Phoebe Apperson Hearst, "Mother of the Faithful"

Phoebe Hearst was one of the earliest of those in the United States to accept the Bahá’í Faith. During 1898 and 1899 she brought the first group of fifteen Western Bahá’í pilgrims to the Holy Land. During His stay in California ‘Abdu’l-Bahá accepted Mrs. Hearst’s invitation to visit her and He spent three days from 13-16 October in her home in Pleasanton known as “Hacienda del Pozo de Verona.”

Mrs. Hearst was the wife of Senator George Hearst, and mother of William Randolph Hearst.