Timeline
“Then will the generations look back with heartfelt appreciation, for the sacrifices made by Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís alike, during this most turbulent period in human history.” – The Universal House of Justice, Messages 1963 to 1986
1846, January
Earliest mention of the Faith in Iowa media?
…article on The Bábí movement in the Iowa Territorial Gazette & Advertiser, in Burlington
Read the article
1850, September
Article on the Martyrdom of the Báb
…in the Miner’s Express newspaper in Dubuque
Read the article
1899
Earliest Bahá’ís in Iowa?
Kearney B. & Mrs. Parrie Griffith, College Springs
Read about the Griffiths
1913
Early Bahá’ís living in Iowa
(Possibly Sophie Hays and her sister? *See comments below.)
Read about Sophie Hays
1913
Contribution to the Bahá’í Temple construction fund from Iowa Bahá’ís
from Sac City, Iowa
See the donation listed in Star of the West here (external link)
1913
Pamphlets published in Schaller, IA
by US Esperanto Association on Bahá’í Faith and universal language
View a list of these pamphlets
1914
Keokuk Bahá’ís sent delegate to convention that elected Temple Unity
Mrs. Emma Homes from the Keokuk assembly
1916, March
Iowa mentioned in one of the Tablets of the Divine Plan
View the Tablet to the Bahá’ís of the Central States (external link)
1919
Albert Vail travel taught in Iowa
1936
Dr. Zia Baghdadi spoke about the Faith in Iowa
…to a crowd of ~600 gathered near Auburn, Iowa, to learn about an investment scheme
Read about the area Dr. Zia Baghdadi spoke in, and the event in which he spoke
1937
Gertrude Matteson, Mabel Ives taught the Faith
…in Council Bluffs and Des Moines
1937
First Bahá’í resident in Des Moines
1938
Gayle Woolson spoke to organizations
…in Des Moines and Eastern Iowa
1939
Gayle Woolson and Marvin Newport visited
…to teach the Faith in Cedar Rapids
1939
Ruth Moffett actively taught
…speaking in Independence, Waterloo, and Cedar Falls, forming study groups
1941
Ruth Moffett returned to Iowa
…to conduct intensive teaching campaign
1943
First LSA in Iowa formed in Cedar Rapids
1948
First LSA formed in Waterloo
See Waterloo LSA listed as contributing to the Fund here (external link)
1949
Cedar Rapids Bahá’í Center
Media mention of a Bahá’í Center at 106 1/2 Second Avenue SE
1953-54
Start of Ten Year Crusade
…two LSAs, Cedar Rapids and Waterloo
See the goal cities listed in Bahá’í News here (external link)
1955
Regular community activities in Davenport, Iowa City, and Manchester
1956
First LSA formed in Davenport
See Davenport listed as having formed as assembly here (external link)
1956
First Iowa Teaching Institute
…held at Scattergood Quaker Farm School
See the news bulletin from Bahá’í News here (external link)
1962-63
End of Ten Year Crusade
…four LSAs, adding Des Moines and Davenport
1963, April
Historic Election
Hugh Chance elected to serve among the first members of the Universal House of Justice
He lived in Iowa for many years. Read more about him here (external link)
1964
First LSA formed in Cedar Falls
Read about an event they hosted on racial amity as a new Assembly here (external link)
1967
State of Iowa granted LSAs authority to perform marriage ceremonies
1969, May
Bahá’í Week in Marshalltown
1970
First LSA formed in Iowa City
1973, July
Hand of the Cause William Sears visited Council Bluffs
… hosted by Priscilla & John Hofert
1974
First LSA formed in Marshalltown
1975, April
First Johnson County LSA elected
…at the home of Joanne & Burt Marion, near North Liberty
1975
Nine LSAs active in Iowa
…Ames, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Iowa City, Marshalltown, Waterloo, Des Moines
1975, June 8
First Meeting of Iowa District Teaching Committee
Merging the former Eastern Iowa and Western Iowa DTCs
1978
Celebration of 35th anniversary of Cedar Rapids LSA
1978, December 4
First LSA formed in Sioux City
Formed by joint declaration. A representative of the NSA presented a certificate of recognition.
1979
First LSA formed in Warren County
1981
First LSA formed in Fairfield
1984, April
First LSA formed in Bettendorf
1984, June
Cedar Rapids LSA sponsored Race Amity Conference
…at Kirkwood Community College
1992
First LSA formed in Dubuque
1997, May
First Regional Bahá’í Councils established
…Iowa is served by the Prairie States RBC, with Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri
1999
Acquisition of Cedar Rapids Bahá’í Center
2022, May
Iowa’s Vision for Humanity Conference
…May 13-15, at Pilgrim Heights Conference and Retreat Center in Montour, Iowa.
2024, October
Cedar Rapids LSA Celebrated 75th Anniversary
…of its incorporation at the local Bahá’í Center
2025, March
Historic Conference for Assistants of Auxiliary Board Members for Prairie States Region
…at the Kansas City Bahá’í Center, March 7-9, with our four ABMs and Counselor Nwandi Lawson
* The 1913 date for these early Baha’i’s in Iowa comes from the BAHAIPEDIA article on Iowa. As I understand it, there was no formal enrollment process at that time so it’s hard to pin this down precisely. We know that Sophie Hays was one of the earliest believers in the state and are working to research this further. I urge anyone with information about this or any very early Baha’is in the state to email us at ibh@iowabahaihistory.org.
Since posting the 1913 date, it’s come to light that there were Baha’is in Iowa much earlier. See the listing above for the Griffiths in 1899, in College Springs, IA.