The Bahá’í Centenary 1844-1944/Bahá’í Sacred Relics in National Archives
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BAI-lA’I' SACRED RELICS IN
NATIONAL ARCHIVES (LIST OF 1934)
TABLETS.
Illuminated Tablet containing in one section, the original handwriting of Bahá’u’lláh.
The "Cock" Tablets, illuminated.
"Star" Tablet (photographic copy of original in the British Museum. This Tablet is in the form of a five-pointed star. It was written by the Bib to celebrate the Station of the Greatest Name, and is said to contain 365 derivatives of this Name).
Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to American believers and to Spiritual Assemblies or Bahá’í Communities.
(a) The first group of approximately 600 to 700 Tablets, arranged in alphabetical order, according to names of those to whom Tablets are addresssed, those to a given individual or Assembly being filed together in a single large envelope. Original translations are filed with the Tablets in this group and copies have been made of each translation.
(b) The second group of approximately 350 to 400 Tablets has been arranged in a similar manner to those in the first group, but no copies have been made, because the originals in many cases are not accompanied by translations. (It is also true that many translations of Tablets which have been sent in to the Archives are copies of original translations and have been accompanied by neither the original Tablet nor the original translation.)
(c) A third group of Tablets, have neither been collected and arranged alphabetically nor copied. There are probably half as many of these as are in the second group.
234
Ten framed Tablets of "The Plan."
Two framed Tablets of General Tablets.
Original Tablet to Counsel Board, Chicago, prior to organization of the "House of Justice,” framed.
Original Tablets to "House of Justice," Chicago and to the Ladies of Assembly of Teaching.
Illuminated Tablet done by Mislikin Qalam of the Tablet to the "House of Justice."
Seventeen Tablets to the "House of Spirituality." Chicago. Originals and translations.
Letters from Shoghi Effendi, a number of envelopes containing letters to Assemblies and individuals also an envelope containing cables to the NSA. Probably not over 50 letters in all.
It is reported that there are several manuscripts in this country containing the hand-writing or signature of Bahá’u’lláh. There is only one Tablet in the archives with a small section containing His writing. Perhaps more than one-third of the Tablets addressed by ‘Abdu'l-Bahzi to American friends have never been forwarded to the archives.
Divine
. OBJECTS OF SACRED OR HISTOR ICAL INTEREST.
Coat of Bahá’u’lláh.
Master record of the voice of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Book of lqan used by ‘Abdu'l-Bahzi.
Pens, pen case, and case covers used by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá's comb.
Locket containing two hairs of Bahá’u’lláh and one hair of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
BAHA’I SACRED RELICS IN NATIONAL ARCHIVES 23$
Cup and saucer used by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in New York.
Cup and saucer used by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Minneapolis.
Spiced apple presented to Mrs. Bonds by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Silk handkerchief and bottle of attar of rose with history.
Sheet taken from bed on which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá slept while at the Wilson home in Minneapolis.
. RECORDS AND MANUSCRIPTS OF
HISTORICAL INTEREST.
List of Bahá’ís in America in 1912.
Seven bound books (journal form) containing names in order in which believers entered the Cause in the following cities: Chicago, Kenosha, Cincinnati, New York, Baltimore, Washington, California and miscellaneous locations.
Directory of Bahá’ís, Chicago and vicinity.
Record book containing entries of monthly contributions by names, Chicago 1897-1900.
Paper bound note-book containing "Information concerning the Cause," from Mrs. I. D. Brittingham.
Wooden box l2”x18"x6" containing letters, papers, early pamphlets, etc., preserved for the archives by Mrs. Eva W. Russel.
About fifty 9"xl2” envelopes labeled "National Bahá’í Archives Experimce's” (Name of one of early American Believers) and containing records of personal experiences.
List of first subscribers to the Bahá’í News.
Loose-leaf account book showing financial receipts classified by foreign countries and by cities of the United States and Canada, with entries of individual donors and amounts for the years 1907 to 191}. Total receipts shown $52,430.20.
Similar account book showing receipts 1913-1923 which, with those of 1907-1913, total $343,099.51.
Account book of Building Fund and Bahá’í Temple Unity during service
of Mr. Wm. H. Randall as Treasurer.
Package containing receipt records of Bahá’í Temple Unity for August 5. 1907 to April 17, 1913.
Report of Bahá’í Committee of Investigation 1917-1918.
Printed Book containing history of Bahá’í Cause in Manchester, England sent by Mr. E. T. Hall.
Notes on "The Death and Burial of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.” By Louise Bosch.
Diaries, travel records, report 19201924 by Chas. Mason Remey.
PHOTOGRAPHS, NEGATIVES,
I DRAWINGS.
Package containing about forty unmounted photographs of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá alone and in groups, America and Europe, published in the "Star."
Architects drawing of Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in ‘Ishqábád (framed).
Large mounted photographs of New York, Baltimore and Kenosha Assemblies.
Package containing about 20 to 25 photographs, chiefly of Chicago Bahá’ís.
Package of used photographs published in the "Star."
Photograph of Bahá’í friends of Central States attending first meeting held in Temple structure, July 9, 1922, in commemoration of the martyrdom of the Báb.
Photograph of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's hand.
Photograph of first all-India Bahá’í Convention.
Photographs of Bahá’ís of Western States. chiefly California, sent by M. L. Fenn, La Jolla, Calif.
Photograph of Bahá’í martyrs in Persia.
Elevation for the Temple—blue print of drawing by Mr. Brush.
Approximately 200 negatives (on glass plates) of Bahá’í subjects taken in the United States, Palestine and Persia by the companion of Dr. Moody, Mrs. Eva Russel.
. MISCELLANEOUS MATERIAL.
Two black metal cases, about 22"l2”x 10" sent to the archives by Mr. Chas. Mason Remey and containing miscel
236
THE Bahá’í
laneous printed matter published by Bahá’ís, and copies of newspapers and. periodicals containing articles on the Cause.
Three 9"xl2” envelopes containing material similar to above.
Plat of Temple Grounds on tracing cloth (large scale) made by Chicago Guaranty Survey Co.
Abstract of Title to Temple Grounds, Wilmette.
Volume I of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Tablets, containing writing by the Master.
Two printed copies, “Letters of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to the children."
Bahá’í hymn book by Mrs. Waite containing ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s statement regarding the "Benediction."
Music Plates—“The New Jerusalem," by Mrs. Waite.
Bound book containing translations of all Tablets, 86 in number, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to Chas. Mason Remey.
Architectural designs of Bahá’í edifices by Chas. Mason Remey, some of which were made at the request of Shoghi Effendi.
Bound documents of Chas. Mason Remey, regarding the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár.
Five miscellaneous bound manuscripts of Chas. Mason Remey, 19224923.
Framed letter of Mrs. Josephine Cowles as a memorial to her father.
Two packages of miscellaneous printed matter labelled, "Windust."
Mr. Louis Bourgeois’ architectural Plans for the Bahá’í Temple.
"COPY” AND PROOF USED IN THE
‘STAR OF THE WEST’ AND BOOKS ON THE CAUSE.
Original translation of the Ishrákát and the Glad Tidings by Ali Kuli Khan.
Proof sheets of addresses of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in America sent by Howard MacNutt.
Proofs, Vols. 1. 2 and 3 of the Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Original manuscript of Addresses of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá published in the Star of the West.
CENTENARY
Proof of Abu’l-Fadl's book “The Bahá’í Proofs," given to Mr. Windust by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Manuscript used by printer in setting up Hidden Words, Seven Valleys and Tablet of Ishraqfit.
Original copy, Persian section of the "Star" marked ‘for preservation.’
(SUPPLEMENTARY U51", 1943)
A. *REI.ICS OF Bahá’u’lláh: GIFTS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI.
Illuminated Tablet in the handwriting of Bahá’u’lláh containing a prayer revealed for the Greatest Holy Leaf.
Two illuminated‘ Tablets in the handwriting of Bahá’u’lláh which were addressed to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Three Locks of Hair of Bahá’u’lláh arranged by the Greatest Holy Leaf. (Contained in silver case bearing the Greatest Name on cover.)
GIFTS or Beulzveas
Four original Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, one in His Hand. (From Dr. Moody
collection.) . Illuminated Cock Tablet, framed, done by Mishkin-Qalam. (From Dr.
Moody collection.)
Three separate gifts of dried Blood of Bahá’u’lláh. (One of these gifts is contained in two small gold boxes.)
Eight separate gifts of Hair of Bahá’u’lláh. (Four of these are contained in gold lockets. They vary in number from one to many hairs from the Head of Bahá’u’lláh.)
Comb of B.1h:i’u’llah.
Red silk handkerchief used by Bahá’u’lláh.
Pieces of sugar "made by the Blessed Perfection."
Piece of wood from the window frame of Bahá’u’lláhs room in the prison of ‘Akká.
Gold ring mounted with ruby which was blessed by Bahá’u’lláh.
Small gold coin which belonged to Bahá’u’lláh.
' It appears that the Guardian uses the term "Sacred
Relics" or "sacred objects" with a meaning which would include Tablets.
BAHA’l SACRED RELICS IN NATIONAL ARCHIVES 237
B. RELICS OF THE BAB.
Ringlet of a single Hair of the Báb mounted between transparent paper at center of an illuminated matt contained in small circular frame.
Photographic reproduction of miniature
of the Báb.
. RELICS OF ‘ABDU’l..-BAHA.
Eight framed Tablets of the Divine Plan. (This is a correction of the 1934 report of ten framed Tablets, since two of the long Tablets to the United States and Canada are contained in two frames each. These Tablets bear the Persian signature of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.)
Six original Tablets of the Divine Plan, unframed. (These six Tablets of the 1917 series bear numerous hand written corrections made by the Master.)
Approximately 2000 original Persian or Arabic Tablets bearing the seal and initials or the signature of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, addressed to Assemblies, groups and individual believers in America and other parts of the world. (1934 report contained about 1050 Tablets.)
Three coats or cloaks (abas) worn by ‘Abdu'l-Bahi. One of these was ripped apart, and left in this condition, in order to obtain a pattern for a new cloak.
Five taj or fez type caps and one turban worn by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Six gifts of ringlets or locks of hair of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. '
Seven Persian scarfs or large handkerchiefs used by the Master.
Two rosaries used by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
A pair of Persian shoes or boots and a pair of woolen socks, both worn by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The boats were used in America.
A small leather handbag used by the Master for carrying important Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.
Pen with which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá signed the Divine Plan Tablets.
Metal tube in which the Master buried His Will and Testament.
Pen case, pen, inkwell and scissors used by the Master.
Steamer rug blessed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Comb used by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Five Bahá’í rings and unmounted ring stones blessed by the Master.
Cut glass flask "containing attar of rose.”
Brass bowl, cut glass pitcher, and towel, used in ablutions by the Master. Several pieces of bread, rock candy, etc.,
from the Master's plate.
Seventeen British gold pound coins brought to America by the Master.
Turkish gold guinea which belonged to the Master.
One negative and one positive 35 mm. motion picture film taken of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in New York and Brooklyn, 1912. (The original matrix record of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s voice was listed in the 1934 report.)
. RELICS OF THE GREATEST HOLY
LEAF.
Three handkerchiefs and five scarfs belonging to the Greatest Holy Leaf, some of which were made by her.
Shawl made by the Greatest Holy Leaf.
Undergarment worn by the Greatest Holy Leaf.
Three old Persian coins owned by the Greatest Holy Leaf.
Fan and eye stick used by the Greatest Holy Leaf.
Approximately twenty-five original letters in English bearing the seal or signature or both seal and signature of the Greatest Holy Leaf. All of these were written to American believers.
. RELICS OF OTHER MEMBERS OF
THE HOLY FAMILY.
Eye stick used by the Mother of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Handkerchief which belonged to the Holy Mother.
. MISCELLANEOUS RELICS.
Large white Cloth with the Greatest Name worked in beads.
Glass plaque bearing an inscription of the Greatest Name.
(These two gifts came from the Na
238 THE Bahá’í
tional Spiritual Assembly of India through Martha Root.)
The Greatest Name embroidered and ornamented in colors by Bahá’í Zoroastrian women of Bombay.
Three copies of the Greatest Name written on parchment and paper by Miflakin-Qalam.
Collection of fifty-five copies of Bahá’í Writings in Persian and Arabic from Dr. Moody. This collection includes numerous handwritten as well as printed volumes. Among them are a beautifully illuminated, unbound copy of the Aqdas, the Persian Bayan
CENTENARY
with illuminated title page, the Tablets to the Kings, and numerous Tablets and poems of Bahá’u’lláh.
Bahá’í seal made and used by Thornton Chase. Phonograph record, Table: of Ahmad and prayer, Martha Root’s voice. "Finger nail" copies of the Writings, done by Mishkín-Qalam.
Tile from the Bahá’í House of Worship, ‘Ishqábád.
“Star tile” from the Masjid-i-Vahil, §}_1iriz, where the Báb spoke to the congregation. ,
