The Lineage of Laura’s Mother, Alice Pike

contents

With ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the United States Joining ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the United Kingdom ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Natalie The Master Back in Paris Travels across America 150 154 155 156 160

Beginning of Her Journey around the World ‘From the Peace of the East to the War of the West’ and

Their Arrival in Japan Korea, China and News of War 163

164 167

Return to Europe via the United States and Laura’s Services in France

169 The Opium Pipe: In the Land of Persia 171 Women’s Rights in the United States and Laura’s Mother 172 Laura’s Work with the American Red Cross 173 Reprinting Some Answered Questions 174 The Last Years of World War I 175 Contacts with Her Mother During the War Years 177 Acknowledgments of Laura’s Contributions During World

War I 178 Travel to the Holy Land 179 Follow-up from Shoghi Effendi and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 183 Trip to the United States to Visit Her Mother 184 Visits with Shoghi Effendi in Paris 185 Alice’s Marital Problems and Divorce 186 Laura’s Last Visit with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Holy Land 187 Laura’s Second Journey to the Far East 188 Dutch Indies (Indonesia) 191 Bali and Singapore 192 Phnom Penh, Cambodia 193 Back in Vietnam 195 In the Republic of China Hong Kong, Macao and Canton Back in Angkor Wat and Continuing Onward 198 200 202 Visit to Burma (Myanmar) 203 Hearing in Rangoon the Sad News of the Passing of the Master 204 Travel to India 206 Visiting Ahmedabad and Meeting Gandhi 209 In ‘Akká after the Passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 211 A Short Expedition with Friends 213 Laura’s Interest in the League of Nations and the International

Council of Women 215

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some questions answered: the life of laura barney Travel to the United States to Visit Laura’s Mother 216 Back on the Continent and Further Accomplishments 218 Laura Continues Her Bahá’í Activities 220 Laura’s Involvement in Diverse Humanitarian Activities and Using Cinema as an Educational Tool for Peace 221 Hippolyte’s Health 223 Promoting the Mission of the League of Nations at Teacher Training Colleges 224 The Passing of Laura’s Husband, Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney 228

Part 4 Laura on Her Own 1929 – 1964

Life after the Death of Hippolyte 241 Reflections on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 243 Efforts with the League of Nations and the International Council of Women 244

Preparations for the First Conference of Women Specializing in Motion Pictures 246

The Conference in Rome 252

Farewell to Her Mother 255

Vice President of the Disarmament Committee of the Women’s

International Organisations

258 Travels and Lectures across Canada 261 Arrival in Los Angeles and Managing Her Mother’s Estate 263 Exhibition of Her Mother’s Paintings 267 Continuing Her Activities Back on the Continent 269 The First Congress of Educational and International

Cinematography in Rome 270 Travels and Talks in Egypt and Visit to Haifa 271 Continuing Her Talks and Lectures in Lebanon, Turkey and

Greece 276 Corresponding with May Maxwell, Laura’s Spiritual Mother 284 The Convener of the Peace and Arbitration Committee of the ICW 285 Laura and the Outbreak of World War II 288 Safe Arrival and Continuation of Her Humanitarian Services in the United States 289 Co-founding and Co-sponsoring the Institute on World

Organization 292 Other Endeavors while in the United States 293 Contact with Shoghi Effendi and His Wife during World War II 295 Contact with the Bahá’ís of Paris and Geneva during the War 297 Return to Europe after World War II 298

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Back in the United States Laura’s Bahá’í Activities after the War 300 301

Staying in Touch with Natalie Establishing a Memorial Fund for Alice Pike Barney at the

Smithsonian Institution Laura’s Activities while in Europe Visits to the United States 304

306 308 310 Supporting Joséphine, Wife of Edwin Scott 311 The Bust of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and other Bahá’í Happenings 312 Farewell to Edith Sanderson 313 Her Friends from Long Ago Laura and Romaine Brooks 314 317

Passing of the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi

318 Laura’s Health 319 Sharing the Stories of Her Early Bahá’í Years and Preserving Them319 Further Developments with Some Answered Questions 322 Her New Concern 327 Rescuing the Archives of the International Council of Women 328 Laura’s Devotion and Obedience to the Faith and Its Leadership at a Time of Crisis 330 Donating Studio House to the Smithsonian Institution 333 Writing Articles and Reprinting Books by Hippolyte 335 Concerns about Natalie’s Health and Visiting Her in Switzerland 336 Last Visit to Her Country of Birth in the First Half of the 1960s 337

Part 5 The Last Years of Her Life in Paris 1965 – 1974

Last Return to Paris 343 Her Health and Treatments 344 The International Council of Women and One More Trip to Iran?345 Her Closest Cousin, Ellen Goin-Rionda 347 Baron von Blomberg of the World Fellowship of Religions 348 Laura’s Support of Others 349 David Bruce, Her Closest Relative 352 Romaine Brooks’ Artwork at the Smithsonian Institution and Her Death 354 Laura’s Contact with Natalie in Their Late Years 355 The Passing of Natalie Barney 361 Further Editions of Laura’s and Hippolyte’s Books and Translations 363 Laura’s Will, Precious Documents and Valuables 365 New Developments with Some Answered Questions 366 Appreciations from Around the World 368

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some questions answered: the life of laura barney Laura Dreyfus Barney Remembered 370

Staying Home, Welcoming Visitors and Corresponding with Friends 371 Supporting Bahá’í Funds, Activities and Institutions 375 Living with Her Memories and Finding Ways to Safeguard Them 377 The Last Year of Laura’s Life 378 Announcements of Her Death, Obituaries and

Acknowledgments of Her Services 381

Epilogue

385 Appendix A: Brief Introduction to the Bahá’í Faith 395 Appendix B: Listing for Laura Dreyfus-Barney in Who’s Who in America 399 Abbreviations 401 Bibliography Notes and References Index About the Author 403 415 477 489

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