Laura Clifford Barney

Some of her services to the Faith

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-Help with the purchase of the land and plans for a suitable home for Abdu'l-Baha and His family on 7 Haparsim Street

-Involved in gathering notes of Abdu'l-Baha's utterances in Paris which were later published as Paris' Talks

-Secured the services of an English tutor who proved to be a great asset in the education of Shoghi Effendi

-Helped fund education of some young Baha'is

-Helped ladies of the Holy family with learning of the English language

-Among the 1st Western Baha'is to visit the cradle of the Faith

-Consulted by Shoghi Effendi after the passing of Abdu'l-Baha

-Abiding devotion to the family of Abdu'l-Baha

-Assisted her husband in many of his translations of the Writings

-Translations of many of the Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha from Persian into English

-Author or co-author of books, articles and monographs

-Establishing a scholarship for a Baha'i student in the name of her husband

In 1911, Laura and her husband accompanied Abdu'l-Baha during his 1st visits to Europe.

Her visits to the Holy Land and the Middle East in the early 1900s

In year 1912, they were with Abdu'l-Baha in the US

She was 21 years old during her 1st trip

In year 1913, they were with Abdu'l-Baha

Her 3rd trip was in 1904. The next year, she

traveled with her future husband to the native land of Baha'u'llah at the request of the Master. They were the 1st Western Baha'is to do so. They visited Tabriz and Maku and Ishqabad.

She met her husband, Hippolyte Dreyfus, in Paris in 1900

They collaborated on different projects and took several trips at the request of the Master before they were married years later in 1911.

These visits to Akka became the center of Laura's life and sources of stimulation and inspiration.

Laura's father, Albert Clifford Barney, was a wealthy Dayton, Ohio manufacturer and financier.

She was born on Nov. 30, 1879 to a family of industrialists and artists in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Laura had one sister - Natalie, who were 3 years older than her

Her mother was Alice Pike, the daughter of

Samuel Pike, a multi-millionaire entrepreneur

Alice was am artist, writer, theater director,

philanthropist, prominent civic

and social leader

HER LIFE

Her life after the passing of her husband

Her family and childhood

Her Baha'i activities and accomplishments

1928-1974

1879-1900

1900-1928

In 1900, Laura's family was living in Paris. She heard of the faith of Baha'u'llah through Maxwell in Paris in that year and accepted it right away. Soon after that, she made her first pilgrimage to Akka.

Upon her return to Paris, she became an active participant in that city's Baha'i community and was instrumental in establishing a significant Baha'i presence

in Washington, DC later.

At the end of 1928, Hippolyte passed away and it caused Laura overwhelming sadness and sorrow. After his death, she tried to overcome her loneliness by intensifying her efforts on behalf of the Faith and the cause of peace.

Laura Clifford Barney