William Randolph Hearst's mother Mrs Phoebe Hearts, heard about the Bahai Faith through an American Bahai, Mrs Goodall in the late 1890s. Drawn by the new spiritual force, Mrs Hearst organized and travelled with the first group of westerners to AKKA, In what was then Called "Syria" ,present day Israel to visit Abdul-Baha, the son of Baha'u'llah, at a time when Abdul Baha, was still under the confinement by the Ottoman Turks.
Mrs Hearst became a devoted Bahai and later in 1912, hosted Abdu-Baha at the Castle, where Abdul Baha presented her host with an exquisite Persian carpet.
Mrs Hearst was also a great patron of the arts. She was friends with the family of Ali Gholi Khan, the Charge D'affaire of Iran in Washington, who according to his daughter Marzieh, never received his salary from the Government of the Ghajars in Iran, and had to constantly support the legation and his family by giving lectures on Persian art and literature. According to Marzieh, Mrs Hearst financed many of his lecture tours, and no doubt acquired many of what Jahanshah photographed through Mirza Ali Gholi Khan.
The Book "Arches of The years" written by Marzieh Gail , The daughter of Ali Kuli Khan, is a fascinating account of that era.
The Hearst's Persian Connection..
by faryarm on Sun Nov 16, 2008 11:10 PM PSTWilliam Randolph Hearst's mother Mrs Phoebe Hearts, heard about the Bahai Faith through an American Bahai, Mrs Goodall in the late 1890s. Drawn by the new spiritual force, Mrs Hearst organized and travelled with the first group of westerners to AKKA, In what was then Called "Syria" ,present day Israel to visit Abdul-Baha, the son of Baha'u'llah, at a time when Abdul Baha, was still under the confinement by the Ottoman Turks.
Mrs Hearst became a devoted Bahai and later in 1912, hosted Abdu-Baha at the Castle, where Abdul Baha presented her host with an exquisite Persian carpet.
Mrs Hearst was also a great patron of the arts. She was friends with the family of Ali Gholi Khan, the Charge D'affaire of Iran in Washington, who according to his daughter Marzieh, never received his salary from the Government of the Ghajars in Iran, and had to constantly support the legation and his family by giving lectures on Persian art and literature. According to Marzieh, Mrs Hearst financed many of his lecture tours, and no doubt acquired many of what Jahanshah photographed through Mirza Ali Gholi Khan.
The Book "Arches of The years" written by Marzieh Gail , The daughter of Ali Kuli Khan, is a fascinating account of that era.