The Life of Laura Barney

The Life of Laura Barney  (2022)  by Mona Khademi

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Contents

Acknowledgments
Preface

Part 1 Family and Childhood 1879 – 1899

A Remarkable Woman

The Lineage of Laura’s Mother, Alice Pike

The Lineage of Laura’s Father, Albert Barney

Laura’s Early Years

The Early Formation of Laura’s Personality

The Sisters at Les Ruches Boarding School

Artistic Life of Paris and Laura Mother

The Family’s Move to Washington, D.C.

Laura’s Return to the US

Alice Finds Herself while Albert’s Health Declines

Laura's Treatments in Europe

Laura’s Spiritual and Humanitarian Development

The Dreyfus Affair and the Barneys in Paris

Part 2 Faith from the East and Life-Changing Effects 1900 — 1910

Turn of the Century and Laura

Hearing of an Eastern Faith

Laura Meets ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Second Trip to ‘Akká

No. 7 Haparsim (Persian) Street

Laura with the Persian Scholar in Paris

Natalie and Ali-Kuli Khan in Paris

With Abu’l-Faḍl in the United States

Laura Back in Washington with Abu’l-Faḍl

Laura’s Mother and Her Activities

Laura, Her Conversion and May Bolles

False News Reports and Effects on Laura's Family

Death of Her Father

Keeping Her Mother Company in the United States

Laura Helping Atabak after Khan’s Intervention

The Story of the Exchanges Between Laura and Ali-Kuli Khan

Laura’s Visits in the Holy Land

Her Impressions and Experiences Living in ‘Akká

With ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Household and Shoghi Effendi

Laura as a Persian Translator for a United States Presidential Candidate

With Her Mother in ‘Akká

Alice Barney’s Return to the United States and Her Conversion

Meeting Hippolyte Dreyfus

Laura’s Trip to Turkmenistan and Persia (Iran)

Visiting the Bahá’ís in Turkmenistan and Russian Turkestan (Uzbekistan)

Arrival in Persia

Continuing to Tehran, the Capital City

Visiting Isfahan

Back in Tehran

A Quick Stop in Qazvín and on to Tabríz

The Effects of Laura’s Trip to Persia and the Media Coverage

Return to ‘Akká and Laura’s Report to the Master about Her Trip

Back in the West

Compiling and Publishing Some Answered Questions

Reflecting on Her Conversion

Trip to Chicago with Her Mother

Developments within the Barney Family

God’s Heroes: A Drama in Five Acts

Nude Sculpture by Laura in Washington, D.C.

Laura and the Persian—American Educational Society

Part 3 Married Life, Travel and Achievements 1911 – 1928

Passing of Hippolyte Dreyfus’s Father

Marriage of Laura Barney to Hippolyte Dreyfus

Her Mother’s Wedding

Invitation to a Special Guest: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Journey West

Juliet Thompson and Laura

With ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in France

Trip to London to Assist the Master with Translation

Honored Guest in Paris

Paris Talks

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

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

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

The Opium Pipe: In the Land of Persia

Women’s Rights in the United States and Laura’s Mother

Laura’s Work with the American Red Cross

Reprinting Some Answered Questions

The Last Years of World War I

Contacts with Her Mother During the War Years

Acknowledgments of Laura’s Contributions During World War I

Travel to the Holy Land

Follow-up from Shoghi Effendi and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Trip to the United States to Visit Her Mother

Visits with Shoghi Effendi in Paris

Alice’s Marital Problems and Divorce

Laura’s Last Visit with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Holy Land

Laura’s Second Journey to the Far East

Dutch Indies (Indonesia)

Bali and Singapore

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Back in Vietnam

In the Republic of China

Hong Kong, Macao and Canton

Back in Angkor Wat and Continuing Onward

Visit to Burma (Myanmar)

Hearing in Rangoon the Sad News of the Passing of the Master

Travel to India

Visiting Ahmedabad and Meeting Gandhi

In ‘Akká after the Passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

A Short Expedition with Friends

Laura's Interest in the League of Nations and the International Council of Women

Travel to the United States to Visit Laura’s Mother

Back on the Continent and Further Accomplishments

Laura Continues Her Bahá’í Activities

Laura’s Involvement in Diverse Humanitarian Activities and Using Cinema as an Educational Tool for Peace

Hippolyte’s Health

Promoting the Mission of the League of Nations at Teacher

Training Colleges

The Passing of Laura’s Husband, Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney

Part 4 Laura on Her Own 1929 – 1964

Life after the Death of Hippolyte

Reflections on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Efforts with the League of Nations and the International Council of Women

Preparations for the First Conference of Women Specializing in Motion Pictures

The Conference in Rome

Farewell to Her Mother

Vice President of the Disarmament Committee of the Women’s International Organisations

Travels and Lectures across Canada

Arrival in Los Angeles and Managing Her Mother’s Estate

Exhibition of Her Mother’s Paintings

Continuing Her Activities Back on the Continent

The First Congress of Educational and International Cinematography in Rome

Travels and Talks in Egypt and Visit to Haifa

Continuing Her Talks and Lectures in Lebanon, Turkey and Greece

Corresponding with May Maxwell, Laura’s Spiritual Mother

The Convener of the Peace and Arbitration Committee of the ICW

Laura and the Outbreak of World War II

Safe Arrival and Continuation of Her Humanitarian Services in the United States

Co-founding and Co-sponsoring the Institute on World Organization

Other Endeavors while in the United States

Contact with Shoghi Effendi and His Wife during World War II

Contact with the Bahá’ís of Paris and Geneva during the War

Return to Europe after World War II

Back in the United States

Laura’s Bahá’í Activities after the War

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

Supporting Joséphine, Wife of Edwin Scott

The Bust of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and other Bahá’í Happenings

Farewell to Edith Sanderson

Her Friends from Long Ago

Laura and Romaine Brooks

Passing of the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi

Laura’s Health

Sharing the Stories of Her Early Bahá’í Years and Preserving Them

Further Developments with Some Answered Questions

Her New Concern

Rescuing the Archives of the International Council of Women

Laura’s Devotion and Obedience to the Faith and Its Leadership at a Time of Crisis

Donating Studio House to the Smithsonian Institution

Writing Articles and Reprinting Books by Hippolyte

Concerns about Natalie’s Health and Visiting Her in Switzerland

Last Visit to Her Country of Birth in the First Half of the 1960s

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

Last Return to Paris

Her Health and Treatments

The International Council of Women and One More Trip to Iran?

Her Closest Cousin, Ellen Goin-Rionda

Baron von Blomberg of the World Fellowship of Religions

Laura’s Support of Others

David Bruce, Her Closest Relative

Romaine Brooks’ Artwork at the Smithsonian Institution and Her Death

Laura’s Contact with Natalie in Their Late Years

The Passing of Natalie Barney

Further Editions of Laura’s and Hippolyte’s Books and Translations

Laura’s Will, Precious Documents and Valuables

New Developments with Some Answered Questions

Appreciations from Around the World

Laura Dreyfus Barney Remembered

Staying Home, Welcoming Visitors and Corresponding with Friends

Supporting Bahá’í Funds, Activities and Institutions

Living with Her Memories and Finding Ways to Safeguard Them

The Last Year of Laura’s Life

Announcements of Her Death, Obituaries and Acknowledgments of Her Services

Epilogue
Appendix A: Brief Introduction to the Bahá’í Faith
Appendix B: Listing for Laura Dreyfus-Barney in Who’s Who in America
Abbreviations
Bibliography
Notes and References
Index
About the Author