made in 1920 to build the Louisville Bahá'í community.

Louis Gregory spent for about a month in Louisville in July of 1920 where he had special praise for Mrs. Emma Stott and Mrs. Gertrude Christine of Louisville as being “the cause of life and hope to many.” Emma Stott set up numerous meetings with the colored community and attended nearly all of the rest. Dr. and Mrs. Murphy asked Louis to stay in their home so that they could hold nightly firesides. Mrs. G. Christine was holding semi-weekly meetings attended mostly by wealthy society people. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis opened their home each Sunday at 5 p.m. with a feast the last Sunday. Two other homes were also opened for meetings. The community represented both colored and white representing all classes from a washer woman to a multi-millionaire.

(left to right) Jenabi Fazel Mazandarani and Miss Martha Root (1872-1939)

In the Fall of 1920, Jenabi Fazel made a teaching tour to a number of cities in the United States and Canada with Mirza Ahnzai, Miss Martha Root and perhaps others. Mr. Louis G. Gregory and Dr. and Mrs. Murphy meth them at the train station when they arrived in Louisville on November 14, 1920 where they were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Gustave Christine. The next day they began their spiritual work. In the morning some people came to the home to hear them talk. In the afternoon, they visited Mr. C. Lee Cook who was paralyzed from the waste down and his wife. And in the evening, an interview with a reporter from the Journal followed by a visit from Major Moore, the ex-consul of Persia in San Francisco. All of this was followed with a Talk by Jenabe to a group from the Hebrew Association Mrs. Ellen "Mother" Beecher and Mr. Gregory added their comments. The hectic pace of teaching would continue until November 19 with several newspaper articles. The there was great support from the local friends, Mrs. and Mrs. Gustave Christine, Dr. and Mrs. Murphy, Mrs. Emma B. Stott, and Mr. and Mrs. Lewis. Mother Beecher remained and continued to assist the friends in Louisville until January of 1921.

On May 19-21, 1921, the Convention for Amity Between the Colored and White Races was held in Washington, D. C. Mr. C. Lee Cook of Louisville gave an address on “Racial Understanding.” Mr. Cook was a scholar, artist, philanthropist, organizer, and promoter of interracial understanding. His talk dwelt on the efficacy of spiritual citizenship to solve human problems. He said patience and service will ultimately reach this end.

Louis G. Gregory reported that on June 27, 1921, Dr. Moses L. Murphy, a devoted Bahá’í and active teacher, of Louisville had passed away. Only a short time before he had attended the National Convention in Chicago.

In the spring of 1924, Howard Colby and Mable Ives made a travel teaching trip to Louisville and gave two talks that were broadcast.

Miss Mathews of Louisville, Kentucky attended an amity conventions February 11 and 12, 1928 held by the Bahá'ís of Montreal, Canada. After her return to Louisville, she was instrumental in arranging a Bahá'í lecture presenting the Bahá'í message to hundreds of students.

In February 1930, it was reported that Mrs. Della Murphy, a Bahá’í of long standing, had spent two days in Louisville and arranged a meeting of the Bahá’í circle including believers of both races and a small group meeting for teaching. Unfortunately, she could not spend more time in Louisville.

Shoghi Effendi requested that a colored teacher should work with a white teacher to have the greatest impact. In 1931, Louis G. Gregory, an African American, and Willard McKay, a white man, made a teaching trip through the Southern states including Louisville, Kentucky. They spoke at a number of churches, colleges and other venues on the trip offering a perspective on the situation of race.

(left to right) Stanwood Cobb (1881-1982) and Knight of Bahá’u’lláh Olivia Kelsey (1889-1981)

In July of 1934, it was reported that Dr. Stanwood Cobb had visited Louisville.

Grace Robarts Ober (1869-1938)

Until 1937 little progress had been made in Kentucky until Olivia Kelsey pioneered to Louisville at the request of the National Teaching Committee. Her husband Arthur died earlier that year and she began he long service as a Bahá’í pioneer. In early 1938 Olivia was joined by Grace Robarts Ober for an extended period who invigorated the teaching work and began holding study classes twice a week. In May and June of 1938,Miss Virginia Taylor of Cheviot, Ohio began following up the work of Mrs. Grace Ober in Louisville. She made five visits during that time and the series of visits was closed with a picnic including fifteen interested women. A study class was planned to begin in September.

In the Fall of 1939, several Bahá’í speakers through the help of Miss Virginia Taylor. The speakers included Mr. And Mrs. Clarence La Rocque, Miss Davison (spent a month in the city), Mrs. McDoy (Regional Committee member), and Mrs. Lorene Dustan (Cincinnati). A Bahá’í library was also established through the bequest of Mrs. Christine and other friends.

In June of 1940, a special project was initiated at Vogle Park, Cleveland, Georgia with delegates from eight southern states. Following the meeting new believers were reported in Louisville, Memphis, New Orleans, and Nashville. In October, Mrs. Olivia Kelsey reported two students were enrolled during the summer. Olivia was asked to address 40 women of the Urban League and to review “I Mary Magdalene” for the Penwomen’s League. In June, Olivia made preliminary arrangements for a study class in the Fall for several individuals in Lexington.

(left to right) Hand of the Cause Dorothy Beecher Baker (1898-1954) and Mable and Howard Colby Ives

In early 1942, on a teaching trip through the Southern states, Dorothy Baker spoke at a public meeting and then again as at the end of the tour. After the visits, six to eight interested parties took part in a more intensive study group.

On October 15, 1942, Mrs. Mabel Ives, wife of Howard Colby Ives, begins a two month teaching program in Louisville. Mrs. Sara Ellen Peake of New York City moved to Louisville from New York City, New York to assist in the program. There was now 5 Bahá’ís participating in the teaching program. In November, 1942, an intensive teaching program in Louisville was in progress. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Dennis pioneered from Los Angeles, California.

Assembly Formation and Maintenance

In January of 1943, Mrs. Mable Ives and Mrs. Fred Dennis of Louisville were serving on the National Teaching Committee. In early 1943, the National Teaching Committee noted that Louisville needed 2 new settlers to complete the requirements of the Seven Year Plan. By March of 1943, Louisville was ready to form an Assembly with 12 adult believers. On April 21, 1943, the first Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Louisville, Kentucky was formed.

In March of 1944, Louisville needed 2 settlers to maintain the requirements of the Seven Year Plan. During the Centennial Week of May 19-25, Louisville reported radio broadcasts on WGRC, WAVE, and WINN stations. V. E. Oldson of Louisville was chairman of the Kentucky State Convention. Mrs. Cecil Dennis was secretary, and G. A. Bossung was a member. In December, Louisville reported one enrollment and three transfers.

Mrs Marion Little in 1955

In March of 1946, Mrs. Marion Little spent a week in Louisville, Mrs. Marguerite Ullrich spent the first week of April, and Dr. Edris Rice-Wray planned to visit in May. In October 1946, the Bahá’í News reported that Louisville was in need of a pioneer to maintain its Assembly.

In November, 1946, Dr. Edris Rice-Wray spent 4 days in Louisville attending numerous meetings with contacts. She attended luncheons, dinners, teas, and informal firesides in the evening. There were 35 people attending one public meeting and 25 attending one dinner. Mrs. Bertha Gill gave a tea for about a dozen ladies in the suburbs and Mrs. Frankland hosted several firesides. It was reported in the Bahá’í News a former pioneer to South America. Miss Gertrude Eisenberg moved to Louisville from Chicago.

On November 17, 1946, a Youth Symposium was organized with Miss Pari Zia-Walrath and Mr. Charles Ioas of Chicago with about 40 people attending. The talk was titled “Youth Looks at World Unity." A dinner was also arranged. Following the symposium, Mrs. Kathryn Frankland reported a study group was set up with 6 or more attendees.

(left to right) Albert R. Windust and Ruth J. Moffett (1880-1978)

On December 1, 1946, Mr. Albert Windust of Chicago spoke at the request of the National Teaching Committee. It was reported that Mrs. Dorothy Helm had enrolled in Louisville.

By the beginning of 1947, there were few active local Bahá’ís in Louisville and few people even interested in the Faith. The three pioneers and non-residents were struggling amid frustrating conditions. The National Teaching Committee asked Ruth Moffett to go to Louisville. When she arrived, Mrs. Moffett and the friends began to layout plans for a seminar. Leading up to the Seminar, Mrs. Moffett gave “63 lectures, 54 classes, 36 interviews and conferences, 18 luncheons and teas, and 13 book reviews”. Her presentations included the University of Louisville, several Kiwanis Club dinners, one at the Negro YWCA to a group of Negro educators and students, a radio broadcast on WGRC, several Womans Clubs and the Unity Center. There was also a Bahá’í Book Display at the public library for 10 days.

File:Ruth Moffett with Baha'is and friends in Louisville, Ky.jpg

Ruth Moffett with Baha'is and friends in Louisville

After 6 weeks of preparation from January 9 to February 18, the Educational Seminar was held at the Brown Hotel for four days. The seminar included an Art Exhibit including some excellent paintings by some of the attendees. Two of her talks were on “Fundamentals of Art” and “Art and the New Age.” The results were impressive. One Bahá’í from the suburbs moved into the city. The city now had more than enough to maintain the Assembly. Membership included Joseph Vital, the only Bahá’í youth in the state of Kentucky. Ruth then arranged a study course program for Wednesday evenings with 24 presentations and a different speaker each week. In the July issue of the Bahá’í News, Louisville reported 12 enrollments.

In January 1948, Louisville was in need of 3 additional adult believers to maintain its Assembly status.

Landscape Architect Hilbert E. Dahl with General Contractor John Meyers at the Wilmette Temple, 1952

The design of the Wilmette Temple by Louis Bourgeois did not include the gardens to surround the Temple. The garden plans prepared by landscape architect Hilbert E. Dahl of Louisville were approved in 1951. The Temple was dedicated on May 2, 1953.

Annie Romer sparked the Louisville group to prepare an attractive booth for the Kentucky State Fair in 1951. The booth featured a model of the Temple, pictures of Bahá'í shrines, and Bahá'í publications. Hundreds of people visited the booth. Over 150 had actually seen the Temple. Some pamphlets and literature was available at the booth.

Sarah Martin Pereira (1909-1995)

In September 1955, members of the Tennessee Valley States Area Teaching Committee held a conference on effective teaching in Louisville. In November and December, the committee held six conferences including held in Louisville. Also Auxiliary Board Member Sarah Pereira spoke at a public meeting in the Louisville YMCA.

In March 1957 Louisville reported that a public meeting was held at the University of Louisville.

In 1958, students from the University of Louisville representing the Jewish, Christian, Moslem, and Bahá'í religions with a Bahá'í moderator held a panel discussion on "Society, Destiny, and You." There were thirty attendees and a fireside was held following the panel discussion with those who wished to stay.

In April 1965, the Louisville Assembly announced that it had been incorporated.