Inspired
by the
Baha’i Faith
The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. The official website of the Baha'i Faith is: Bahai.org. The official website of the Baha'is of the United States can be found here: Bahai.us.
GOT IT
The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.
How do I become Baha’i?
History

The First Baha’i College

Christopher Buck | Mar 30, 2014

PART 11 IN SERIES The Universal Emancipation Proclamation

The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.

Interested in Other Topics?

We’ve got something for everyone.
Christopher Buck | Mar 30, 2014

PART 11 IN SERIES The Universal Emancipation Proclamation

The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.

George W Henderson

George W. Henderson, National Baha’i Archives. Courtesy of Lewis V. Walker.

Born on August 5, 1883 (Birth Record; WWI Draft Registration Card, August 5, 1882; Death Certificate, August 25, 1944) to poor parents in Knoxville, Tennessee. Henderson helped support his family by working as a “bootblack,” newspaper carrier, and janitor, before pursuing his higher education.

Obviously bright and motivated, he earned certificates and degrees from Cuyahoga Teachers College, Roger Williams University, Dyer’s College of Commercial Law, Spencer’s School of Commerce, Phonographic Institute, and a dozen other institutions (The Pittsburgh Courier (September 21, 1929) A2).

On January 1, 1912, Henderson, whose material wealth amounted to just $2.20 and two used typewriters, founded Henderson Business College in Knoxville in the severely segregated (“Jim Crow”) South, as a two-year institution for African-Americans. By 1914, Henderson had gained a reputation as a “wizard” of typing and shorthand. In fact, Henderson developed a system of shorthand for which he wrote a textbook.

Louis and Louisa Gregory

Louis and his wife Louisa Gregory

In the autumn of 1915, the well-known African-American Baha’i teacher Louis Gregory met Prof. Henderson in Nashville, and introduced him to the Baha’i Faith. According to Gregory (“Faith and the Man: The Remarkable Story of Henderson Business College, a Baha’i Enterprise,” The Bahá’í World Vol. VIII (1938–1940), pp. 900–903), Prof. Henderson headed the Business Department of Roger Williams University at that time.In 1916, at the end of the academic year, Prof. Henderson resigned his position, and moved to Memphis, at the invitation of two colleagues.

Over the next two years, Henderson was instrumental in expanding the Memphis Baha’i community, as Gayle Morrison relates:

In September 1917 Louis Gregory reported that the Memphis Baha’i community consisted of sixty people: “3 white [and] 57 colored.” “Henderson is the ‘teachingest’ busy man I ever saw,” he wrote to Joseph Hannen during a visit to Memphis two years later. “He seems to take some time to mention the Cause to every one he meets. In this way he has interested a number of whites whom he meets in a business way, some of whom have attended the meetings. With all the eight teachers in his school Baha’i, the students find the atmosphere full of it. A short time later “the entire faculty and student body” addressed a letter to Abdu’l-Baha. – Gayle Morrison, To Move the World, p. 104.

Henderson Business College became a successful enterprise. A member of the National Council of Business Schools and the National Rehabilitation Association and recognized by Tennessee’s State Board of Education, the college offered “Seven Standard Courses” of study, including programs in “Shorthand, Typewriting, Bookkeeping, Salesmanship, Multigraphing, Commercial Law.”

Tablet-Henderson-Business-School

In December 1920, the College faculty, who were all Baha’is, wrote a letter to ‘Abdu’l-Baha, which Louis Gregory had delivered to its recipient. In a tablet, dated April 9, 1921, addressed to Louis G. Gregory, Abdu’l-Baha referred to Henderson Business College as a “Baha’i College”:

Thy letter that thou hast written in the beginning of December, 1920, has been received. Its contents contained very good news, indicating that his honor, Prof. George W. Henderson, has established a Baha’i College in one of the cities of the South; that now that college has developed, and the students are studying the Divine Teachings and also the necessary sciences and arts. That revered professor has been and will always be favored. …

His honor, Prof. Henderson, has in reality arisen in the service of the Kingdom. The fruits of this service are eternal bounty and everlasting life. Through the graces of God do I cherish this hope, that he at every moment will receive a new confirmation. — Abdu’l-Baha, quoted in The Bahá’í World Vol VIII (1938–1940), p. 901.

Henderson-Gregory-12-June-1921

That this was a “Baha’i College” is borne out by the fact that not only were the faculty Baha’i, but the curriculum integrated instruction in Baha’i ethics with professional training.

A decade later, the the College faculty wrote a letter to Shoghi Effendi, “Guardian” (leader) of the Baha’i Faith at that time.

In 1929, Louis Gregory paid a visit to the college, and noted: “The Greatest Name and the portrait of the Master [Abdu’l-Baha] still adorn the walls of the college.”

A busy man indeed, Prof. Henderson was man of many talents. He applied his gifted intellect as a writer, as exemplified in hi1929 typing textbook that employed Henderson’s “miracle system of mind training(The Pittsburgh Courier (Sep 21, 1929) A2).

In 1936, Henderson was nominated for the position of Minister to Liberia during the Roosevelt administration. Although another was appointed, Henderson became well-known in diplomatic circles.

At the same time, Prof. Henderson was a Baha’i enkindled with spiritual fire. He first appears on the Memphis Baha’i list in 1927, where he was consistently listed in subsequent years. Prof. Henderson died on December 24, 1944. After his passing, Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith, paid tribute to this noble soul:

He (the Guardian) was sorry to hear Prof. Henderson had passed away. No doubt he will now find himself in that happy state promised by the Beloved as the reward of His faithful servants. The Guardian will pray for his spiritual advancement and that his deeds in the South may bear fruit.

The Pittsburgh Courier (July 17, 1937, p. 22) acclaimed Henderson Business College as “the world’s largest commercial school for the Negro youth.” In the fall of 1947, Memphis minister Reverend L.O. Taylor produced a film documentary about Henderson Business College.

Henderson Business College closed in 1971. The former school campus no longer exists, and is now a parking lot for Mt. Olive Cathedral CME Church.

But the memory of Prof. Henderson will abide in Baha’i history. Gregory writes: “‘Up From Slavery’ is one thing; but up from nothing is another.” In 1937, Prof. Henderson wrote that “the man is best educated who is the most useful” (The Pittsburgh Courier (July 17, 1937) p. 22). Throughout his life, Prof. Henderson lived up to his personal motto: He profits most who serves best.

Thanks to Lewis Walker, National Baha’i Archives, for the information that he kindly provided.

Additional links:

Lost Memphis: Henderson Business College

Update: Henderson Business College

Photo credits:

Prof. Henderson’s photo – National Baha’i Archives, Baha’i National Center, Evanston, IL. Courtesy of Lewis V. Walker, Archivist.

©2014 by Christopher Buck.

You May Also Like

Worshiping at Abraham’s Empty Altar
History

Worshiping at Abraham’s Empty Altar

Abdu’l-Baha Responds to a Blank Letter
History

Abdu’l-Baha Responds to a Blank Letter

The Garden of Freedom
History

The Garden of Freedom


Comments

characters remaining
  • Oct 18, 2015
    -
    What a great accomplishment by Mr. Henderson in that time. Thanks.
  • May 5, 2015
    -
    Clearly his life is evidence of the Master's attribution that "Bahá'u'lláh...once compared the colored people† to the black pupil of the eye surrounded by the white. In this black pupil is seen the reflection of that which is before it, and through it the light of the spirit
    shineth". forth.
  • Apr 16, 2015
    -
    What an inspiring story. It reminds me of the story from Hand of the Cause William Sears - the $2.10 book. It is amazing what can be done with so little, and how little is sometimes accomplished by the spending of far greater sums.
    Something that is not easily seen is the improvement made in the lives of the students, how they in turn found a better living and raised their children in better circumstances and how that affected subsequent generations. Prof Henderson is a very inspiring person.
    Thanks Dr Buck for putting this page together.
  • Apr 9, 2015
    -
    Great research, Dr. Buck! Thanks. The second paragraph provides alternate BIRTH dates based on other documents, such as his draft record and death certificate (this note for David).
    • Apr 10, 2015
      -
      Tom: That's right! How can I make this clearer? Your recommendation?
  • Don Calkins
    Apr 6, 2014
    -
    I think it is a stretch to call this a Baha'i college. Baha'i influenced or the like, yes; but not a Baha'i college any more than you would describe any business run by Baha'is as being "Baha'i". I believe this is the standard of the House of Justice regarding educational institutions run by individual Baha'is in various countries around the world. They are only considered Baha'i Schools when they function directly under Baha'i institutions.
    • Christopher Buck PhD JD
      Apr 26, 2014
      -
      Don: Was it a "stretch" for Abdu'l-Baha to call this a "Baha'i college"? This was Abdu'l-Baha's term for the Henderson Business College -- not mine!
      • Don Calkins
        Apr 26, 2014
        -
        I don't believe that the Covenant confers factual inerrancy on the statements of Abdu'l-Baha. He Himself says on a couple occasions that He relies on the reports of others. I believe that is the case here.
        • Christopher Buck PhD JD
          Apr 26, 2014
          -
          Don: Since the Henderson Business College collectively wrote a letter to Abdu'l-Baha, I presume that there would be sufficient information on which Abdu'l-Baha could rely in praising that institution as a "Baha'i college." His use of this term cannot have been based on insufficient information, as his information was received directly. We can appreciate Abdu'l-Baha's use of the term "Baha'i college" in its inchoate sense. We should not presume to "correct" Abdu'l-Baha. In any case, all can agree that Baha'i-inspired educational theory and practice is evolutionary and ongoing. The fact that Henderson Business College was integrating Baha'i principles in its ...curriculum is sufficient to warrant and justify Abdu'l-Baha's use of the term "Baha'i college." Being the first "Baha'i college" necessarily implies that the term, as used here, recognizes and respects the initiative taken in in this direction. Given the quality of Abdu'l-Baha's mind, coupled with his spiritual enlightenment, I think that we should give Abdu'l-Baha more credit on this issue. Indeed, we should defer to his use of the term "Baha'i college" in this particular instance and, I hasten to add, in whatever other way Abdu'l-Baha may have seen fit to use this and similar terms. This is my understanding of how the principles of the Baha'i Covenant would best apply here. In any case, this is probably not the best forum for controverting these issues.
          Read more...
  • Candace Moore Hill
    Mar 31, 2014
    -
    Wonderful! (But one paragraph is repeated in the text of the story). What a wonderful setting this college would be for a series of short stories or histories. Where are all those women today, one can't help but wonder.
    • BahaiTeachings
      Mar 31, 2014
      -
      Hi Candace, I removed the repeated paragraph, thanks for letting us know.
x
x
Connect with Baha’is in your area
Welcome!
What's your name?
Thanks my friend ! We want to connect you with a Baha’i in your area, where would that be?
Thank you so much! How can they best reach you?
To put you in touch with a Baha’i in your area who can answer your questions, we would like to kindly ask for a few details about yourself.
Connect with Baha’is in your area
Connect with Baha’is in your area
Get in touch with the Baha’is in your community.