Born in Texas in 1896, Adelaide
Sharp spent her childhood in Mexico, moved in company of her mother to
California to pursue her studies, and after graduation from
college took up teaching work in the Italian quarter of San Francisco. Her father,
Horace M. Sharp who died during Adelaide's infancy, was a Christian but Adelaide,
when still young, received the Message of Baha'u'llah from her mother, Clara Sharp
- a devoted Baha'i - and accepted it.
In 1929, when the distinguished Baha'i, Dr. Susan I. Moody, who
was then seventy-seven years of age, undertook to emigrate to Persia a second time
at the Guardian's request, she received his permission and hearty approval to take
Adelaide along with her to serve at the Tarbiyat School in the capital. The two
pioneers covered the first stretch of their journey by ship to the Holy Land
where the glory of pilgrimage to the Holy Shrines for twelve precious days was
heightened by the guidance and spiritual strength received from the beloved Guardian,
a bounty that would be their mainstay during the long and difficult years
ahead.
