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St. Martin, Saba, Anguilla, and St. Barthelemy: Pioneers,Quote re: Pioneers and Pioneering, Travel Teachers,Quote re: travel teachers,  and Events;  1965-1990

PIONEERS TO ST. MARTIN

Compiled by Patricia Paccassi as of 1988; revised September 1994:  May 2010, July 2011

CODE: PIO:=pioneer;

Note: data in brackets or parenthesis is the source of my information: see source page for details SOURCES

****************************************************************

PIO: 1966: September 29, Francis Foss [Griffith] USA  to Philipsburg, Sucker Gardens, Upper Princess Quarter [AF/01.a]

Francis Foss [Griffith]

______________________________________________________________________________________

PIO: 1972: January to present (1994) Barbara Joyce, Canada to  Phillipsburg [AF/31-December 1986 update]

Barbara Joyce

______________________________________________________________________________________

PIO: 1974: ?? to ??;Mrs. Marian Barnes,  USA [PF/25-0.10] _______________________________________________________________________________________

PIO: 1977: October, to Martinique ; Roy Massey, USA to French Quarter   [AF/31-December 1986 update] _______________________________________________________________________________________

PIO: 1983: ??; to January 1987, Owen Blair, US,[AF/31-December 1986 update] _______________________________________________________________________________________

NOTE: see St. Martin events for explanation of cutoff date.. Patricia Paccassi

ST. MARTIN  EVENTS

Compiled by Patricia Paccassi as of 1988; revised 1991, September 1994:  May 2010, July 2011

NOTE: St. Martin is administratively part of the West Leewards, but events and travel teachers will be listed in their own file.

NOTE: listed below are the NSA's who were responsible for the Leewards Islands and the dates the responsibility was assigned:

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY RESPONSIBLE FOR: ST. Martin (French)-SINT MAARTEN (Dutch)

1953 South America;

1957 Greater Antilles;

1962 Dominican Republic;

*1964 United States;

1967 Leeward, Windward & Virgin Islands;

1972 Leeward & Virgin Islands;

1977 French Antilles;

1980 Leeward Islands;

1991 West Leeward Islands.

*=First time listed specifically instead of being included as  part of a larger grouping; i.e. "Leeward Islands"

Key: LSA = Local Spiritual Assembly

NSA = National Spiritual Assembly

****************************************************************************************

1967: See newsletter article on Frances Foss [NL/21.c] _________________________________________________________________________________________

1968: Summer:  Paccassi family travel teaching, meet with Bahá'ís

Left to Right: Francis Foss, Judith Paccassi, Frank Paccassi, Catherine Rogers, Patricia Paccassi

1968: early; 4 articles written by Loraine Landau are carried in  local newspaper [PF/25-ALP-saba]

1968: Mid: First enrollment, Catherine Rogers on French side. Second Bahá'í, first on Dutch side, Louis Guy.[NL/21.h:pr.1]

1968: August, 5 enrollments for Sucker Gardens, no names  given.[NL/21.h]

____________________________________________________________________________________

1971: Treasury representatives appointed 12 islands including St. Martin [AF/23]

____________________________________________________________________________________

1974: 4 November: Dr. Sirus Homayun

1974: September 22: Dr. Muhájir meets with Bahá'ís 

Left to Right: Trish  Pruit, Dr. Muhájir, Joyce Owen

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

1975: Early: Barbara Joyce & Roy Massey begin 1st weekly TV series  in the West Indies. Broadcasting in colour began in 1978.  [PF/25-0.5]

1975: November 8-10: Bahá'í conference receives articles in "St .Martin" and  extensive coverage in "Windward Island Opinion" [PF:1] Terry Madison is interviewed on TV3 West Indies [ibid]

1975: November: 1st Annual Teaching Conference held[AF/24]

________________________________________________________________________________________________

1976: A taped 15 minute radio program (daily, weekly ??) [AF/24]

1976: Terry Madison was on live TV for 30 minutes [AF/24]

_____________________________________________________________________________________

1981: SA 7-12: Youth Project co-sponsored with International Goals Committee [PF/25-0.6]

______________________________________________________________________________________

1983: ??: Amanda Wrighton  builds a Bahá'í Centre on her land   [AF/31] 

____________________________________________________________________________________

1985: Late: winter school [PF/25-0.6]

____________________________________________________________________________________

1986: Nawruz: UHJ  writes: "...your steady growth and maturation in years since formation 1981-despite scattered islands, difficult transportation staunchly laboured to win goals-through: 1)  legal re cognition in Antigua and St. Kitts, 2) regular radio and TV in Saba, St. Martin, and Antigua, peace  statements on several islands, energizing cadre of active local believers, Faith of Bahá’u’lláh has become widely known and respected on Islands" [AF/31-UHJ-C]

1986: ??: Summer School, 1-day [PF/25-0.6]

__________________________________________________________________________________________

1990: AR:  regular programs on both TV & radio, and that a pioneer  from Anguilla is participating in the radio programs [PF/25-0.6]

****************************************************************************************************

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 1991 was the formation of the first NSA of West Leeward Islands and information is available from this time on in St. Kitts, (seat) 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 passed onto each national office,  including a copy of the forthcoming video.

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

Saba:

TRAVEL TEACHERS AND PIONEERS TO SABA

Compiled by Patricia Paccassi as of 1988; revised 1991; November 1994, July 2011

CODE: PIO:=pioneer;

PIO: 1966: November. 8 to Early 1968; Lorraine Landau,   USA via Barbados.   [NL/03.j, 21.g;AF/01.a]

teaching report exists of early efforts.[pkc] ________________________________________________________________________________

PIO: 1969: August to August 1970: Joseph Bellas, from USA [AF/01.a] ________________________________________________________________________________

PIO: 1972: July. to present (94); Pauline Paul  from USA to St. Johns [AF/01.a:LVi/pio-rep]

*************************************************************

CODE:

TT :=travel teacher from outside national area;

TTL:=West Indian travel teacher;

TTP:=travel teacher and pioneer in national area;

HND:=Hand of the Cause of God;

CBC:=member of the Continental Board of Counsellors.

ABM:=Auxiliary Board Member;

NSA:=member of a national spiritual assembly:
*************************************************************************************

TTP: 1965: Late, Melvin Barber, [St. Thomas] [NL/03.e]

____________________________________________________________________

TTP: 1967: September, Lorana Kerfoot, St. Thomas.[NL/21.d] ____________________________________________________________________

TT : 1974: February or March; Elizabeth Thomas [PF/25-ALP-NTC] ____________________________________________________________________

TT : 1976: March/April ??? Elizabeth Thomas, USA [PF/25-0.5] ____________________________________________________________________

TTP: 1978: January, 1 week, Francis Griffith, St. Martin [PF/25-0.5]

ABM: 1978: July 4-8, Shirley Mather, St. Thomas [PF/25-0.5]

TT : 1978: Early: Toni Isaac, St. Thomas [PF/25-0.5] _____________________________________________________________________

TT : 1984: May, Maryjo Clarken, St. Thomas [PF/25-0.6] 

TTP: 1984: May, Marjorie Harmer, St. Thomas [PF/25-0.6] 

TTP: 1984: May, Shirley Mather, St. Thomas [PF/25-0.6]

NOTE: see Saba events for explanation of cutoff date...pp 

EVENTS IN SABA

Compiled by Patricia Paccassi as of 1988; revised 1991,  October 1994, July 2011

NOTE: Saba is linked administratively to the West Leewards, but events and travel teachers will be listed separately for each island.

NOTE: listed below are the NSA's who were responsible for the Leeward Islands and the dates the responsibility was assigned:

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL RESPONSIBLE FOR: SABA

1953 South America;

1957 Greater Antilles;

1962 Dominican Republic;

*1964 United States;

1967 Leeward, Windward & Virgin Islands;

1972 Leeward & Virgin Islands;

1981 Leeward Islands;

1991 West Leeward Islands.

*=First time listed specifically instead of being included as  part of a larger grouping; i.e. "Leeward Islands"

Key: LSA = Local Spiritual Assembly

NSA = National Spiritual Assembly

***************************************************************************************

1965: Late, Enrollment reported happening during visit of Melvin Barber from St. Thomas [NL/03.e]

___________________________________________________________________________________

1966: April, Ridván message calls for formation of NSALWVI at Ridván April 1967 Opening of Saba mentioned at USA National Convention. [NL/03.g]

____________________________________________________________________________________

1967: September, Lorraine Landau has meeting in her home with slides of Holy Land, etc.  shown by Lorana Kerfoot. They also go to  friend's home to watch CBS film "His Name Shall Be One" from Antigua TV station on one of the 3 TVs in Saba. [NL/21.d] good story in Landau letter 1 January 1968 [PF/25-ALP-LL]

_____________________________________________________________________

1968: good stories in 3 March '1968 letter of Lorraine Landau [PF/25-ALP-LL]

1968: early; 4 articles are published in local newspaper  [PF/25-ALP-LL]

______________________________________________________________________

1976: a live 15 minute radio program (daily, weekly ??)[AF/24]

______________________________________________________________________

1977: June 27; bill of sale for property from NSAVI [AF/24]

______________________________________________________________________

1978: April 10: National Convention, Title deed for endowment property given to NSA, by Pauline Paul

to be held in trust for Bahá'ís of Saba. [AF/24][PF/25-0.5]

_______________________________________________________________________

1980: SA 7-12: St. Martin TV show seen here [PF/25-0.5]

_______________________________________________________________________

1982: ??; Radio  programs every night and 10 am daily [is this meant to be Bahá'í program?] [NL/27-11/2]

_______________________________________________________________________

1986: Nawruz: UHJ write: "...your steady growth and maturation in years  since formation 1981 -despite scattered islands,difficult  transportation staunchly laboured to win goals-through 1) legal re cognition in Antigua and St. Kitts, regular radio  and TV in Saba, St. Martin, and   Antigua, peace statements on  several islands, energizing cadre of active local believers, Faith of Bahá’u’lláh has become widely known and respected on Islands" [AF/31-UHJ-C]

________________________________________________________________________

1989: November. 30; Pauline Paul 80 years old [AF/31-AB]

_________________________________________________________________________

1990: April: Pauline Paul still having regular radio Programs & children's classes [PF/25-0.6]

*****************************************************************

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 1991 was the formation of the first NSA of the West Leeward Islands and information is available from this time on in St. Kitts, 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 passed onto each national office.

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

Anguilla: Pioneers, Travel Teachers and Events:

PIONEERS TO ANGUILLA

Compiled by Patricia Paccassi as of 1988; revised 1991; October 1994, July 2011

NOTE: listed below are the NSA's who were responsible for the Leeward Islands and the dates the responsibility was assigned:

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY RESPONSIBILITY FOR: ANGUILLA

1953 South America;

1957 Greater Antilles;

1962 Dominican Republic;

1964 United States;

1967 Leeward, Windward & Virgin Islands;

1972 Leeward & Virgin Islands

1981 Leeward Islands;

1991 West Leeward Islands.

CODE: PIO. = Pioneer

Data enclosed in parenthesis (_____) refers to my source (see source link above) 

****************************************************************

PIO: 1969: August. to February. 1970; Jeffery Lewis, native Grenadian, first West Indian  pioneer.

Jeffery Lewis

( I have November 1 '1969, to early 1970 in  PF:3, dates need to be verified)

________________________________________________________________________

PIO: 1975: October: Darlene Hodge, St. Martin [PF/25-0.5]

Darlene Hodge

_____________________________________________________________________________

PIO: 1976: September. to April 1977; Jeffery & Marian Barnes, ,[Robert 2]  [AF/01.a] Check all this again?? Check!! Marian reported to leave area May & September 1984  [PF/25-0.6] ______________________________________________________________________________

PIO: 1980: November, Ida McCray,  USA. [PF/25-0.5] ______________________________________________________________________________

PIO: 1983: Naomi Blair, US left for USA [when did she arrive?] [AF/31]

PIO: 1984: Summer? Aubrey & Betty Redling, USA [PF/25-0.6] ______________________________________________________________________________

PIO: 85: April: Donald Grubb, USA [PF/25-0.6]

PIO: 85: April to April 88: Harold (& Daisy?) Ashby, USA [PF/25-0.6]

*******************************************************************

 TRAVEL TEACHERS TO ANGUILLA

Compiled by Patricia Paccassi as of 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;

CBC:= member of the Continental Board of Counsellors;

ABM:= Auxiliary Board Member;

NSA:= Member of a national spiritual assembly.

Data enclosed in parenthesis (_____) refers to my source (see source link above) 

*****************************************************************

1967: November. NOTE: NSA advises against any travel to Anguilla due to unrest in the area. [NL/21.d] ________________________________________________________________________________

1968: January. NOTE: NSA rescinds travel restrictions to Anguilla 

TTP: 1968: Early; Francis Foss of St. Martin [NL/21.f] [NL/21.e] _________________________________________________________________________________

TTs: 1977: December 15-January 15 2 weeks, Elizabeth & David Thomas [PF/25-0.5] __________________________________________________________________________________

ABM: 1978: June 28 - July 1, Shirley Mather, St, Thomas [PF/25-0.5]

TT : 1978: January-June, 2 weeks, Elizabeth Thomas, USA [PF/25-0.5] __________________________________________________________________________________

TT : 1983: November, Gol Aidun, Canada [PF/25-0.6]

**************************************************************************************

ANGUILLA EVENTS:

1980: Saturdays 7-12pm: St. Martin TV show seen here [PF/25-0.5]

Major movers of St Martin's TV Show: John "Jody" Owen, Barbara Joyce, Bob Phillips  

___________________________________________________________________________________________

1985: Late: Winter School [PF/25-0.6]

**********************************************************************************************

St. Barts:

Note: The only information available at this date (January 2010) is the 2 photos below taken at a Convention held there in 1976

L to R: Darlene Hodge,  Sandy Egerer, Terry Madison 

Standing: l to r: Terry Madison, ___, CBC Alfred Osbourne, ___, Francis Foss, Jody Owen, ___, Daniel Cauillaud, Louis Guy, Tom Millington, Marjorie Harmer, ___
Seated: l to r: Bill Nedden, Theri Rheume, ____, Ellerton Harmer, ___

 New  Photo Gallery Includes Stories, Video Clips and More

Authorization for publishing your material about our National Area on Caribbean History website. 

Published with permission of  the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the Leeward Islands 

Date: 2 May 2012
Postal Address; PO Box 352, St John's, Antigua, Leeward Islands 

Location , Address: Bahá'í Centre, Upper Nevis Street, St John's, Antigua
Email Address: nsa.leewardislands@gmail.com

This information and these sources are either from our archives,  our newsletters, interviews conducted by people we trust, and or  personal files in which we have confidence 

Afsaneh Franklin

Secretary

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