| date |
event |
locations |
tags |
see also |
| 1892 19 Jun |
Anton Haddad departed Cairo en route to the United States. [An Outline of the Bahá'í Movement in the United States: A sketch of its promulgator [Ibrahim Kheiralla] and why afterwards denied his Master, Abbas Effendi by Anton Haddad]
He was probably the first Bahá'í to reach American soil. [BFA1:26]
He produced some of the earliest Bahá'í material to be published in English, including translations of the Writings including the Kitáb-i-Aqdas which was unpublished. He reportedly did not remain a member of the Bahá'í community but returned to Lebanon and became a Protestant minister. He passed away in 'Ayn-Zhalta in 1924. [Bahaipedia] |
Cairo; Egypt; United States; North America; Ayn-Zhalta; Lebanon |
Anton Haddad; Ibrahim George Kheiralla; Kitab-i-Aqdas |
|
| 1907 31 Mar |
The Bahá'í calendar was used in North America for the first time. BFA2:247–8] |
North America; United States |
Badi calendar; Firsts, Other |
|
| 1919 c. 4 Aug |
Martha Root set foot in South America for the first time, at Para (now Belém), Brazil. [MR93; MRHK44]
See MR93-100 and MRHK44-59 for her teaching work in Brazil. |
Latin America; Para (Belem); Brazil |
Martha Root |
|
| 1925 |
There were 43 local spiritual assemblies in North America by this date. [BBRSM121] |
North America; United States |
LSA; Statistics |
|
| 1927 9 Sep - 2 Dec |
Leonora Holsapple (later Armstrong) made a teaching trip through Latin America and the Caribbean, becoming the first Bahá’í to visit Venezuela, Colombia, Haiti, Curaçao, Trinidad (2–12 Oct), the Guianas (29 Oct), Barbados (Dec) and several islands in the Antilles group. |
Latin America; Caribbean |
Leonora Holsapple Armstrong |
|
| 1936 1 Jul |
The National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada appointed the first Inter-America Committee, beginning an organized and coordinated effort to establish the Faith in the Republics of Central and South America. [BW10:181] |
America |
NSA |
|
| 1938 (In the year) |
William DeForge became the first Bahá’í to visit the Dominican Republic. He made a one-day trip from Puerto Rico. |
Dominican Republic; Central America |
First Bahais by country or area |
find reference |
| 1940 1 Aug |
The first four people to become Bahá’ís in Costa Rica accepted the Faith after Gayle Woolson and Amelia Ford from the United States arrived in Puerto Limón on 29 March 1940.
The first to enrol was Raul Contreras, followed by his cousin Guido Contreras, and by José Joaquin Ulloa and then Felipe Madrigal. |
Costa Rica; Central America |
First Bahais by country or area |
|
| 1941 28 Mar |
The publication of The Promised Day is Come. It was, in effect, a survey of the world in relation to the Bahá’í Faith during its first century. [AY305; PG215-217]
Available at the Bahá'í Reference Library.
|
America |
Promised Day is Come (letter); Bahai history; History (general); Peace; World peace (general); Tablets to kings and rulers |
|
| 1944 Ridván |
Those elected to serve the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada were: George O. Latimer (Chairman), Allen B. McDaniel (Vice), Horace Holley (Secretary), Louis G. Gregory (Recording Secretary), Roy C. Wilhelm (Treasurer), Dorothy Baker. Amelia E. Collins, Philip G. Sprague, Leroy loss. The Assembly appointed Siegfried Schopflocher to serve as the Treasurer of the Canadian Bahá’í Fund. [BN No 169 July 1944 p4]
Prior to 1944 delegates to the National Convention were chosen from local communities by proportional representation. [BN No 16 March 1927 p1 refers] After this point delegates no longer represented Local Assemblies but were chosen on a provincial (or state) basis. [MA70-71; OBCC157, 174n2]
In 1944 there were 35 delegates to the National Convention. iiiii
|
North America; United States; Canada |
National Convention; George Latimer; Allen McDaniel; Horace Holley; Louis Gregory; Roy Wilhelm; Dorothy Baker; Amelia Collins; Philip Sprague; Leroy Ioas; Siegfried Schopflocher |
|
| 1944 May |
The first All-American Bahá’í Convention was held. Those elected to the National Spiritual Assembly were: George 0. Latimer, (Chair), Allen McDaniel, (Vice), Horace Holley, (Sec'y), Louis Gregory, (Recording Sec'y), Roy Wilhelm, (Treas), Dorothy Baker, Amelia Collins, Philip Sprague, and Leroy Ioas. [BW No 169 September 1944 p6]
For the first time the delegates had been selected at state and provincial conventions by votes from all believers rather than by communities with local assemblies. [BW9:44; PP390]
Hilda Yen Male (Hilda Yen) asked to attend the 1944 Baháʼí Annual convention as an observer. She was moved by the spontaneous gestures of welcome and care shown between individuals society normally kept apart as the material demonstration of the ideals of a worldwide unity across all humanity. She requested to enroll as a Baháʼí. She then asked to address the convention as a Baháʼí:
"Fellow Baha'is, this is more than a pleasure. It is a miracle that I am participating with you in discussing such important matters. I contacted two denominations and a parliament of religions before I met Julia Goldman, Baha'i, who sowed this seed in my heart. While convalescent from a flying crash, my life was given me for service to God. Julia took me under her wing. I saw God vaguely; then more clearly, through the Baha'i Faith. Then came the battle of Hongkong(sic) where all shared in a common danger and hunger - forced to live the oneness of mankind. At length I secured a priority to fly to America and how do I rejoice to be in this free country! Conferring with Americans I have found this country the best to execute the message of peace. I have been blessed in meeting other Baha'is. I have been deeply impressed by the love and affection among Baha'is. China is well prepared by its sages for the Baha'i Faith. …" [BW No 169 September 1944 p6]
|
North America; United States |
Conventions, National; Conventions, District; First conventions; Hilda Yen |
Hilda Yen joins Bahá'í Faith (Wikipedia) |
| 1945 20 Oct |
Emeric and Rosemary Sala of St. Lambert, Quebec departed on a four month tour of Central and South America. They visited 19 republics and Mr Sala gave seventy-nine talks. They visited many pioneers and paid homage at the grave of May Maxwell at Quilmes, about one hour from Buenos Aires. [TG93-101] |
Central America; Latin America; St Lambert; Quebec; Canada |
Emeric Sala; Rosemary Sala |
|
| 1946 20 - 25 Jan |
The first teaching conference in Latin America was held in Panama City on the instructions of Shoghi Effendi.
Twenty–five delegates from ten South American countries attended. [BW10p707, Historical Background of the Panama Temple by Ruth Pringle] |
Panama; Latin America |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, International; Teaching |
|
| 1952 Ridván |
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Central America launched a One Year Plan (1952-1953). [Ruhi 8.2 p46]
Shoghi Effendi provided the following advice for the aims of the Central American Assembly:
-To establish harmony, love and understanding among the Bahá'ís
-To promote the teaching work
-To win support for the National Bahá'í Fund
-To assure publication of Bahá'í literature in well-translated Spanish editions in cooperation with the National Spiritual Assembly of South America. [BW12p68-69; Shoghi Effendi: Author of Teaching Plans ]
|
Central America |
Teaching Plans; Teaching Plans, National |
|
| 1952 Ridván |
The National Convention of the Bahá'ís of Central America was scheduled to be held in a prestigious hotel in San Jose, Costa Rica. When a distinguish believer, Mr Matthew Bullock, was not allowed to register at the hotel because of his race, the National Assembly moved the Convention to another venue and registered guests moved to small pensions rather than staying at the hotel. [SDSC65]
Matthew Bullock was one of the early African-American believers in the United States. He became an enrolled believer in 1940 after 15 years of knowledge of the Faith. In 1952 he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly and along with fellow NSA member Elsie Austin, represented that institution at the first Intercontinental Teaching Conference in Uganda in 1953. [LoS108, SDSC102] |
San Jose; Costa Rica; Central America |
Conventions, National; NSA; Race (general); Matthew Bullock; Elsie Austin |
|
| 1953 3 – 6 May |
The All-America Intercontinental Teaching Conference was held in Chicago. [BW12:133]
For the texts of Shoghi Effendi’s messages to the conference see BW12:133–41 and MBW142–6.
Twelve Hands of the Cause were present. The Guardian was represented by Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum. [BW12:143; CBN No 82 November, 1956 p3]
At the conference, five members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States resigned from that body in order to go pioneering: Elsie Austin, Dorothy Baker, Matthew Bullock, Mamie Seto and Dr William Kenneth Christian. [ZK102]
Extract from the second message to All-American Intercontinental Conference from Shoghi Effendi... [MBW150]
.....the lands contributed in Latin America for a similar purpose approximate one-half of a million square meters, ninety thousand of which have been set aside near Santiago, Chile, for the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of South America. .
|
Chicago; United States; Santiago; Chile; America |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade; Teaching; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Pioneering; Elsie Austin; Dorothy Baker; Matthew Bullock; Mamie Seto; William Kenneth Christian; Mashriqul-Adhkar, Santiago; Purchases and exchanges |
|
| 1953 Oct |
Zunilda de Palacios arrived on Chiloé Island and was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh. [BW13:450] |
Chiloe Island; Chile; Latin America |
Knights of Bahaullah; Islands; Zunilda de Palacios |
|
| 1954 Jul |
Reginald Stone and Allan Delph became Bahá’ís in British Guiana, the first two people to accept the Faith in that country. |
British Guiana; Latin America |
First Bahais by country or area |
|
| 1957 (In the year) |
Charles Winfield Small, a native of Barbados and the first to become a Bahá’í in the Bahamas, returned to Barbados, the first Bahá’í to settle in the country. |
Barbados; Central America |
First Bahais by country or area |
|
| 1958 2–4 May |
The third Intercontinental Conference was held at the mid-point of the Crusade convened in Wilmette, Illinois. [BW13:323]
Hand of the Cause Dr Ugo Giachery, who had been designated by the Guardian as his representative, attended, accompanied by four other Hands of the Cause. [BW13:323]
For the message of the Custodians to the conference see MC90–8.
For a report of the conference see BW13:323–5. |
Wilmette; Illinois; United States; America |
Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Ugo Giachery; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade |
|
| 1964 Ridván |
The Regional Spiritual Assembly of the South Pacific Islands was dissolved and the territory divided into two National Spiritual Assembly areas, South West Pacific Ocean and South Pacific Ocean. The National Spiritual Assembly of the South Pacific Ocean was formed with its seat in Suva comprising the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Nauru Island, Fiji, Western Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga and Cook Islands. [BW14p99] |
Suva; Jiji; Gilbert and Ellice Islands; Nauru Island; Fiji; Western Samoa; American Samoa; Tonga; Cook Islands |
National Spiritual Assembly, formation |
|
| 1965 19 Sep |
Walter Garland and Miss Annie Lourie Williams, the first to become Bahá’ís on Grand Turk Island, enrolled. |
Grand Turk Island; Central America |
First Bahais by country or area |
|
| 1967 8 Oct |
The foundation stone of the Mother Temple of Latin America was laid by Hand of the Cause Rúhíyyih Khánum in Panama City. [BW14:494] |
Panama; Latin America |
Mashriqul-Adhkar (House of Worship); Mashriqul-Adhkar, Panama; Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum; Foundation stones and groundbreaking |
|
| 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 |
|
| 1975 Feb - Aug |
Hand of the Cause Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum set out on the Green Light Expedition to visit the indigenous peoples of the Amazon Basin in South America. [VV30–2]
For a pictorial description of the expedition see BW16:419–48.
See Green Light Expedition, a film by Rodney Charters, Mark Sadan, David Walker and Anthony Worley. |
Latin America |
Green Light Expedition; Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum; Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum, Journeys of; Rodney Charters; Mark Sadan; David Walker; Anthony Worley |
|
| 1977 27 – 30 Jan |
An International Teaching Conference was held in Bahia, Brazil, attended by 1,300 Bahá’ís, the largest such gathering of Bahá’ís to date in Brazil. [BW17:81; VV33]
For the message of the Universal House of Justice see BW17:137–8.
For pictures see BW17:110, 124–5.
|
Bahia; Brazil; Latin America |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, International; Teaching |
|
| 1977 4 – 6 Feb |
An International Teaching Conference was held in Mérida, Mexico, attended by more than 2,000 Bahá’ís. [BW17:81; VV33]
For the message of the Universal House of Justice see BW17:139.
Three Hands of the Cause were present – Paul Haney, Rahmatu'lláh Muhájir, and Enoch Olinga, as well as Counsellor Florence Mayberry who had been on the first national assembly of Mexico.
For pictures see BW17:112, 126–7.
VV33 says this was 2–6 Feb.
|
Merida; Mexico; Latin America |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, International; Teaching |
|
| 1981 26 Nov |
The Comunicación Intercambio y Radiodifusión Bahá’í para America Latina y el Caribe (CIRBAL) was established by the Universal House of Justice to promote the development of Bahá’í radio and mass media activities in Latin America. [BW19:59]
The special Committee for Service to the Blind, located in the United Kingdom, was a clearing house and production and distribution centre for materials both on tape and in Braille; and CIRBAL (Centro para Intercambio Radiofonico Baha'i de America Latins), among its other functions, serves as
a clearing house for tapes, videotapes, script and other materials suitable for use via radio and television. Its mandated area is South and Central America and the Caribbean. [BW18p115, 117]
|
Peru; Latin America |
Bahai radio; Social and economic development; Universal House of Justice; Committee for Service to the Blindness; Disability |
|
| 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 3 – 7 Jul |
An International Youth Conference to support the United Nations International Youth Year was held in Columbus, Ohio, United States attended by more than 3,200 youth from 42 nations. [BW19:300] |
Columbus OH; Ohio; United States; North America |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Conferences, International; Youth; International Youth Year |
|
| 1985 2 – 5 Aug |
An International Youth Conference to support the United Nations International Youth Year was held in Lima, Peru, attended by 500 youth from 18 countries and representing four native tribes. [BW19:300]<
For picture see BW19:322. |
Lima; Peru; Latin America |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Conferences, International; Conferences, International; Conferences, International; Youth; International Youth Year |
|
| 1985 19 Oct |
The Association for Bahá’í Studies, Chile, was established in Santiago. [BW19:358–9] |
Santiago; Chile; Latin America |
Bahai Studies, Associations for |
|
| 1988 15 Jul |
The first International Women’s Conference of Paraguay opened, attended by 130 women from seven countries. [BINS180:5] |
Paraguay; Latin America |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Women; Women |
|
| 1990 10 Jun |
The Paraguay International Chinese Teaching Symposium, the first of its kind in South America, was held in Asuncion, attended by 80 people from 10 countries. [BINS226:4] |
Asuncion; Paraguay; Latin America |
Conferences, International; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences; China |
|
| 1990 3 Jul |
The National Spiritual Assembly of Guyana announced that the Bahá'ís constitute about five percent of the total population of the country. [BINS228:1]
In some towns over 20 percent of the people are Bahá'ís. [BINS228:1] |
Guyana; Latin America |
Statistics |
|
| 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 |
|
| 2011 - 2016 (The Five Year Plan) |
The annual number of seminars for undergraduate students offered by the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity rose from 21 at the start of the Plan to 39. More than 4,000 youth in more than 60 countries were served.
The seminar for university graduates and for young professionals, first offered in North America in 2008, was extended to Australia, Europe, Latin America and south and Southeast Asia over the duration of the Plan. As of this date more than 700 individuals had taken part. [The Five Year Plan 2011-2016: Summary of Achievements and Learning pg113] iiiii
|
Australia; Europe; Latin America; Southeast Asia; South Asia; North America |
Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP); Statistics |
|
