Baha'i History in Postcards

Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the...

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:11:27 -0600

Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Bahá’u’lláh

A 1908 postcard showing the Michigan Avenue street view with the...

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:23:53 -0500

A 1908 postcard showing the Michigan Avenue street view with the Chicago Athletic Association where Abdu’l-Baha gave a talk on November 1, 1912. This building is now closed to the public. It maybe that someday we can visit the rooms where Abdu’l-Baha talked in all their 1912 splendor.

This glorious street of buildings representing the best of Chicago more than 100 years ago remains active and busy today, with huge modern towers just a block to the west and now lush and lovely parks on the lakefront, where before there were miles of train tracks.

The very first Baha’i House of Worship in Ashgabat,...

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:06:37 -0500

The very first Baha’i House of Worship in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, from a photo set that’s been making the rounds on Facebook. It looks like a postcard. It looks like a colorized postcard. Does anyone know if the dome of this building really was green and the pillars blue? All I have ever seen are black and white photographs. This building was destroyed in an earthquake.

An interior view of the Baha’i House of Worship in...

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:11:00 -0500

An interior view of the Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette, postmarked 1982.

One can’t mention Baha’i History in Postcards,...

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:48:00 -0500

One can’t mention Baha’i History in Postcards, without sharing an image of one of the Tablets of the Divine Plan, sent by Abdu’l-Baha to the Baha’is in America on postcards the first few days after WWI when mails could be sent after years of isolation. Two postcards were sent, one in English and the other in Persian. I’m hopeful that in 2016 when we will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Tablets of the Divine Plan that more photographs of these postcards will be made available.

The High Bridge in Lincoln Park in Chicago, where in 1912...

Fri, 11 May 2012 07:50:00 -0500

The High Bridge in Lincoln Park in Chicago, where in 1912 visitors could gaze over the city and its tall buildings to the south. When Abdu’l-Baha stayed at the Plaza Hotel, he often took walks in Lincoln Park with visitors, mostly to give the overworked staff the opportunity to take a break from the crush of visitors.

A Google Map for Abdu'l-Baha's visit to Chicago

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:53:01 -0600

A Google Map for Abdu'l-Baha's visit to Chicago

The Masonic Temple on State and Randolph was tallest building in...

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:49:40 -0600

The Masonic Temple on State and Randolph was tallest building in Chicago at one time. However, the architects, still learning about elevators, didn’t build enough of them and it took too long for people to go up and down to attend the meeting in the large halls at the top of the building. Despite the very popular lower floors of shops and middle floors of offices, the building was demolished in 1939.

The memory of this building remains strong in the Baha’i History of Chicago. The first classes that taught about the Baha’i Faith were given here, some of the earliest members of the Baha’i community has offices here, early meetings of those Baha’is were held here, as well as a meeting where ‘Abdu’l-Baha spoke during his first visit in 1912.

A postcard mailed on October 30, 1913, shows the Market Square...

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:18:49 -0600

A postcard mailed on October 30, 1913, shows the Market Square in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the only city in Wisconsin visited by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in 1912 traveling by train from Chicago on Sept. 15 and returning Sept. 16.

Kenosha was one of the earliest Baha’i Communities in the U.S., having been established in the 1890’s.

Sunday, September 15, 1912 From Mahmud’s Diary
[Chicago — Kenosha]

The friends were waiting with their automobiles at the railway station to take the Beloved to the hall of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár.²⁷⁸ The Master went onto the stage of the auditorium and sat on a chair. It was a divine and joyous festival, the people like heavenly angels of the utmost spirituality, prayerfulness and gratitude. `Abdu’l-Bahá spoke briefly but effectively about the victorious power and penetrating influence of the Cause of the Blessed Beauty. He then went to a long table that extended the length of the hall which was covered with a variety of multicolored flowers.

As lunch was being served, the young friends, having received `Abdu’l-Bahá’s permission, sang songs of praise to Him, accompanied by a piano. The Master then gave an account of the persecutions and hardships of Bahá’u’lláh, the time spent in the Most Great Prison, the Turkish revolution and the changes that took place after the establishment of a constitutional form of government in Turkey. `God removed all obstacles’, He said, `and provided all the necessities, thus enabling `Abdu’l-Bahá to reach this place and have the pleasure of seeing you.’

The friends then brought their children to Him to be blessed. He took the children onto His lap one by one and gave them flowers, fruits and sweets. Mr Jackson said:

Every time we have held a public entertainment for the friends we have left two seats vacant at each end of the table, one in the name of Bahá’u’lláh and the other in that of `Abdu’l-Bahá. We constantly longed to witness a day such as this. We have now attained our highest hopes and our eyes have seen the light of the Master.

Another person said, `When the clergymen were informed of your arrival, they announced in the churches that this evening the prophet of the East will speak at the Kenosha Congregational Church.’

After lunch `Abdu’l-Bahá left the hall of the `Mashriqu’l-Adhkár’ and went to Mrs [Henry] Goodale’s home, where the friends were overjoyed and uplifted to hear Him speak. He said to them, in part:

The Cause of God has always appeared from the East but it has been more effective in the West. Once Badrí Páshá ²⁷⁹ said in an address, `Gentlemen, Westerners have taken everything from us: the sciences, the arts and the laws they took from the East. Now we fear that they may wrest from us the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, as well.’ Those were his words. But Bahá’u’lláh is neither of the East nor of the West, neither of the South nor of the North. He is holy above all these directions. He is heavenly and godly.

`Abdu’l-Bahá’s address in the evening at the Congregational Church was on the unity of the Manifestations of God, that they are one in essence and that the differences among their followers is due to obsolete imitations. His explanation of the divine teachings gave new life and insights to the audience. After His talk, everyone came to Him to pay Him their respects.

This is the Grand Ballroom for the LaSalle Hotel, at 10 N....

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:03:42 -0600

This is the Grand Ballroom for the LaSalle Hotel, at 10 N. LaSalle Street in Chicago, around 1912. ‘Abdu’l-Baha spoke here on May 2, 1912, to the Federation of Women’s Clubs. From his talk:

“To accept and observe a distinction which God has not intended in creation is ignorance and superstition. The fact which is to be considered, however, is that woman, having formerly been deprived, must now be allowed equal opportunities with man for education and training. There must be no difference in their education. Until the reality of equality between man and woman is fully established and attained, the highest social development of mankind is not possible. Even granted that woman is inferior to man in some degree of capacity or accomplishment, this or any other distinction would continue to be productive of discord and trouble. The only remedy is education, opportunity; for equality means equal qualification. In brief, the assumption of superiority by man will continue to be depressing to the ambition of woman, as if her attainment to equality was creationally impossible; woman’s aspiration toward advancement will be checked by it, and she will gradually become hopeless. On the contrary, we must declare that her capacity is equal, even greater than man’s. This will inspire her with hope and ambition, and her susceptibilities for advancement will continually increase. She must not be told and taught that she is weaker and inferior in capacity and qualification. If a pupil is told that his intelligence is less than his fellow pupils, it is a very great drawback and handicap to his progress. He must be encouraged to advance by the statement, “You are most capable, and if you endeavor, you will attain the highest degree.” Promulgation of Universal Peace

This is the book I wrote last year with Arcadia Publishing,...

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:49:00 -0600

This is the book I wrote last year with Arcadia Publishing, featuring 199 archival photographs of the Baha’i Temple in Wilmette, Illinois. In 2012 we will celebrate the Centenary of the visit of Abdu’l-Baha to the West. He laid the cornerstone of this building on May 1, 1912, and the whole story, with photos taken on that day, is told in the book. You can read the first chapters at Amazon.

State Street at Noon in Chicago, an undated postcard that shows...

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:32:22 -0600

State Street at Noon in Chicago, an undated postcard that shows a busy noon hour around 1910-1915. The scene looks north to the State Street elevated stop where the Chicago Theater is now. Marshall Fields in on the right, look for the clock, and just the bare outlines of the Masonic Temple.

The Masonic Temple has dedicated meeting rooms for Masons at the top, but many floors of stores and offices. This is where the first Baha’i classes were taught, early Baha’is like Edward Getsinger has his office there, and in Drill Hall “Abdu’l-Baha gave a talk on April 30, 1912, to the Baha’i Temple Unity Convention

This is a lucky find, a postcard image of the Hotel Astor in...

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:33:00 -0600

This is a lucky find, a postcard image of the Hotel Astor in Chicago where ‘Abdul-Baha spent a night during his visit to the West on September 16, 1912. This whole block was later demolished and the State of Illinois building in Chicago is now at this address.

From 1938, an Air Mail cancel that features the Baha’i...

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:22:00 -0500

From 1938, an Air Mail cancel that features the Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette. This photo is a copy in the Baha’i Archives.

The Plaza Hotel, near Lincoln Park in Chicago, no longer...

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:46:00 -0600

The Plaza Hotel, near Lincoln Park in Chicago, no longer exists. But it is remembered because that’s where ‘Abdu’l-Baha stayed during his first visit to Chicago in May 1912. Many of the Chicago Baha’is would look for excuses to “hang out” during the day, crowing the salon. So, he gathered them up and would walk them across to Lincoln Park to sit on the benches there and talk. And one day they all went to Lincoln Park Zoo together.

Lost Red Backpack

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:05:06 -0600

Small, made of fabric, that I purchased at a garage sale from a friend. The only thing in it, a 4x6 photo album that had all my collectible Baha’i history postcards. I was taking them to show to some friends in December in downtown Evanston. I don’t know where I left the backpack, it could have been on the bus, which means it’s gone forever now.

The postcards can be replaced, eventually. But I really did like that little red backpack.

This is a postcard that shows a “Temple that never...

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:40:00 -0500

This is a postcard that shows a “Temple that never was.” It’s from before the Baha’i House of Worship was constructed, showing a golden dome and incorrect proportions. It also shows the lanterns, which were never installed. This “view” is looking south from Sheridan Road across the North Shore Channel, and cars can park there, but not for visiting the Temple. This is a lovely colorized postcard which can be found for one or two dollars at a post card show.

Why Baha’i History in postcards? The first postcard to be...

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:53:00 -0500

Art Institute of Chicago (before 1907)

Reverse of postcard. Undivided back.

Why Baha’i History in postcards? The first postcard to be printed as a souvenir in the United States was created in 1893 to advertise the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. There have been billions of postcards printed and mailed since, of every city, town, street, building or tourist attraction in American and around the world. I think it would be fun if we can find postcards that reflect places and events in Baha’i History. And at my first postcard show in October, it was not difficult at all to find several that help tell the stories we all love so well.

In 1893, the World’s Parliament of Religions was held as an event at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It is considered by some as the world first ecumenical meeting, as priests, ministers, rabbis, mullahs, swamis and gurus, were all invited to present talks about their religions. It was at this meeting that there was the first public mention of the Baha’i Faith, in a talk that quoted a paper written by Henry Jessup.

As a Baha’i history postcard, this shows the Art Institute of Chicago, built not as a part of the famous White City of the Exposition, but as a private Chicago institution for showing off the treasures of its newly, very wealthy, citizens. The Art Institute is considered to have one of the greatest art collections in the world, and is constantly changing, with new wings, galleries and additions added every decade or so. On the left of the building, inside, is Fullerton Hall, where the Parliament took place. The Art Institute dates from 1879, but moved into this new building in 1893. The Art Institute website says that Fullerton Auditorium was not built until 1898, so I’m going to have to do a little more research on that!

Here we can see the original building, it had an open courtyard in the center, the famous lions guarding the front doors, and very little surrounding it in Grant Park, right on Michigan Ave and Adams, south of the Chicago River. I like that you can see the brick streets, streetcar tracks, very young trees, and a man on a bicycle.

The undivided back shows that this is an “early” postcard, before 1907, and as I learn more about this very fun hobby I’ll be able to better tell the year. I think the 2 cent stamp was an overpayment, but I love that this card could get to Gail Johnson, Hoopeston, Illinois, by General Delivery.

My goal is to find a contemporary postcard of Fullerton Hall, and an 1893 dated postcard of the outside of the building.

Because of the great number of Art Institute postcards available, this cost me $1.00 in 2010. It was made by W.G. MacFarlane, Publisher Buffalo and Toronto I.554

Baha'i History in Postcards

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 18:23:27 -0500

Uh oh. My friend Mimi Peterson took me to the Windy City Postcard Show and I followed my nose and purchased all sorts of fun postcards that reflect Baha’i history in Chicago. Yes, plenty of postcards about the Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette, but other postcards as well that related to the visit of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’i to Chicago in May 1912.

What images might these be? Stay tuned.