November 20. On this date in 1867, Ruth White was born.

November 20. On this date in 1867, Ruth White was born.

Ruth White was an American author who was an active member of the Bahá'í Faith and devoted follower of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. She rose to fame amongst the followers of the faith after she challenged the appointment of Shoghi Effendi as the successor of 'Abdu'l-Bahá based on proof given by the renowned criminologist Dr. Charles Ainsworth Mitchell that the Will of 'Abdu'l-Bahá was a forgery. Her claim was based in part, she says, on that 'Abdu'l-Bahá would never advocate for a hierarchy, much less the establishment of a "papacy". Later on, followers of Ruth White and Hermann Zimmer came to be known as Free Bahá'ís.