Blackwell Book is such joy!

So far, so good. Each day, each hour spent on the book is confirmation that this is a worthwhile positive project. That's what I was told by the general manager of the Baha'i Publishing last week when we spoke on the phone. And of course, that was great news to hear him as enthusiastic about it as I am.
When I listen to the casette tapes by Ruth in 1984, it's like she's in this room with me. I know I felt this way six weeks ago when I was transcribing 1970's Fireside talks by Ellsworth, but it's the same now with Ruth. In fact, maybe more because her tapes were to me specifically, and his are recordings of talks to large groups.
I continue to surprise myself with new discoveries of material I already have. It's also great to be able to go online and get additional information about various topics from the web.
Tonight Gabrielle called me, and one of our topics was a trip to Haiti for me. She said she would help me plan it, so that my time there would be efficient in getting more stories for the book, especially from people who knew Ruth in her final years there. Last year, Gabs and I had talked about us going together once I was further along on the book, but she said for now it would be best for me to go by myself. Her assistance in the planning and making connections for me with contacts will be invaluable. So now we're trying to plan a time I could go to LGBI so that she and I have time together. I asked her about the best time for LGBI AND the best time for Haiti. It looks like LGBI in October or November and Haiti maybe March or April 2010.
I was thinking that Ruth suggested the book title, "White and Negro alike" taken from the Guardian's cable of 1939. However, she suggested that just as a chapter title for the section discussing their volunteering to pioneer. The more I think about it, the more I like this as a title for the book. I'm pretty sure it was White and Negro alike that Shoghi Effendi said, not Negro and White alike. It's easy enough to find out. I have a copy of that cable in my materials, and it's published other places, too. I'm just too tired now to move and go get it.
I'm learning more about the Inter-American Committee under the US National Spiritual Assembly in the 1940's. I have letters to and from Ellsworth and this appointed body. Interesting. I'll learn a lot more than we'll choose to put into the book. I've ordered a book from Amazon, The Baha'i Faith in America. It was published a few years ago and still usually costs over $40., but I found a new copy online for under $20. I was able to read a few pages online, and I know I'll learn a lot about the relationship of the National Assembly and the Baha'i pioneers in the 1940's and 1950's. Like I said, I'll learn a lot more than will go into the book.