| date |
event |
locations |
tags |
see also |
| 1907 26 Nov |
The first national Bahá'í conference was held in America. [BFA2:XVI; BW10:179]
At the invitation of the House of Spirituality of Chicago, nine Bahá'ís from various communities joined some ten from the Chicago area at a one-day conference to foster national cooperation on the Temple project and to choose a suitable site for the Temple. [BFA2:280; CT78; GPB262, 349]
M. Momen posits that this was probably the first Bahá'í convention. [BAHAISM xi. Bahai Conventions] |
Chicago; United States |
Conferences; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, National; House of Spirituality; Mashriqul-Adhkar, Wilmette; First conferences; Z**** |
|
| 1920 27-29 Dec |
The first All-India Bahá'í Convention was held in Bombay with 175 in attendance. [AB446; BBRSM194; 115] |
Mumbai (Bombay); India |
Conferences, Bahai; First conferences |
|
| 1921 19-21 May |
The first Race Amity Conference was held in Washington DC at the old First Congregational Church,
10th & G Streets NW. [BW2:281]
Mabry and Sadie Oglesby and their daughter Bertha from Boston as well as Agnes Parsons and Louis Gregory were involved. Agnes Parsons, during her pilgrimage in 1920, was instructed by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, "I want you to arrange in Washington a convention for unity between the white and colored people."[SETPE1p141-145, BW2p281]
For details of the conference see article by Louis Gregory entitled "Inter-racial Amity". [BW2:281-2]
See article The Bahá'í 'Race Amity' Movement and the Black Intelligentsia in Jim Crow America:Alain Locke and Robert Abbot by Christopher Buck [Bahá'í Studies Review, 17, pages 3-46, 2011] (includes a chronology of 29 Race Amity conferences organized in the United States between 1921 and 1935).
The Washington Bee
(which, as part of its masthead, billed itself “Washington’s Best and Leading
Negro Newspaper”) published the text of the entire speech on May 25, 1912,
in an article headlined, “Abdue [ sic] Baha: Revolution in Religious Worship.” |
Washington DC; United States |
Race (general); Race Amity; Race unity; Conferences, Race Amity; First conferences; Mabry Oglesby; Sadie Oglesby; Agnes Parsons; Louis Gregory |
|
| 1928 Jul |
The first International Religious Congress for World Peace was held at The Hague. It was attended by Martha Root. [BW3:45] |
Hague, The; Netherlands |
Conferences, Peace; Martha Root; First conferences |
|
| 1930 Dec |
The first Asian Women’s Conference was held in India. [BW17:180] |
India |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Women; First conferences; Asia |
|
| 1947 (In the year) |
The first Chilean Teaching Conference was held in Santiago. |
Santiago; Chile |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Teaching; First conferences |
|
| 1953 12–18 Feb |
The first Intercontinental Teaching Conference was convened by the British National Spiritual Assembly in Kampala, Uganda. [BW12:121, MBW135-140]
For Shoghi Effendi’s message to the conference see BW12:121–4.
For a report of the conference see BW12:124–30.
It was attended by ten Hands of the Cause, Bahá’ís from 19 countries and representatives of over 30 tribes. [PP413]
Over a hundred new African believers attended as personal guests of the Guardian. [PP413]
With this conference the Ten Year World Crusade was launched. [BBRSM158–9; BW12:253; MBW41]
Picture. [BW12p118] |
Kampala; Uganda; Africa |
Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Guardianship; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade; Teaching; First conferences |
|
| 1953 7 – 15 Oct |
The Asian Intercontinental Teaching Conference was held in New Delhi. [BW12:178]
For Shoghi Effendi’s message to the conference see BW12:178–81.
For a report of the conference see BW12:181–8.
This was the first international Bahá’í gathering ever to be held in the East. [BW12:181; SBR171]
It was attended by 489 Bahá’ís representing 31 countries. [BW 12:181]
The design for the International Bahá’í Archives was revealed to the Bahá’ís of the world for the first time at this conference. [DH168] |
New Delhi; India; Asia |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade; International Bahai Archives; Teaching; First conferences |
|
| 1955. 23 - 25 Sep |
International Teaching Conference was held in Nikko, Japan. [Japan Will Turn Ablaze p87, 97] |
Nikko; Japan |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, International; Teaching; First conferences |
|
| 1956 11 - 12 Nov |
First All-Taiwan Teaching Conference was held in Tainan, Taiwan. The conference was attended by then Auxiliary Board Member Agnes Alexander from Japan. She would visit Taiwan two more times, in 1958 and 1962-as a Hand of the Cause. [The Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle by Barbara R. Sims p17] |
Tainan; Taiwan |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Teaching; First conferences; Agnes Alexander |
find reference |
| 1958 23–28 Jan |
The first Intercontinental Conference held at the mid-point of the Crusade convened in Kampala, Uganda. [BW13:317]
Hand of the Cause Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, who had been designated by the Guardian as his representative, attended, accompanied by Dr Lutfu’lláh Hakím.
For the message of the Custodians to the conference see MC56–60.
For a report of the conference see BW13:317. |
Kampala; Uganda; Africa |
Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum; Lutfullah Hakim; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade; First conferences |
|
| 1963 28 Apr - 2 May |
The first Bahá’í World Congress, the ‘Most Great Jubilee’, was held in London to celebrate the centenary of the declaration of Bahá’u’lláh. [BW14:57]
For a detailed account and many pictures see BW14:57–80.
For the programme of speakers see BW14:60–1.
Some 6,000 Bahá’ís attend.
|
London; United Kingdom |
Most Great Jubilee; World Congresses; Centenaries; Bahaullah, Declaration of; First conferences; - Basic timeline, Expanded |
|
| 1968 27 – 28 Jul |
The first National Youth Conference of Honduras opened in Santa Rosa de Copán. [BW15:328–9] |
Santa Rosa de Copan; Honduras |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; First conferences |
|
| 1971 27 – 30 Aug |
The first Bahá’í Youth Conference for Western Asia took place in New Delhi. [BW15:335]
Two thousand people enrolled during the conference and the week following. [BW15:335] |
New Delhi; India; Asia |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; First conferences; Mass conversion |
|
| 1971 Nov |
The first Bahá’í Youth Conference of the Antilles took place in the Dominican Republic. [BW 15:217] |
Dominican Republic |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; First conferences |
|
| 1972 Dec |
The first International Youth Conference of Surinam took places in Paramaribo. [BW15:341] |
Paramaribo; Suriname; Latin America |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; First conferences |
|
| 1972 29 - 31 Dec |
The first West African Bahá’í Youth conference was held in The Gambia.
The Continental Board of Counsellors sponsored the first West African Bahá’í Youth Conference in conjunction with the National Spiritual Assembly of Upper West Africa. The Conference was held in The Gambia on the campus of Yundum College some fifteen miles from the capital city of Bathurst. Youth representing nine countries in this zone attended: Nigeria, Upper Volta, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Senegal and Mauritania, plus pioneers originating from the United States, Mauritius, Malaysia, Iran, and friiq. A young Bahá’í from Sweden was able to greet the friends during a brief stop on a boat cruise. Counsellors Mr. H. R. Ardikani and Dr. William Maxwell Jr., were present as well as six of their Auxiliary Board members, Mr. Amos Agwu, Mr. Muhammad Al-Salihi, Mrs. H. Vera Edwards, Mr. Friday Ekpe, Mr. Shidan Kouchekzadeh and Dr. B. Sadiqzadeh. A total of fifty-six persons attended. [Bahá'í News 504]
|
Banjul (Bathurst); Gambia, The; Africa |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; First conferences |
|
| 1973 (In the year) |
The first International Youth Conference of Mexico took place in Puebla City, was attended by 200 youth from five countries. [BW15:343] |
Puebla; Mexico |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; First conferences; North America |
|
| 1973 Nov |
The first youth conference of Papua New Guinea took place in Sogeri with 40 youth and visitors. [BW16:276] |
Sogeri; Papua New Guinea |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; First conferences |
|
| 1974 (In the year) |
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Leeward and Virgin Islands held its first annual National Teaching Conference. [BW16:187] |
Leeward Islands; Virgin Islands |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Teaching; First conferences |
|
| 1974 May c. |
The first National Youth Conference of Burma took place during the visit of Hand of the Cause Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum. [BW16:251] |
Myanmar (Burma) |
Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; First conferences |
|
| 1974 11 – 18 Aug |
The first Teaching Conference of the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Europe took place in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands. [BW16:110] |
Torshavn; Faroe Islands; Arctic |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; First conferences |
|
| 1975 (In the year) |
The first international Quechua conference was held in Cusco, Peru, attended by Bahá’ís from Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. |
Cusco; Peru |
Quechua; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, International; First conferences |
|
| 1975 Feb |
The first National Teaching Conference in Sierra Leone took place in Bo. [BW16:172] |
Bo; Sierra Leone |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Teaching; First conferences |
|
| 1975 Feb |
The first Bahá’í Women’s Conference of the Solomon Islands took place at Auki, Malaita Island, attended by more than 90 women. [BW16:282] |
Solomon Islands; Oceania |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Women; Women; First conferences |
|
| 1975 29 Mar |
The first Bahá’í Youth Conference of the Canary Islands was held in Santa Cruz. [BW16:313] |
Santa Cruz; Canary Islands |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; First conferences |
|
| 1975 9 – 12 Jul |
The first International Bahá’í Youth Conference of Iceland took place in Njardvik with youth from nine countries. [BW16:301] |
Njardvik; Iceland; Europe |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; First conferences |
|
| 1976 24 – 25 Mar |
The first Continental Youth Conference of Western Asia took place in Karachi, Pakistan. [BW16:265] |
Karachi; Pakistan; Asia |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; First conferences |
|
| 1977 Apr |
The first National Bahá’í Children’s Conference of Samoa took place. [BW17:211] |
Samoa |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Children; First conferences |
|
| 1977 Dec |
The first International Conference of Bahá’í Women in South America was held in Lima, Peru, attended by 200 women from 12 countries. [BW17:172]
For picture see BW17:211.
|
Lima; Peru |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, International; Conferences, Women; Women; First conferences |
|
| 1978 15 Jan |
The first National Bahá’í Women’s Conference of Niger took place. |
Niger |
Women; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Women; Conferences, National; First conferences |
|
| 1980 2 May |
The first Bahá’í International Conference on Health and Healing was held in Ottawa, Canada, under the sponsorship of the Association for Bahá’í Studies. [BW 18:201] |
Ottawa; Canada |
Bahai Studies, Associations for; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Health; Conferences, International; First conferences |
|
| 1982 9 – 12 Apr |
The first Conference on Bahá’í Scholarship to be held in Australia took place at Yerrinbool Bahá’í School in New South Wales. [BW18:202-203] |
New South Wales; Australia |
Conferences, Other; Conferences; Bahai studies; First conferences |
|
| 1983 5 – 7 Aug |
The first Los Angeles Bahá’í History Conference was held at the University of California at Los Angeles. [BW19:369–70] |
Los Angeles; United States |
Bahai history; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Other; Conferences; First conferences |
|
| 1984 28 – 30 Dec |
The first National Bahá’í Youth Conference to be held in Greece took place in Athens. [BW19:319] |
Athens; Greece |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; First conferences |
|
| 1985 30 Apr - 1 May |
The first annual conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies, Brazil, took place in Saõ Paulo. [BW19:358] |
Sao Paulo; Brazil; Latin America |
Bahai Studies, Associations for; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Bahai studies; First conferences |
|
| 1985 Sep |
The first Bahá’í Studies conference in Hawaii took place at the national Bahá’í centre. [BW19:360] |
Hawaii |
Bahai Studies; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Other; First conferences |
|
| 1985 Oct |
The first National Bahá’í Youth Conference in Nepal took place, attended by 120 Bahá’ís, the largest Bahá’í gathering ever held in the country. [VV74] |
Nepal |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; First conferences |
|
| 1987 16 – 17 Jan |
The first Youth Conference of the Bahamas was held with representation from three islands. [BINS173:9] |
Bahamas |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; First conferences |
|
| 1987 Dec |
The first Children’s Conference of Uganda was held in Kikaaya, Kampala. [BINS173:7] |
Kikaaya; Kampala; Uganda |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Children; First conferences |
|
| 1988 (In the year) |
The first Caribbean Bahá’í Women’s conference took place in Antigua. |
Antigua |
Caribbean; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Women; First conferences |
|
| 1988 14 – 17 Jul |
The Bahá’í Association for Arts (BAFA) helds its first arts festival at the Bahá’í conference centre De Poort, Netherlands. [BINS180:4] |
Groesbeek; Netherlands |
Bahai Association for Arts (BAFA); Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Arts; First conferences; De Poort |
|
| 1988 24 – 25 Sep |
The first annual Bahá’í Studies Conference of Spain was held in Barcelona. [BINS192:5] |
Barcelona; Spain |
Bahai Studies; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Other; First conferences |
|
| 1988 24 Dec |
The first National Youth Conference of Côte d’Ivoire took place. [BINS196:9] |
Ivory Coast |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; First conferences |
|
| 1989 23 – 26 Mar |
The First National Women’s Conference of Spain was held in Madrid. [BINS201:6] |
Madrid; Spain |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Women; Conferences, National; Women; First conferences |
|
| 1989 1 – 2 Jul |
The first European Bahá’í Women’s Conference was held at De Poort Conference Centre, the Netherlands. [BINS203:2] |
Groesbeek; Netherlands; Europe |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Women; Conferences, International; De Poort; First conferences |
|
| 1989 18 Dec - 1990 2 Jan |
During the Youth Winter School in Traben-Trarback participants from 12 countries including East Germany, Romania, Hungary and the Soviet Union gathered for the first time since the Second World War. [BINS215:2] |
Traben-Trarback; Germany; Eastern Europe; Soviet Union; Russia |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; Conferences, International; Winter schools; First conferences |
|
| 1990 24 Jan – 5 Feb |
The first All-Union Bahá'í Conference was held in Moscow with 250 people gathered from all over the Soviet Union and from 17 other countries. This was the first national Bahá'í conference held in the USSR in about 60 years. [BINS224:8; VV112] |
Moscow; Russia |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, National; First conferences |
|
| 1990 31 Mar 31 – 1 Apr |
The first Bahá'í International Chinese Symposium was held in San Francisco, California; it was attended by 362 Bahá'ís from eight countries. [BINS222:6] |
San Francisco; California; United States |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, International; Conferences, Other; First conferences; China |
|
| 1990 19 – 21 Oct |
The first National Children's Conference of Nicaragua was held in Retiro, Aurora, Managua, attended by more than 40 children. [BINS243:8] |
Retiro; Aurora; Managua; Nicaragua |
Children; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Children; Conferences, National; First conferences |
|
| 1990 30 Nov - 2 Dec |
The First National Teaching Conference of the Bahá'ís of Romania was held near Poiana Brasov, in the Carpathian mountains. [CBN Feb 91p14] |
Poiana Brasov; Romania |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, teaching; First conferences |
|
| 1990 8 - 9 Dec |
The first All-Union Bahá'í Consultative Conference was held in Moscow attended by Bahá'ís from every part of the Soviet Union, members of three Continental Boards of Counsellors and representatives of all those National Spiritual Assemblies having responsibility for the work of the Faith in that area. [BINS 238:6] [CBN Mar91Vol3no8] [VV112] |
Moscow; Russia |
Conferences, Bahai; First conferences |
|
| 1992 Jan |
The first teaching conference of Southern Yugoslavia was held, attended by 40 Bahá'ís representing 12 nationalities. [BINS264:8] |
Yugoslavia |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, teaching; First conferences |
|
| 1992 10 – 11 Jan |
The first teaching conference of Croatia and Slovenia was held in Kranj. [BINS263:1–2] |
Kranj; Croatia; Slovenia |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, teaching; First conferences |
|
| 1992 4 – 5 Apr |
The first Children's Festival and Family Conference of Turkey was held in Cankaya, Ankara. [BINS269:5–6] |
Cankaya; Ankara; Turkey |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Children; Conferences, Other; First Conferences |
|
| 1993 29 – 31 Jan |
The first Latin American Bahá'í Social and Economic Development Seminar took place in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. [BINS308:2; BW92–3:139] |
Santa Cruz; Bolivia; Latin America |
Conferences, Bahai; Social and economic development; First conferences |
|
| 1993 Oct |
The first European Bahá'í Medical Conference was held in De Poort, Netherlands, attended by people from 26 countries. [BW93–4:104–5] |
Groesbeek; Netherlands; Europe |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Health; Conferences, International; First conferences; Health; De Poort |
|
| 1994 Sep 9 – 11 |
The first National Youth Conference of Liberia was held, attended by 75 youth. [BW94–5:188–9]
For picture see BW94–5:189. |
Liberia |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; First conferences |
|
| 1995 Jan |
The first National Teaching Conference of Cambodia was held in Phnom Penh, attended by more than 50 Bahá'ís. [BINS334:2] |
Phnom Penh; Cambodia |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, National; First conferences |
|
| 1995 Jun 8 – 11 |
The first European Bahá'í Conference on Law and International Order was held at De Poort Conference Centre, Netherlands. [BINS345:4] |
Groesbeek; Netherlands; Europe |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, International; Conferences, Law; Laws; First conferences; De Poort |
|
| 1995 Dec 28 – 30 |
The first teaching conference of Lithuania was held in Vilnius, attended by Bahá'ís from five countries. [BINS355:1] |
Vilnius; Lithuania |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, teaching; First conferences |
|
| 1996 23 – 24 Mar |
The first National Women's Seminar of Bulgaria was held in Sofia, organized by the European Task Force for Women. [BINS365:8] |
Sofia; Bulgaria |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Women; Women; First conferences |
|
| 1997 24-26 Oct |
The International Environment Forum was launched at the first International Bahá'í Environment Conference in de Poort, Netherlands, with participants from nine countries, who were joined electronically by people from 21 countries participating in the e-mail version of the conference.
A BAHÁ'Í PERSPECTIVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT was presented by Michael Richards of the Overseas Development Institute in London.
At the conference, the objectives, activities and structure of the Forum were agreed and statutes adopted, and a governing board of five people was elected.
It is a Bahá'í-inspired non-governmental organization that linked together Bahá'ís and others interested in the fields of environment and sustainable development. Development of the Forum had been encouraged and guided by the Bahá'í International Community, although it had no formal link with the Bahá'í administration. |
Groesbeek; Netherlands |
International Environment Forum; Bahai International Community; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, International; First conferences; Environment; De Poort |
iefworld.org/conf1.htm |
