Community Information
“Bahá’í community life provides you with an indispensable laboratory, where you can translate into living and constructive action the principles which you imbibe from the Teachings. By becoming a real part of that living organism you can catch the real spirit which runs throughout the Bahá’í Teachings.” – Shoghi Effendi, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 424-425
Southwest Iowa
In Council Bluffs, we were informed that a couple whose son had become a Baha’i wanted to…
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque, ~1989- 2000, Mentions to be Made
by Charlotte Solarz
Dallas County
Dallas County lies just west of Polk County and the Des Moines metropolitan area. Bob and I…
Marshalltown, 1978
If there is one word that best describes the Marshalltown Baha’i community that word is active…
Warren County
The First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahai’s of Warren County, Iowa, was formed in March of 1970.
Spencer, Iowa
Spencer Iowa by Rod Clarken,
submitted December 2022
Des Moines/West Des Moines
Article from Drake University’s Comparison Project
~2017
Quad Cities
Article from Harvard University’s Pluralism Project Archives, last updated 2018
Cedar Rapids Peace Conference Video 1982
Wayne Anderson and Steve Murray produced this video, with narration by Bill Willis and…
Cedar Rapids
The Faith was mentioned in a local Cedar Rapids paper in 1902…
Cedar Rapids
50 Years of C.R. Baha’i Faith article from Cedar Rapids Gazette, 1992
Ames
Peace groups on the Iowa State University campus, the Iowa State Daily, April 25, 2002
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Cluster
This look back at cluster activity a decade ago is reprinted with permission from the Cedar Rapids Baha’i Newsletter, May 2012, Edition 4, Volume 5
Cedar Rapids
Article from the Cedar Rapids Gazette, February 28, 1949
Ames Community Observes United Nations Day
Iowa Press-Citizen, October 22, 1954
Le Mars Celebrates World Religion Day 1956
Henrietta Kroll shares statement from the National Spiritual Assembly, from the Le Mars Globe-Post, January 23, 1956
Traveling Teacher Winston Evans Speaks in Davenport 1957
From the Davenport Daily Times, October 9, 1957
Hugh Chance Speaks in Des Moines 1959
From the Des Moines Register, May 21, 1959
Des Moines Hosts L. Paul Harris Speaking on World Religion Day, 1960
From the Des Moines Register, January 11, 1960
Keokuk Baha’is Sign Letter Protesting Persecution of Iranian Baha’is, 1926
Letter from NSA of US & Canada to Reza Shah, 1926
Des Moines Baha’is Sponsor Race Unity Panel, 1962
From the Des Moines Register, June 10, 1962
Des Moines Baha’i Speaks Out for Persecuted Moroccan Baha’is, 1963
Letter to the Editor in the Des Moines Register, January 4, 1963, by Merle Altemeier
Carroll Methodists Host Baha’i Speaker, 1965
From the Carroll Daily Times Herald, October 19, 1965
Davenport Lend-a-Hand Club Hosts Baha’i Speaker, 1965
Eulalia Bobo shares “The Oneness of Mankind,” from the Quad City Times, September 10, 1965
Ames Daily Tribune Profiles Baha’i Faith
“Baha’i–World Faith for Modern Man” by Joyce Manchester, January 3, 1967
Waterloo Baha’is Attend Oceanic Conference in Palermo, Sicily, 1968
Five persons from Waterloo left Tuesday morning… From the Waterloo Courier, August 20, 1968
Des Moines Baha’is Present Book to Mayor Urban, 1968
From the Des Moines Tribune, November 23, 1968
Davenport Baha’is Present Book to Mayor Jebens, 1968
From the Quad-City Times, December 5, 1968
Waterloo Baha’is Sponsor Race Parlay, 1968
From the Waterloo Courier, April 5, 1968
Bettendorf Baha’is Observe Race Unity Day, 1969
From the Quad-City Times, June 7, 1969
Iowa City Baha’is Participate in Human Potential Conference, 1970
Dr. Jalil Mahmoudi among scholars, from the Iowa City Press-Citizen, March 12, 1970
Council Bluffs Baha’is Attend Caribbean Conference, 1971
Henrietta Kroll, Sophie Hayes, and Pauline Lehur travel to Jamaica, from the Sioux City Journal, May 18, 1971
Des Moines Baha’i Attends International Events, 1972
Ruth Moffett attends dedication of House of Worship in Panama and International Conference, from the Des Moines Register, May 14, 1972
Cedar Rapids Baha’i Speaks at People’s Church, 1973
Claudia Ryan speaks to church group, from Cedar Rapids Gazette, January 23, 1973
Iowa City Area Baha’is Interviewed Part 1,1994
Baha’i followers stress message of unity… from Iowa City Press-Citizen, April 8, 1994
Iowa City Area Baha’is Interviewed Part 2, 1994
Rest of article from Iowa City Press-Citizen, April 8, 1994
Sioux City Baha’is Condemn Oppression in Iran, 1993
Terri Bennett interviewed in Sioux City Journal, March 12, 1993
Des Moines Baha’i Family School at Willkie House, 1980s
In the late 1980s, Des Moines and central Iowa area Baha’is met alternate Sundays…
Council Bluffs Baha’i Group Organizing, 1951
From the Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil, January 27, 1951
Des Moines Baha’is Promote Race Unity, 1995 – 1997
In the mid-1990s, Des Moines Baha’is were very active in promoting racial harmony…
Des Moines World Peace Day 1987
Terri Foster Ferrell provided photos of this World Peace Day celebration in a Des Moines park in 1987
“Title”Soul Food & Thought” by Aldeen Davis, 1984
Muscatine, Iowa Journal, December 10, 1984. Aldeen describes a visit to the Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette.
Early Baha’i Events in Sioux City, ~1958-1968 by Sharon Babbitt
1967 Feast in Woodbury County, from a detailed account shared with Marie Scheffer in 1997
Interesting Cedar Rapids Connection: Nina Gomer Du Bois
Nina Gomer Du Bois, Baha’i and wife of Civil Rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois, grew up in Cedar Rapids.
Cedar Rapids LSA Celebrates 75th Anniversary
On October 27th, 2024, the Cedar Rapids LSA hosted a celebration…
Cedar Rapids had a Baha’i Center in 1949?!