Born as Sarah Belknap Sherwood, Belle Hawkes was appointed to the
Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. East Persia Mission in 1883. In 1884, she
married the Reverend James W. Hawkes, also of the East Persia Mission.
Stationed in Hamadān for 36 years, she ministered to the needs of Armenian,
Jewish, and Muslim women and children. Her home became a center of missionary
service and hospitality to the flow of travelers between Tehran and Baghdad.
She died in service in 1919. The collection consists primarily of Belle
Hawkes' outgoing correspondence addressed to her family during her years in
Hamadān, and her diaries. It also contains photographs of the East Persia
missionaries, including Belle herself. View the
collection
guide to learn more.
Featured image: Belle Hawkes on her pet horse.