Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines | ||
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| City in the United States | ||
 LSA of Des Moines, 1966.
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| Location of Des Moines
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| History: Firsts |
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| - | Local Assembly | 1955 |
| How to contact: | ||
| - | Phone | (515) 635-5870 |
| - | desmoines.iowa.lsa@gmail.com | |
| - | State | Iowa |
| - | Country | United States |
| Official Website | http://desmoinesbahai.org/ | |
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Des Moines is the capital city of the U.S. state of Iowa.
History[edit]
In 1912 the Faith was mentioned in the Des Moines Daily News in a report of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's visit to America.[1]
In 1937 Gertrude Matteson and Mabel Ives visited Des Moines to teach the Faith, and found that there was already one Bahá’í living in the city.[2] In 1939 Ruth Moffett donated Bahá'í literature to public libraries in Des Moines, along with reviews of the books.[3] Gayle Woolson spoke on the Faith to organizations in Des Moines in 1939.[4]
In 1953 Des Moines was classified as a goal city, which meant that it was chosen as a target for consolidation during the Ten Year Plan. Each goal city was to work towards the election of a Spiritual Assembly before 1963.[5] Auxiliary Board member Margery McCormick visited the Des Moines Bahá'ís in 1954,[6] and the Local Spiritual Assembly of Des Moines was established in April 1955.[7] As of January 1956 Ruth Moffett had pioneered to Des Moines.[8]
In 1957 the Des Moines Bahá'ís collaborated with the Des Moines Interracial Commission and the local NAACP chapter to organize a race amity meeting, which was attended by 224 people, 14 of whom were Bahá'ís.[9] In 1958 a Bahá'í Conference, one of 38 across the U.S., was held in Des Moines for the purpose of reinvigorating the community, and providing an opportunity for Bahá'ís to consult on the significance of the passing of Shoghi Effendi. Charlotte Linfoot chaired the conference.[10] In 1959 the Des Moines Bahá'í community held observances of Race Amity Day and United Nations Day, with the Governor of Iowa, Hershell Loveless, attending the UN Day observance.[11][12]
In 1960 the Board of Education of Des Moines authorized approval for Bahá'í students and teachers to be exempt from attending public schools for the observance of Bahá'í Holy Days.[13] In 1964 Ruth Moffett was elected as delegate for Iowa to the National Convention, with the election and Iowa Convention being reported in local Des Moines news.[14] In late 1964 the Des Moines Bahá'ís sponsored a Human Rights Day talk.[15] In 1965 the Bahá'ís of Des Moines secured a Proclamation of World Peace Day from the Governor.[16] On April 21, 1966, the Local Spiritual Assembly of Des Moines was incorporated.[17] In 1969 the Des Moines Bahá'ís manned a Bahá'í booth at the Iowa State Fair which was visited by 855 people.[18]
In 1982 twenty-three Cambodian expatriates became Bahá'ís in Des Moines, partially due to the Des Moines Bahá'í community sponsoring a Cambodian refugee family as a community project.[19] In 1987 a Women as Peacemakers Conference held by the Bahá'ís in Des Moines received television coverage.[20]
References[edit]
- ↑ Des Moines Daily News, 1912-02-15, p 4
- ↑ Baha'i News (1937). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 105, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1940). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 133, Pg(s) 7. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1939). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 126, Pg(s) 7. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1953). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 272, Pg(s) 7. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1955). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 288, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1955). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 293, Pg(s) 5. View as PDF.
- ↑ Cedar Rapids Gazette, 1956-01-12, p 68
- ↑ Baha'i News (1957). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 314, Pg(s) 9. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1958). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 324, Pg(s) 3-4. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1959). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 339, Pg(s) 6. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1959). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 346, Pg(s) 10. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1961). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 359, Pg(s) 14. View as PDF.
- ↑ Des Moines Register, 1964-12-07, p 3
- ↑ Des Moines Register, 1964-12-13, p 16
- ↑ Baha'i News (1965). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 417, Pg(s) 17. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1966). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 426, Pg(s) 15. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1969). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 464, Pg(s) 18. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1982). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 618, Pg(s) 11. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1987). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 678, Pg(s) 15. View as PDF.
