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Sarah Gertrude Harris

From Bahaipedia

Sarah Gertrude Harris was an early Bahá'í of the New York area with her husband Hooper Harris. Sarah Gertrude Rawls was born about 1863 in Marion, Alabama, daughter of Dr. E. S. Rawls and Margaret A. Mcleod. Little is known of her life growing up but she lived both in New York and in Tennessee, and the married W. Hooper Harris December 25, 1887, in Birmingham, Alabama. They had two children and then moved to New York in 1894, learned of the Bahá'í Faith in 1898 from Archie Fisk and his wife Mary Doolittle Fisk. They had three more children in the coming years and held various Bahá'í meetings with the Fisks and soon their early children were old enough to marry. Meanwhile Hooper undertook a pilgrimage and teaching trip to India at 'Abdu'l-Bahá's request. While Hooper served Bahá'ís institutions and gave talks in New York, Gertrude was less visible until about 1930 when it was known she returned from a teaching trip to Europe. Hooper died in 1934 and Gertrude, known to travel to her sister's in Washington, North Carolina, undertook a trip to her sister's though she died unexpectedly and she was buried in New York next to her husband.

Born and raised[edit]

Sarah Gertrude “Gertie” Rawls(Rauls), usually called Gertrude in articles, was daughter of Dr. E. S. Rawls and Margaret A. Mcleod, born about 1863 in Marion, Alabama.[1] Her father had been born in Georgia and her mother in Alabama.[2] Gertrude was educated in New York city,[3] and lived much in Memphis, Tennessee.[4] She married William Hooper Harris December 25, 1887, in Birmingham, Alabama.[5] William Hooper Harris was born in 1866 in New York city but raised in Nashville, Tennessee.[6] Their first child Mary/Marie born circa 1889.[7] Margarett next, born circa 1890[7] in Tennessee[2] perhaps while staying with Gertrude's or Hooper's parents. And son Hooper H. was born circa 1892 though records after 1905 don't mention him.[7] Together the family moved to New York in 1894.[6]

New York and the Bahá'í Faith[edit]

Gertrude learned of the Bahá'í Faith in 1898[8] from Civil War veteran Archie Fisk and his wife Mary Doolittle Fisk who herself was much in the work of woman's suffrage and a Daughters of the Revolution (DAR) organizer, and together they joined the religion by 1899.[6] Son Erwin/Edmond was born April 25, 1900,[9][7][10] Gertrude was a leader organizing a study circle on the religion for ladies in the early 1900s and by 1905 were calling themselves "Baha'i Unity League for Ladies”.[11] Daughter Sarah Gertrude, called Bahaya in a few sources,[7][12] was born circa 1904,[13] and last child Laura had been born in about 1905.[2] Hooper went on pilgrimage in November 10, 1906,[6] and together Hooper and Harlan Ober went on a teaching trip to India.[6] The New York community had raised some $1200 for the Harris' family while he was away,[8] (more than $31k in 2020 dollars.)[14] Harris returned to New York in 1907.[6]

The Fisks organized and hosted meetings for parenting by 1908 which the Harris' attended.[15] In 1909 daughter Marie married Charles Winne.[16] Weekly Bahá'í meetings were held in the Harris home in late 1910 on S. Broad St.[17]

The Harris' were among those present at the West Englewood meeting hosted by 'Abdu’l-Bahá in July 1912 which became known as the Souvenir Picnic.[18] A place she would often revisit.[4]

Son Erwin was a corporal in the American continent fighting in WWI in May 1918 in Company D of the 107th NY Infantry Regiment and was shot down by a machine gun while leading his combat group single file and advancing about 1000 yards.[9] He was evacuated to the hospital reporting his wounds were light in a letter of October 4, was further evacuated to a hospital in Berkshire, England, where he died October 7. He was described as the most wounded of those that arrived at the Berkshire hospital that day and developed a fever of 105°F with an infected knee and developed gangrene and the leg was amputated. Condolence of death of son before November 1918 and daughter Bahaya noted.[12]

Supporting and Teaching trips to the South[edit]

In 1919 the Harris' were living in Montclair, New Jersey, when they signed a supplication hoping for 'Abdu'l-Bahá to return to American.[19] That same year two sets of Bahá'ís embarked through the South - one set was Roy Williams and Louis Gregory[20] and the other was Charles Mason Remey and John B. Bassett.[21] Both traveled through eastern North Carolina and encountered the black population of the area. It is outright stated that the Remey-Bassett team stopped in Washington with the Carters, kin to Gertrude with a letter of introduction, in March while for the William-Gregory team it is not so stated but came through in early April.

Bahá'ís also had contact with folks in Washington, North Carolina[21] - specifically Dr. W. H. Carter's wife, Lula Rawls Carter,[22] who was sister to Sarah Gertrude Rawls Harris.[3] Lula had married Dr. W. Carter and they moved there by 1908.[23] The Carter family also knew the Beckwiths.[24] Kate Beckwith was Principal of East Carolina Teacher's Training College from 1909 to 1925 in Greenville,[25] to whom traveling Bahá'ís to North Carolina were commended as they headed west in 1919,[21] Beckwith had previously opened a school in Washington[26] and Lula had been working on renovating or making a new school for the black population of the city.[21]

Gertrude wrote a brief notice on the accidental death of Thad Butler, grandson of the Fisks, published in 1920.[27]

Later years in New York[edit]

Harris served on the New York Spiritual Assembly most of the years from 1901 to 1934[6] and offered some talks coordinated by the regional teaching committee of the northeast as well as serving as its chair.[6] Sarah was a "frequent" known visitor to her sister's home in Washington, NC.[3] In 1920 Gertrude observed there were Bahá'ís seeking to build the Temple in New York.[28][8] They were renting a home on W 103rd St with daughters Laura and widowed or divorced daughter Margaret while Hooper was a partner in a stenographer’s office.[2] The family also had a border.[2] In 1930 they were renting a home on W 11th St. and Hooper was employed as owner of a business in shorthand work in 1930.[29] June 13, 1930, Gertrude arrived at the New York port from Cherbourg, France, on the SS Republic.[30] It is known she spoke on the Faith in Europe.[4]

Hooper died July 27, 1934.[6] Gertrude received a letter of condolence from Shoghi Effendi September 20.[6]

Last trip[edit]

In early 1936 Gertrude filled out her card for the Bahá'í Historical Record Survey.[8] It was reported Gertrude embarked on a teaching trip into the South in later summer of 1936.[4] She died in the home of her sister in Washington, North Carolina,[3] August 10, of a heart attack.[1]

She was survived by a niece B. Robin Hood, daughters Mrs. James E. (Marie) Rice(Arlington VA), Mrs. (Margaret) Howard Baldwin(NY), Mrs. (Sarah Gertrude, known as Bahaya) Paul Grabbe(NY) and brother W. P. Rawls.[3] She was buried August 12, 1936,[31] in Hackensack Cemetery, North Hackensack, New Jersey,[4] next to her husband.[32]

Family legacy[edit]

  • James Rice was secretary of the Arlington assembly in 1958 and died in Arlington Virginia in 1970,[33] while Marie Lucille Rice died in Falls Church December 18, 1969.[34]
  • Paul Grabbe mentioned Bahá’u’lláh in a book The Story of Orchestral Music and Its Times,[35] while Bahaya/Sarah Gertrude was buried in New York.[36]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Sarah Gertrude Harris North Carolina Deaths, 1931-1994". FamilySearch.org. 10 Aug 1936. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.(registration required)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Gertrude S Harris United States Census". FamilySearch.org. January 1920. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.(registration required)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Mrs. Hooper Harris". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. 11 Aug 1936. p. 3. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Mrs. Harris dies". The Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. 12 Aug 1936. p. 2. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
  5. ↑ "S. Gertie Rawls Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950". FamilySearch.org. 25 Dec 1887. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.(registration required)
  6. ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 Marie B. Moore (1937). "Hooper Harris". Bahá'í World. A Biennial International Record. Vol. 6. New York, NY: Baha'i Publishing Committee. pp. 486–8. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 "Sarah G Harris New York State Census". FamilySearch.org. 1905. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.(registration required)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Stockman, R. (May 1995). Early Expansion, 1900–1912. The Bahá'í Faith in America. Vol. 2. Wilmette, Ill.: George Ronald. pp. 129, 266, 461. ISBN 978-0-87743-282-1.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "In Memoriam; Erwin Harris, son of Hooper and Gertrude Harris". Star of the West. Vol. 9, no. 19. Mar 2, 1919. p. 225-8. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Sarah Gertrude Rawls mentioned in the record of Edmond Rawls Harris". FamilySearch.org. 25 Apr 1900. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.(registration required)
  11. ↑ Robert H. Stockman. Firuz Kazemzadeh; Betty Fisher; Howard Garey; Robert H. Stockman; James D. Stokes (eds.). "Women in the American Bahá'í community, 1900-1912". World Order. 2. Vol. 25, no. 2. p. 29. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Sarah Gertrude Harris". Star of the West. Vol. 10, no. 3. Apr 28, 1919. p. 40. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Sarah Gertrude Harris New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909". FamilySearch.org. 8 Feb 1904. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.(registration required)
  14. ↑ "US Inflation Calculator". Coin News. 2020. Retrieved Jan 1, 2021.
  15. ↑ * "The Young Folks". Bahai Bullettin. Vol. 1, no. 3. Nov 1908. p. 13. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
    • "The Young Folks". Bahai Bulletin. Vol. 1, no. 4. Dec 1908. p. 16. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Sarah G. Rawls mentioned in the record of Charles Winne and Marie Harris". FamilySearch.org. 13 Apr 1909. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.(registration required)
  17. ↑ Isabella Brittingham (Dec 31, 1910). "New York, NY". Star of the West. Vol. 1, no. 16. p. 5. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
  18. ↑ Joel Nizin (2020). "A Brief History of Roy Wilhelm and the Annual Souvenir Picnic of 'Abdu'l-Bahá". Wilhelm Bahá'í Properties. Retrieved Jan 1, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Supplication to Abdu'l-Baha from the American friends; Montclair, NJ". Star of the West. Vol. 10, no. 8. Aug 1, 1919. p. 157. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
  20. ↑ * Morrison, Gayle (1982). To move the world : Louis G. Gregory and the advancement of racial unity in America. Wilmette, Ill: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. pp. 102–3. ISBN 0-87743-188-4.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Charles Mason Remey (June 7, 1919). "A Report to Abdul Baha of the Bahai Activities in the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida". Bahai-library.com. Retrieved Jan 1, 2021.
  22. ↑ * "Lula Rawls Carter North Carolina, Department of Archives and History, Index to Vital Records, 1800-2000". FamilySearch.org. 3 Jan 1936. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.(registration required)
  23. ↑ "Dr. W. H. Carter…". Washington Progress. Washington, North Carolina. 25 Jun 1908. p. 3. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Wasghington, Dec 22…". The Twin-City Daily Sentinel. Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 22 Dec 1917. p. 10. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
  25. ↑ Mary Jo Jackson Bratton (1986). East Carolina University: The Formative Years, 1907-1982. East Carolina University Alumni Association. pp. 121-?.
  26. ↑ "Mrs. K. R. Beckwith…". Washington Progress. Washington, North Carolina. 15 Sep 1897. p. 3. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
  27. ↑ Gertrude Harris (Feb 7, 1920). "Thad Butler". Star of the West. Vol. 10, no. 18. p. 343. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
  28. ↑ Firuz Kazemzadeh; Betty J. Fisher; Howard Garey, eds. (Oct 1983). "Temple of Light". World Order. 2. Vol. 18, no. 1. p. 35. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Gertrude Harris United States Census". FamilySearch.org. Apr 13, 1930. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.(registration required)
  30. ↑ "Gertrude Harris New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists". FamilySearch.org. Jun 13, 1930. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.(registration required)
  31. ↑ * "Sarah Gertrude Harris North Carolina Deaths and Burials, 1898-1994". FamilySearch.org. 12 Aug 1936. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.(registration required)
    • "In memoriam". Baha'i News. No. 102. Aug 1936. p. 4. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
  32. ↑ Mariea Ays Maggiore (26 Apr 2007). "Sarah Gertrude Rawls Harris". Findagrave.com. Retrieved Jan 1, 2021.
  33. ↑ * "Baha'i Directory changes". US Supplement to Baha'i News. No. 6. Aug 1958. p. 4. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
    • "In Memoriam". National Bahá'í Review. No. 30. June 1970. p. 2. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
  34. ↑ "Marie Lucille Rice Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987". FamilySearch.org. 8 Dec 1969. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.(registration required)
  35. ↑ * "Baha'i in the News". Baha'i News. No. 331. Sep 1958. p. 12. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.
  36. ↑ "Sarah Gertrude Harris New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909". FamilySearch.org. 8 Feb 1904. Retrieved Dec 24, 2020.(registration required)
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