Sometimes, writing this book, the Blackwell Book, as I casually refer to it, still feels like an over whelming task, and I know I am only at the "tip of the iceburg" of this process. Then I recount what already has been done since this commitment became very real in mid July of this year. I remind myself that any worthwhile big project has to be broken into smaller parts. With the exception of about three days out of the past near one hundred days, I have done some task every day connected to this book. And I remember to visualize the end at the beginning.
With these thoughts in mind, I happily report that the process and the progress on the book about Ellsworth and Ruth Blackwell are going very well.
Since the last blog post, plans are coming together for a trip to Haiti - eight days over Thanksgiving. In part, this is getting arranged with my travel companion (YES, she is going with me!) Gabs, formerly of Haiti, now living in Hemingway, SC. The office of International Pioneering at the Baha'i Natinal Center in Wilmette, IL, shared its best wishes, wrote a formal introduction of us to the National Spiritual Assembly of Haiti, and even sent a few researched items to me. For me, this trip is possible through generous financial assistance from my family and a few friends, as a birthday gift to me, instead of any other gift, cards, flowers, cake, etc.
Last week, a friend visited me for five days. We taught together on the Navajo Reservation at the Chinle High School from 1994-1997. We had a lot of fun in this long overdue visit. While here, of course Linda heard about the book and was aware of my many hours on it while she was here. She, too, put in several hours - hours of reading rough drafts of a few small sections. Thank you, Linda, for your encouragement and suggestions.
I'm still transcribing stories from Ruth recorded for me in 1984 when we visited in Wilmette. I continue to feel her presence in my living room as I hear her voice, her laugh, her expressions reflecting strict adherence to Baha'i administration, and her deep respect and love for her then departed husband, Ellsworth.
I was in touch with the Baha'i Publishing Trust and received positive encouragement about the worth of this project and its interest in a book about the Blackwells. In addition, new friends have connected me to former co-workers of Ellsworth and Ruth. Their lives affected the lives of so many! I hope to make a trip in the spring to do more research in the Archives at the National Baha'i Center, adding to materials collected in 1984.
I am filled with gratitude at being able to do this wonderful work - generated in me mostly out of love for the Blackwells and for the Baha'i Cause they served so well.
Thanks for reading my blog.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
