Ruth White (Bahá'í author)

Ruth White is 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 Shogi 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".

White was one amongst a small group of Bahá'í to question the authenticity of `Abdu'l-Bahá's Will, including many who opposed Shoghi Effendi. Later on, followers of Ruth White and Hermann Zimmer came to be known as Free Bahá'ís