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
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In Council Bluffs, we were informed that a couple whose son had become a Baha’i wanted to…
Dubuque, Iowa
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Dubuque, ~1989- 2000, Mentions to be Made
by Charlotte Solarz
Dallas County
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Dallas County lies just west of Polk County and the Des Moines metropolitan area. Bob and I…
Marshalltown, 1978
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If there is one word that best describes the Marshalltown Baha’i community that word is active…
Warren County
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The First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahai’s of Warren County, Iowa, was formed in March of 1970.
Spencer, Iowa
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Spencer Iowa by Rod Clarken,
submitted December 2022
Des Moines/West Des Moines
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Article from Drake University’s Comparison Project
~2017
Quad Cities
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Article from Harvard University’s Pluralism Project Archives, last updated 2018
Cedar Rapids Peace Conference Video 1982
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Wayne Anderson and Steve Murray produced this video, with narration by Bill Willis and…
Cedar Rapids
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The Faith was mentioned in a local Cedar Rapids paper in 1902…
Cedar Rapids
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50 Years of C.R. Baha’i Faith article from Cedar Rapids Gazette, 1992
Ames
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Peace groups on the Iowa State University campus, the Iowa State Daily, April 25, 2002
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Cluster
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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
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Article from the Cedar Rapids Gazette, February 28, 1949
Ames Community Observes United Nations Day
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Iowa Press-Citizen, October 22, 1954
Le Mars Celebrates World Religion Day 1956
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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
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From the Davenport Daily Times, October 9, 1957
Hugh Chance Speaks in Des Moines 1959
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From the Des Moines Register, May 21, 1959
Des Moines Hosts L. Paul Harris Speaking on World Religion Day, 1960
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From the Des Moines Register, January 11, 1960
Keokuk Baha’is Sign Letter Protesting Persecution of Iranian Baha’is, 1926
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Letter from NSA of US & Canada to Reza Shah, 1926
Des Moines Baha’is Sponsor Race Unity Panel, 1962
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From the Des Moines Register, June 10, 1962
Des Moines Baha’i Speaks Out for Persecuted Moroccan Baha’is, 1963
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Letter to the Editor in the Des Moines Register, January 4, 1963, by Merle Altemeier
Carroll Methodists Host Baha’i Speaker, 1965
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From the Carroll Daily Times Herald, October 19, 1965
Davenport Lend-a-Hand Club Hosts Baha’i Speaker, 1965
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Eulalia Bobo shares “The Oneness of Mankind,” from the Quad City Times, September 10, 1965
Ames Daily Tribune Profiles Baha’i Faith
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“Baha’i–World Faith for Modern Man” by Joyce Manchester, January 3, 1967
Waterloo Baha’is Attend Oceanic Conference in Palermo, Sicily, 1968
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Five persons from Waterloo left Tuesday morning… From the Waterloo Courier, August 20, 1968
Des Moines Baha’is Present Book to Mayor Urban, 1968
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From the Des Moines Tribune, November 23, 1968
Davenport Baha’is Present Book to Mayor Jebens, 1968
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From the Quad-City Times, December 5, 1968
Waterloo Baha’is Sponsor Race Parlay, 1968
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From the Waterloo Courier, April 5, 1968
Bettendorf Baha’is Observe Race Unity Day, 1969
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From the Quad-City Times, June 7, 1969
Iowa City Baha’is Participate in Human Potential Conference, 1970
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Dr. Jalil Mahmoudi among scholars, from the Iowa City Press-Citizen, March 12, 1970
Council Bluffs Baha’is Attend Caribbean Conference, 1971
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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
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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
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Claudia Ryan speaks to church group, from Cedar Rapids Gazette, January 23, 1973
Iowa City Area Baha’is Interviewed Part 1,1994
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Baha’i followers stress message of unity… from Iowa City Press-Citizen, April 8, 1994
Iowa City Area Baha’is Interviewed Part 2, 1994
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Rest of article from Iowa City Press-Citizen, April 8, 1994
Sioux City Baha’is Condemn Oppression in Iran, 1993
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Terri Bennett interviewed in Sioux City Journal, March 12, 1993
Des Moines Baha’i Family School at Willkie House, 1980s
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In the late 1980s, Des Moines and central Iowa area Baha’is met alternate Sundays…
Council Bluffs Baha’i Group Organizing, 1951
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From the Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil, January 27, 1951
Des Moines Baha’is Promote Race Unity, 1995 – 1997
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In the mid-1990s, Des Moines Baha’is were very active in promoting racial harmony…
Des Moines World Peace Day 1987
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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
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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
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1967 Feast in Woodbury County, from a detailed account shared with Marie Scheffer in 1997
Interesting Cedar Rapids Connection: Nina Gomer Du Bois
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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
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On October 27th, 2024, the Cedar Rapids LSA hosted a celebration…
Cedar Rapids had a Baha’i Center in 1949?!