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Martinique: Pioneers, Quote re: Pioneers and Pioneering, Travel Teachers, Quote re: travel teachers, and Events, 1953 to 1983PIONEERS TO MARTINIQUE: Compiled by Patricia Paccassi 1988, revised 1991, October 1994, March 2010, July 2011, September 2012 CODE: PIO:=pioneer: Note: Data in brackets or parenthesis is my source of information: see source page for details SOURCES *********************************************************************************** PIO: 1953: Toni Fillon; stayed 3 months: First pioneer, in response to call for pioneers to virgin goals; An American or Canadian (??) who was already in Chili and came to Martinique from there. He was unable to obtain visas to remain.[AF/01. letter from NSA of Canada to Shirley Warde [WB/ vol.# 13, pg. 461] _____________________________________________________________________________________ PIO: 1967: 4 months, late to early 1968: Mr. & Mrs. Edvard Lindstrom, from USA via pioneer post in Switzerland, to Fort-de-France, returning to Switzerland: [AF/01.a;NL/21.f] ______________________________________________________________________________________ PIO: 1972: September: Margot PIO: 1973: January 31 to February. 1974, to Haiti; Mr. Estall from Canada, Mrs. Estall from USA via Puerto Rico [prc][PF/25-04aEstall] PIO: 1973: February. 7; to ? Therese Rheame, PIO: 1974: Early. to July 1975: David & Barbara Sunstrum, PIO: 1974/5 ? Roy Massey. PIO: 1974??; Angela Szepisi, (see photo above with her daughter, Therese Rheame) Canada [24/M54] [PF/25-0.10] (did she leave and come back in 1976? or did she come in 1976;) Daniels records put the 5 yr. plan arrival, but did not specify if it was during the plan or at the beginning, this also applies to R. Hanevold) PIO: 1974: ??; Jim & Clara McDonald, Canada [PF/25-0.10] ______________________________________________________________________________________ PIO: 1975: ??; Rene Jean-Baptist, ABM from Haiti [AF/24] PIO: 1976: July to November 1979, Angela Szepesi [ see photo above] [PF/25-0.11] _______________________________________________________________________________________ PIO: 1978: ??: Robert Hanevold, PIO: 1979: March. Dorothy Scott to Guadeloupe ??; PIO: 1983-1997: James & Patricia Habegger, PIO: 1986 to 1991: Ludi Johnson. **************************************************************************************************** |
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Compiled by Patricia Paccassi 1988, revised 1991, October 1994, July 2011 CODE: TT :=travel teacher from outside national area; TTL:=West Indian travel teacher; TTP:=travel teacher & pioneer in national area; HND:=Hand of the Cause of God; ABM:=Auxiliary Board Member; CBC:=Member of Continental Board of Counsellors; Data enclosed in Parenthesis [ ] is my data source (see source link above) **************************************************************************** TTP: 1965: ??: Ellsworth Blackwell, USA, from Haiti [AF/24] TTP: 1968: March: Henrietta Trutza, St. Lucia enroute to NSA meeting [NL.21f] _______________________________________________________________________________ HND: 1970: May 25-29: Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, with Violette Nakhjavani [NL/21.R][PF/25-0.4G] |
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TT : 1971: several weeks: Shanta Murday, India [PF/25-ALP-RE] ____________________________________________________________________________________ TT : 1973: ??; Meherangiz Munsiff [AF/24] TT : 1973: February. Elizabeth Asbury [PF/25-0.11] TTP: 1973: February-April & June-November, Hedy Deuschle, St. Thomas and St. Croix. [AF/01.a] [PF/25-ALP-NTC] ABM: 1973: March: Marjorie Harmer, St. Thomas TTP: 1973: March: With Marjorie Harmer. Joyce Owen & daughter, Nancy PF/25-ALP-RE] TT : 1973: May 1-June; Andre McLaughlin [PF/25-ALP-RE] HND: 1973: mid, 12 days; Dr. Varqá [AF/18] |
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ALL: 1973: August. early. .for CBC Conference. [PF/25-ALP-RE] TT : 1973: August. 4 days; Jeanne & Maylo Murday, USA [PF/25-ALP-RE] TT : 1973: September Huguette James, Canada [PF/25-ALP-RE] [PF/25-0.11] ABM: 1973: ??; Rene Jean-Baptiste, Haiti [AF/24][PF/25-ALP-NTC] TT : 1973: December. Bob Philips [PF/25-ALP-NTC] [PF/25-0.11] __________________________________________________________________________________ TT : 1974: February; Mr. Yazdi [PF/25-ALP-NTC] [PF/25-0.11] TT : 1974: January, Lea Nys, Belgium. [BNWI/20] TT : 1974: April, Mrs. Dahl ,USA [AF/24] ___________________________________________________________________________________ HND: 1975: March 6. John Robarts. [24/M7,27] |
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ABM: 1975: August/September, 2 months, Rene Jn-Baptiste, Haiti [PF/25-0.5] TT : 1975: December, 1 week, Roy Massey, USA [PF/25-0.5] ______________________________________________________________________________ CBC: 1976: January, a few days, Paul Lucas, Mexico, [PF/25-0.5] TT : 1976: January/February, several days Lea Nys, Belgian [PF/25-0.5] TT : 1976: February 27-March 14, 1 week Dempsey Morgan, USA [PF/25-0.5] ABM: 1976: March, few days, R. Jean-Baptist, Haiti [AF/24][PF/25-0.5] TTS: 1976: April, 10 days, Ben & Martine Levy, USA [PF/25-0.5] TT : 1976: April 28-May 18, several days, Joyce Dahl, USA [AF/24][PF/25-0.5] CBC: 1976: mid; Rowland Estall 4 days..[AF/24-m34TR] TTP: 1976: Daniel Caillaud, 2 days [AF/24-m34TR] TTP: 1976: Shamsi Sedaghat from Trinidad, 4 days, same days as Estall [AF/24-m34TR] ________________________________________________________________________________ HND: 1977: February 27: Paul Haney. [24/M7,27] |
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HND: 1977: March 19: Enoch Olinga & wife Elizabeth. [24/M134,137] |
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HND: 1976/1977 ??: Dr. Varqá. [24/M137] TT: 23-31 October 1977: Dr. Sirus Homayun: Canada: [Teaching report, 21 February 1978 from Dr Homayun to National Teaching Committee, Canada., [PR-22: 12] CBC: 1978: August 14. Dr. Hedi Ahmadiyyih. [24/M19][AF/24] _____________________________________________________ TT: 1978/80: 2 months: Lucille Maloney: Canada TT : 1980: December, Michael and Chris Day, New Zealand ******************************************************************************** CBC: 1983: ??; Sara Pereira, USA [AF/24] TT : 1983: December. Lea Nys, Belgium [AF/24] TT : 1983: December, 1-week: Sirus Homayun, Canada [PF/25-0.6 and PR: 12] TT : 1983: November, 1-week, Linda O' Neil, Canada [PF/25-0.6] __________________________________________________________________________________ |
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Compiled by Patricia Paccassi 1988, 1991, revised October 1994, July 2011 NOTE: listed below are the NSA's who were responsible for the French Islands and the dates the responsibility was assigned: NATIONAL SPIRITUAL RESPONSIBLE FOR Martinique---- *1953 South America/North America; 1957 Greater Antilles; 1962 Brazil; 1964 United States; 1967 Leeward, Windward & Virgin Islands; 1977 French Antilles; 1984 Martinique. Key: LSA = Local Spiritual Assembly: NSA = National Spiritual Assembly: UHJ = Universal House of Justice NSALWI: National Spiritual Assemblies of the Leeward, Windward and Virgin Islands: NTC: National Teaching Committee: CBC: Continental Board of Counsellors: ABM: Auxillary Board Member: ***************************************************************** 1953: From a letter dated September 17, 1953 from NSA of Canada to Shirley Warde in California; "With respect to Martinique, the Guardian has included it in our consolidation goals because Toni Fillion of Chili had spent a few months there while waiting for visas for some of the countries of the Antilles. Nobody there became a Bahá'í (it is deeply rooted in Catholicism), and although Toni had planned to go back, it seems he was not able to. Therefore, should you wish to consider Martinique you might explain to your sponsors that, although a Bahá'í has been there it can be considered only one degree off from virgin territory"______________________________________________________________________________________ |
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1958: or there about, needs checking; quote from report from Rowland Estall to NSALVI, February 8, 1974; "As you know, the Cause was established through the arrival of Guy Martail, who, though a native Martiniquais, had been confirmed by a pioneer in Cayenne ,French Guiana, during his stay there 16 years ago (hence the 1958 date). Some seven or eight years later, his wife became a Bahá'í and a few other members of his family were enrolled. Hand of the Cause Rúhíyyih Khánum visited here in 1970, deepening these few believers. Shanta Murday came in 1971 for several weeks, during which time I had a brief glimpse of Martinique for the first time on a quick trip through the islands" [PF/25-ALP-RE] |
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1966: April, Ridván message calls for formation of NSALWVI at April, 1967 [NL/03.g] ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 1967: Late: Janet and Edvard Lindstrom of Fort-de-France hold joint activities with Mr. Guy Martail from St. Pierre, [first known Martinique Bahá'í] [NL/21.e] ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 1968: ??; one group was Mr. Guy & Mme Constance Martail [AF/18] 1968: Early; Lindstroms to former post in Switzerland. [NL/21.f] ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 1969: Early: New committee appointed to help with teaching in French & Patois. Members: Guy Martail, Martinique; Norbert Sombe, Guadeloupe; Jean Contnaret, Guadeloupe; Jean Desert, Guadeloupe, advisor. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 1971: ??; 3 locations, 6 Bahá'ís [who & where?] [AF/18] ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 1972: December & January 1973: Month long mass teaching project requested by UHJ; called "Caribbean Project" coordinator, Poova Murday from Canada with team of 4 French speaking Canadians; established 1st. 6 LSAs formed; 500 new Bahá'ís [AF/18][AF/24] 1973: November 20. Margot Guilbault sent in a report of follow-up teaching work in Forte de France.- [AF/24:54] 1973: Martinique Teaching committee has 5 of 8 "Martiniques" [who?] ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 1974: January 1; 3 radio interviews "Open Heart", 2 hours and TV in Fort-de-France with Lea Nys, this was in spite of the station policy not to mention religion on air. She meets various officials [PF/25-ALP-VE] 1974: 4 February. Report by Vivian Estall: declarations by Mme Martin & Mme Montabord, "...both of whose husbands are now serving on the NTC." [French Islands info. 1972-1974] Mme Ginette Montabord becomes first woman chairman of French Antilles National Spiritual Assembly. February; report by Rowland Estall, nine families firm 1974: ??; first institute in Carbet [Western shore], given in three successive day long sessions on Sunday. [PF/25-ALP] 1974: June. as of; 7 LSAs, 3 groups, 3 isolated; 15 localities; 526 Bahá'ís [LVISAS] 1974: August. Pierre Rosin, serves on LSA-French Antilles Teaching Committee for one year [UMC;iaf] 1974: ??; M & M Guilbault start guest house [PF/25-0.11] ______________________________________________________________________________________ 1975: ??; committee working on radio scripts in French [LVISAS] 1975: ??; ABM Rene Jean-Baptist arrives to pioneer, cannot get visa ______________________________________________________________________________________ 1976: September, report: 2 LSAs functioning, 2 groups, 5 pioneers , Massey listed, but not arrived; teaching committee formed and functioning; September. report; Estall visit 4 days, 2 radio shows, second one a young man shows up saying he's been looking for the Bahá'ís and declares [who was it?]; district Haziratlu'-Quds purchased [where?]; Bob Hanevold appointed an assistant to the ABM [AF/24-m34TR] 1976: November. 18; first Bahá'í wedding, [dual] whose? [AF/24-m34TR] _______________________________________________________________________________________ |
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1977: April 22-24 first NSA Of French Antilles elected in Guadeloupe,: Formation of 1st NSA of French Antilles, Dr. Varqá, UHJ representative, CBC Rowland Estall. Talks were given by Guy Martail, Lea Nys, Francis Griffith on history of French Islands (was this session taped?) Friday, April 22, the national Hazira was dedicated in Guadeloupe, 48 rue Francois, ARAGO, Point-a-Pitre [pr/5c] |
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1978: August. 20; International Teaching Conference; Hooper Dunbar, International Teaching Committee, CBC's, Artemus Lamb, Alfred Osbourne, Hedi Ahmadiyyih, Carmen Burafato [AF/18] 1978: August. CBC Dr. Ahmadiyyih using "new teaching method", 96 new declarations & 5 new LSAs. Within 4 weeks of teaching, French Antilles had achieved their goals for 5 Yr. Plan, 25 new LSAs, 1975 localities, & 293 new believers.[AF/24:M94] |
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L to R: Ellerton Harmer, Louis Anderson, __, Marjorie Harmer, Tom Millington, ____, Bob Hanevold, ___, ____, Lorana Kerfoot, ___ Hedi Ahmadiyyih, ___ |
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1978: 23-31 October: Teaching trip of Dr. Sirus Homayun. Firesides, plus Deepenings and consultation with local believers were held. A presentation was made by Dr Homayun and Michele Guileauit to the Mayor of Bellefontain on the 25 October. A Teaching Conference was held at the inauguration of Bahá'í Centre of Fort De France on 29 October at which Counsellor Rowland Estall presided. That evening, Dr Homayun gave a talk on “Science and Religion” at another public meeting. [PR: 22.- 12] |
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1983: November, teaching team to ?? [NL/27-V2-E1 __________________________________________________________________________________ 1984: ??; more difficult for pioneers to stay, French citizenship needed [AF/24] 1984: April. Martinique forms its own NSA [need details] |
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The photo below is of the NSA meeting in Martinique, however, the date is not known at this time. |
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L to R: John Yates, Daniel Caillaud, Charles Fitzsimmons, Joyce Owen, Louis Anderson, ____, Barbara Joyce, Bill Nedden, Lorana Kerfoot |
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NOTE: My goal was to trace the growth and development of the Faith in the islands from their beginnings, as far as I could find, up to the formation of each ones own National Assembly. As 1984 was the formation of the first NSA of Martinique and information is available from this time on in Martinique, I am using it as the cutoff date for this research document. The following years will be done by other researchers. This document is neither exhaustive nor definitive, we learn as we go, but what I have, and/or discover, will be changed or added as necessary. Hopefully, I can put this material into a form which, through the medium of oral history, will breathe the life into the bare facts and statistics. I feel that it is our stories and impressions and feelings that help to convey the enormous process that is taking place in the Bahá'í World during this period of development. I am only sorry that it was not done earlier, we have lost so many stories already. I truly appreciate all the help given to me in this research and can only hope it is helpful to others. PP...November. 1994 |
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Published with permission and approval of the Administrative Committee of Martinique 1 May 2012
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[HOME] [INTRODUCTION] [MAP] [ISLANDS] [ANTIGUA & BARBUDA] [BARBADOS] [BRITISH V.I.] [DOMINICA] [GRENADA] [GRENADINES] [GUADELOUPE AND MARIE GALANT] [MARTINIQUE] [MONTSERRAT] [ST. CROIX] [ST. EUSTATIUS] [ST. JOHN] [ST. KITTS & NEVIS] [ST. LUCIA] [ST. MARTIN, ANGUILLA, SABA, ST. BARTS] [ST. THOMAS] [ST. VINCENT] [Alphabetical List of Pioneers and Travel Teachers] [Articles] |
& Michel 
Guilbault, Canadian. ______________________________________________________________________________________
Rowland and Vivian Taylor-Estall;
(and Mother, Angela Szepisi) Canada [lived with Estalls until April.] [PF/25-04aEstall] _______________________________________________________________________________________
Canada. [livi/pio-rep] [French Islands info. 1972-1974]
[24/M54]
USA. [AF/21.E] _______________________________________________________________________________________
Canada [PF/25-0.11]
(PR: email Oct 2023)
[PR 22: 12 - e-mail from her to PP, Jan 2012](
