The intranational growth of Local Spiritual Assemblies during the Ten Year Crusade in the continental United States

The intranational impact of the Ten Year Crusade in the continental United States raised the number of local spiritual assemblies in the country from around 170 to about 330. The goal was announced during Rúḥíyyih Khánum's talk at the national convention of 1953. A leading theme was of 'dispersing' Bahá'ís from communities of over 15 adults. Some few hundred people eventually homefront pioneered to localities mixing among goal cities and others of their own choosing. Overall, the number of assemblies gained that were not goals led the growth. Goal cities assigned by the National Teaching Committee significantly contributed to the growth of the number of assemblies and in some areas were the only new assemblies that formed. There were some cases of assemblies being lost by pioneers moving away despite an emphasis placed on preserving assembly status and only the larger communities 'dispersing', but many more assemblies were gained than were lost during the Crusade despite the American community also sending several hundred pioneers overseas to international goals. In addition to the number of assemblies, the number of localities with groups of Bahá'ís and isolated Bahá'ís living on their own also increased.

Goals announced

In 2004 Ali Nakhjavani gave a presentation "The 22nd Hasan M. Balyuzi Memorial Lecture; The Ten Year Crusade" which was published in The Journal of Bahá’í Studies. He said: "In his summing up of the major objectives of the Crusade, as presented by him on the international level, Shoghi Effendi did not include specific goals which were supplementary and suited to the specific circumstances of each of the twelve bases of operation. We see, for example, among the subordinate objectives for the United States the following goals…. In this message he also refers to the American Bahá’í community as 'the standard bearers of the all-conquering army of the Lord of Hosts' who as befits their rank have been given the 'lion’s share in the prosecution of a global crusade designed to diffuse the light of God’s revelation over the surface of the entire planet'. The 'subordinate goals" were:

1. the completion of the landscaping of the grounds of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Wilmette
2. the raising of the total number of Local Spiritual Assemblies to three hundred
3. the conversion to the Faith of members of the leading Indian tribes
4. the establishment of summer schools in each of the Scandinavian and Benelux countries as well as those of the Iberian Peninsula
5. the proclamation of the Faith through the press and radio
6. the formation of an Asian Teaching Committee

The Bahá'í directory for 1953-1954 listed 167 local assemblies.

This message to the American Bahá’í community at the national convention was conveyed by Rúḥíyyih Khánum. She also had mentioned the dispersal of Bahá'ís from larger communities and in the coming months and years this would be a refrain heard by pilgrims. Excerpts from letters from pioneers in April 1954 on their progress and aims was published which includes a mention of the idea of “dispersing” of communities larger than 15 adults. By June there was mention specifically of emphasizing pioneers leaving from communities of 15 or more adults. By July 1954 there were thoughts that maintaining 9 adult believers in a locale for keep a local spiritual assembly was not required which Shoghi Effendi countered and then clarified saying that the two most historic American Bahá'í communities - Chicago and New York - could sustain themselves with 15 adult believers:

The mighty and laudable effort exerted, by a considerable number of pioneers, in the course of the opening phase of this world-encircling Crusade, in the virgin territories of the globe, must, if this primacy is to remain unimpaired, be increased, doubled, nay trebled, and must manifest itself not only in foreign fields where the prizes so laboriously won during the last twelve months must, at whatever sacrifice, be meticulously preserved, but throughout the entire length and breadth of the American Union, and particularly in the goal cities, where hitherto the work has stagnated, and which must, in the year now entered, become the scene of the finest exploits which the home front has yet seen. A veritable exodus from the large cities where a considerable number of believers have, over a period of years, congregated, both on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, as well as in the heart of the country, and where, owing to the tempo and the distractions of city life, the progress of the Faith has been retarded, must signalize the inauguration of this most intensive and challenging phase of the Crusade on the home front. Most certainly and emphatically must the lead be given by the two focal centers of Bahá'í activity which rank among the oldest of and occupy the most honored position among, the cities throughout the American Union, the one as the mother city of the North American continent, the other named by `Abdu'l-Bahá the City of the Covenant. Indeed, so grave are the exigencies of the present hour, and so critical the political position of the country, that were a bare fifteen adult Bahá'ís to be left in each of these cities, over which unsuspected dangers are hanging, it would still be regarded as adequate for the maintenance of their local spiritual assemblies.

This was amplified in September with comment on behalf of Shoghi Effendi of Bahá'ís 'dispersing' from larger communities making sure that people should be picking goal cities as their targets for pioneering.

First implementations

Before being officially tasked with the work to support the goal some Area Teaching Committees already existed and were in a degree of organization with their own newsletters and conferences by September 1953. They were listed by January. These institutions had existed at least as far back as at least 1949, sometimes called Regional Teaching Committees (RTCs). The fact that the Area Teaching Committees were designated central to the achievement of the goal was detailed again in June 1955. The development of goal cities was explained in Baha'i News in March 1955: The National Assembly followed these principles:

• If a state had only one assembly, at least one other town was on the list, with priority to preserving that one assembly.
• Any goal with no Bahá'í presence was called a 'virgin goal' and otherwise was a 'consolidation goal'. 40 virgin goals were compiled.
• If a state had a cluster of assemblies in one area, goals were picked in outlying areas of that cluster to "reduce the immense distances between many Bahá'í communities."
• 133 goal cities were developed where groups of at least 4 Bahá'ís lived.
• Some goals were developed 'within easy travel' of established communities so that people who could afford only moving narrowly could do so.
• If a community that was not a goal area were to rise to assembly status they would be counted towards the total and that individuals were free to pioneer anywhere but should not expect other pioneers to be coordinated to join them just because they were there.

The first national list of goal cities was published in the Baha'i News in October, 1953. 108 cities were listed as already opened and 63 virgin cities with no known Bahá'í presence as of March 1954. Regional committees were designated by July splitting up states into Area Teaching Committees, and adjusted in 1957.

East Central States and the Central States Committees conferences were advertised for January 1954. In February the National Teaching Committee addressed the Guardian's convention message including this goal. A proportion of 15 out of 73 goal cities were already settled by at least one Bahá'í though in some cases assemblies of a bare nine elsewhere became threatened by pioneers moving away. It listed the cities that had been settled relative to the above list.

An update on the goal cities both virgin and of threatened assemblies was published March. 108 cities were listed as already opened and 63 virgin cities with no known Bahá'í presence and a list of people that had moved to virgin goal areas was published listing 43 pioneers to 27 goal cities (though not where they moved from.) That is around 1-2 people per virgin city. 50 virgin goal cities remained as did now 33 opened areas whether having previously formed an assembly now threatened or new areas. However the list was fluid - Montgomery Alabama was listed as a pioneer goal but wasn't as of October 1953.

By June the goal was tasked to the Area Teaching Committees to serve their regions and there were roles for kinds of groups - the community in general, active groups of individuals, assemblies in an Area Teaching Committee region - "encourage volunteer activities by individuals, unified action by groups, extension teaching by communities, and attendance of all believers at area conferences.” Assemblies were asked to see what goal cities they could serve, dispersal from larger communities over 15 people, and deepening classes. Registered groups were to activate unified plans for events. Individuals were …" In July a further updated general list was published noting some places had been settled and others already achieving assembly status.

The loss of spiritual assemblies was underscored in September when a short list of assemblies that had lost status was given priority - being ones that had been gained during the First Seven Year Plan. Specifically they were:

• Brattleboro, Vermont
• North Augusta, South Carolina
• Greensboro, North Carolina.

A directory of Bahá'ís and institutions from September detailed the members of the various National and Area Teaching Committees. In addition to the geographical arrangement there were also two themed teaching committees - for American Indians and African-Americans:

• American Indian Service Committee: Francis Johnson (chair), Nancy Phillips (sec), Reginald King, Robert McKusick, Martha Kink, Eli Powlas, Chairmion McKusick, Wallace Heath.
• Inter-Racial Teaching: Lydia Martin, Philip Savilles, Edwin Barham, Mrs Edwin Barham, Ludmilla Van Sombeek, Betty Koyl, Ellsworth Blackwell, George Brawley, Hormer Dyer, Mrs Homer Dyer.

Increasing regionalization from later 1954

Area Teaching Committee conferences had been held in August and September, and more announced for October and November to be followed by state wide conventions to elect delegates to the national convention and then winter-spring conferences before that convention.

• The Central Atlantic States Committee held a conference outside of Asheville, North Carolina, led by then Auxiliary Board member Sarah Pereira, then others were held in Charleston, West Virginia, Washington DC, and Greensboro, North Carolina, over the winter.
• The Central States Committee held a conference at the House of Worship led by Auxiliary Board member Margery McCormick and traveling teacher of the religion, Winston Evans, who also taking the opportunity to engage with the Christian World Council of Churches meeting happening nearby and Hand of the Cause of God Horace Holley giving a talk at the Temple.
• The East Central States Committee held a conference at Louhelen Bahá'í School with others then in the Dayton, Ohio, area, Kokomo, Indiana, and then another planned for Cincinnati.
• The Southwestern Committee held a conference including a focus on African-American and Indian populations.
• The Northwestern Committee organized conferences held in Eugene and Astoria, Oregon.

Although not technically part of the explicit effort, regional youth 'workshop' conferences were set across many states in October: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia. By the winter several regions confirmed having conferences: the East Central States conference in Cincinnati, the Central States conference in Urbana, Central Atlantic States in Greensboro, with an additional one in DC, which included a focus on Howard University with Auxiliary Board member William de Forge. Other conferences were also noted with a Central States conference held in Minneapolis, and Gulf States Committee holding five miniconferences.

The National Teaching Committee generated a 15 page report on the progress of homefront pioneering as of September 30 noted in Baha’i News in December which summarized an updated list of goal cities emphasizing virgin places and lost assemblies in December. There were 22 cities with at least 5 or more Bahá'ís, 8 and four Bahá'ís, 22 with three, 40 with two and 32 with one. Recommendations from some state conventions was to hold future conventions in goal cities and that pioneers should specifically survey of jobs, housing, etc, for prospective pioneers, that area bulletins be distributed to every Bahá'í in its region (this was conditionally approved that if a Bahá'í was receiving assistance from that regions committee then their community would receive the bulletin.) A spiritual assembly was formed in Greenwich, Connecticut.

More regionalization from early 1955

Central Atlantic States had held that conference in Greensboro, and the South Central States Committe held a conference in Oklahoma City in early April, 1955. In May an Area Teaching Conference was announced to be held at Louhelen in early July, as did Green Acre Bahá'í School did for the New England and North Atlantic Area Teaching Committees.

Baha'i News began to offer summaries of regional Area Committee bulletins in May. For the Gulf States there was the Gulfstates Crewsaider, and for the Southwestern States it was it's Area Bulletin. Of the former a community in Galveston, Texas, was noted newly formed and activities, and then meetings noted in Jackson, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana, and press coverage on the Faith noted in other Texas cities through which Margery McCormick was scheduled to tour with new enrollees of the religion noted in a few cases. New Enrollees were noted in the Southwestern States in a couple California and Arizona cities with some public meetings organized in northern California because of a few individual Bahá'ís taking action.

Consultation at the National Convention was summarized in the Baha'i News in June starting with a summary report by Jesma Herbert of the National Teaching Committee:

• 42 of the 76 goal cities had been settled by at least one Bahá'í.
• About 150 adults and 24 youth have joined the religion compared to 90 adults and 24 youth the previous year.
• There was a sense that "momentum has not picked up" for Bahá'ís in larger communities to disperse.

Horace Holley, then secretary of the National Assembly, then supplemented with his own review of vital statistics:

• There had been an increase of incorporated assemblies, with a goal of 100 by the plan's end, had reached 81 (22 since the start of the plan,)
• There were 174 existing assemblies as of April 1954 and 162 as of April 1955. Seven had lost assembly status, five were in question, eight were new and nine were reestablished old ones.

Charles Wolcott, then chair of the National Teaching Committee, also raised the question what was keeping people from larger communities from dispersing. He noted that if a local community came up with its own plan then there was increased response and advised it include steps beyond proclamation and underscored the process that leads to joining the religion be considered from invitations to firesides and opportunities of personal interest to systematic studies to forming groups of active individuals until they rise to the number able to elect an assembly and continnue the work of group and individual study. Charles Linfoot, assistant secretary of the national assembly, outlined the problem of activity level of the 184 assemblies over the last five years that have existed at one time or another:

• Perhaps 13 communities in which at least five new Bahá'ís per five years joining the religion existed, (at least 1 per year for five years.)
• 123 of them had less than five new Bahá'ís in those five years join their community, (less than 1 per year but more than 1 in five years.)
• 28 had one additional Bahá'í across the five years, (1 in five years.)
• 20 had not one new Bahá'í in those five years, (0 in five years.)

There were then 12 Area Teaching Committees. There was a sense there was a 'gap' between purely intra-assembly activities and the regional areas where pioneers were settling. If the area's assemblies had outreach goals to neighboring pioneers and groups then there was much less of a sense of a 'gap'.

There was notice of the need of preserving lost assemblies listed in July as of June.

The Central States Area conference for June was held at the Temple and noting that though there was a wave of persecution in Iran there was also resulting publicity in the press, and some points of discussion included focusing efforts on necessary activities, of accompanying new believers into realms of action, and reforming individual activity into increasingly pure motivations and actions, and a call for homefront pioneers. Nevertheless the Guardian called for all Bahá'ís to pray about the persecutions in Iran.

Area Committee Bulletins were summerized for June. In the South Central states a conference was held in Oklahoma City in early April. In the Northwestern states there was a study classes were held in Lewiston, Yakima, and Boise areas with more than one with a focus on Indian issues. For the Southwestern Baha'is coordinated reports of the national convention were given in Tucson, Yuma, Salt Lake City, and several cities in California. Then there was a conference in Bellingham, Washington, in June including an event on the nearby Indian reservation.

Area Committee Bulletins were summarized in August. Central states noted a regional conference in Decatur Illinois and small group meetings in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. In September came reports from Gulf states of events in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Southern area conference held in North Carolina in late August.

National summaries of Area Committee efforts

From late 1955

Youth conferences planned for October according to Area Teaching Committees assignments.

Central States Area Teaching Committee Bulletin noted several towns with regular public meetings in Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri sometimes because of a cooperative effort of nearby communities. The renamed Gulfstates News Mirror summary marked the first Spiritual Assembly of Fort Worth, Texas being elected, other enrollees and meetings in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. There was also catching up on late spring and summer conferences of varioous committees: The East Central States Committee held a conference in Mansfield, Ohio in May and in West Lafayette, Indiana, and Lima, Ohio. A Child Training conference was held in Dayton, Ohio, for the region. Two conferences were held in the Gulf States - Austin, Texas and New Orleans, Louisiana. The Northwestern States Committee's conference was held in Bellingham, Washington. The South Central States Committee's conference was held in Little Rock, Arkansas.

A Central States Committee conference was held in Madison, Wisconsin, in August with some 200 Bahá'ís attending. Coverage including the opening of Waukesha with a week of public lectures following by monthly meetings and radio time for six months closing with another week of public lectures.

The Central States conference was held in Decatur, Illinois in September, 1955, by the community's group of pioneers with aide from and an Urbana committee, at which Anna Kunz and Marguerite Sears spoke of the international activities of the period. Winston Evans, Charles Reimer, Hazel Skiles, Vivienne Fellows, Ellsworth Blackwell also spoke at the conference.

Baha'i Youth conference were noted in October for Area Teaching regions:

• East Central States held and planned a followup meeting at Louhelen.
• North Atlantic States held a conference in Teaneck, New Jersey at the Baha'i Center there and sessions nearby.
• North Central States held a meeting in Sioux Falls, South Dakota's community Center and a nearby college.
• The Central States conference was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin using an agenda used in New York city and featured a discussion led by an Oneida Indian and their history.
• New England States held a meeting in a Cambridge, Massachusetts, home and then at the Center.
• A regional conference in Southewestern States was held in Sacramento, California using a compilation

There were then further Central States Committee conferences in St. Paul, Minnesota and Davenport, Iowa , about a week later with further work scheduled for Iowa City, Iowa.

The January summary of bulletins noted:

• Six conferences were held in November/December 1955 through the Tennessee Valley States ATC(Area Teaching Committee - a re-organized collection across parts of the South Atlantic, Gulf and South Central States Committees) in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama with some events supported by Sarah Periera.
• For the Northwestern States a Baha'i was noted settling in Salem, Oregon, the only virgin goal left and a conference was held in Eugene and activities in Lewiston, Idaho.
• The South Central States noted the observance of the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh held followed by the region's conference in Kansas City, Missouri, at which Ellsworth Blackwell was the speaker.

The next summery noted:

• The New England States region held a conference in Springfield, Massachusetts in November.
• The Tennessee Valley States committee held a conference in Nashville, Tennessee in December.
• The East Central States Committee held conferences in Ohio and Michigan in February.
• The North Atlantic States Committee announced updates on their goal cities.
• The Central Atlantic States Committee held a conference in Baltimore in January.

Early 1956

The Central Atlantic States conference was held in Baltimore, Maryland and there was news in the Tennessee Valley States of a pioneer in Covington Kentucky, the Birmingham, Alabama, Baha'is had reserved a larger space for their use, and committee members had toured some Tennessee and Mississippi cites.

The New England States Committee Bulletin noted Norman Cousins talking at a UN support meeting coordinated by the Baha'i National UN Committee in Greenwich, Connecticut, and a regional conference was held in Boston at which Iradj Sabet told of travels to Iran. The South Atlantic States Bulletin ntoed meetings in Orangeburg, South Carolina by a history teacher and a local pastor, and activites in Florida. The Northwestern States listed the region's World Religion Day observances. The South Central States committee noted a conference in Springfield, Missouri in February, and monthly youth meetings in Emoporia, Kansas. Central Atlantic States acfivity included a Maryland valentine's effort. The Rocky Mountain Bulletin updated the status of Pueblo Colorado at eight adult Bahá'ís, and the interest of someone who was part Cherokee, amdist weekly meetings, The Southwestern States did an eight-page edition of their bulletin compiling reports of conferences held there in October 1955. The Tennesee Valley Bulltin noted meetings in Jackson, Mississippi and an exhibition in Nashville. The North Central States Bulltin updated their list of goal cities. National actions with respect to Youth Committee and Area Teaching Committee from recommendations.

Update of stats on assemblies from national convention.

East Central States mentioned meetings on May 6 reporting on the National Convention across Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. For the Souh Atlantic States region there was a report of a Blue Ridge Conference Committee was held in Altanta February 4 planning its meeting in August and menton of a large meeting in Orangeburg South Carolina of William Tucker's and Ludmilla Van Sombeek's talks in area churches. Further, there were meetings and events in Florida including by Allen McDaniel.

Area Bulletins summarized events up to June. Tennessee Valley states reported pioneers had arrived in all goal cities and activities were underway whether small or larger scales. A regional conference was held in West Virginia in April. New England states had convention reports after May in the various states of the Central Atlantic. Southwestern states had series of meetings as well as South Central states in June. Then more meetings took place in Maryland and Delaware.

July Bulletins updated coverage. A March conference had been held in Oregon for the Northwestern states and a large meeting in Washington that included Makah Indians had occured. For the South Central states a speaker series was noted in Missouri and the promise of the Kansas City, Missouri assembly going to be elected, and there were study groups and mailing projects forming in Arkansas. In the North Atlantic states there were spring women's conference, various publicity meetings and youth conference in different cities in New York. The Tennessee Valley states counted firesides, public meetings, and individual initiatives. Green Acre held its summer meetings for the New England region with additional meetings in Connecticut and Vermont happening.

The progress of events in Washington State was covered in a stand alone article about the summer outreach efforts with the Makah Indians for the Northwestern region. And New Hampshire hosted a conference that summer as well in the 'Cathedral of the Pines'. An update on Indian goals noted the need in Nebraska, progress among the Makah including one youth attending the Geyserville Bahá'í School, and activity in North Dakota.

Later 1956

In October in a conference Bahá'ís gathered in Kansas to study turning individual faith into collective action. Across the Fall the East Central region held seven conferences several of which were in Ohio, a couple in Michigan, and one in Indiana. In New England Genevieve Coy held three lectures on the Hidden Words in Boston in October. In Idaho of the Northwestern region media and events were held along with a youth conference with participation of some Indians. Rocky Mountain regions noted an all-state conference in Colorado.

Late in the Fall for the Central Atlantic a conference was held in West Virginia. Central States held a conference in Iowa with other individual teachings trips and meetings. In the Gulf states region a Bahá'í Center was opened in Louisiana, and a youth conference in Texas. The North Atlantic region mentioned a youth conference and classes in New York state. A Rocky Mountain region conference was held in Wyoming. The Tennessee Valley region suggested some book readings of members. The Central Atlantic states region held a conference in Virginia and events were being held in Winston-Salem sponsored by the Bahá'ís of Greensboro. Central States region conferences were held in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, along with various newspaper coverage and advertisiing, plus an regional Youth Conference.

1957

There was a summary of actions approaching the convention. At the national level they developed a number of actions to support the goal of assembly growth - develop a circuit of speakers 'haivng spiritual capacity and deep knowledge of the Covenant to help ground believers in the spiritual fundamentals of the Faith' vs relative lack of knowledge and judgement the Guardian had felt was causing lagging performance. They also asked local assemblies to support goals in the area, and for lost or endangered assemblies to be supported by 'dispersing' individuals - 168 individuals had moved to other cities in the previous year.

At the same time there was a summary of suggestions from state conventions. The national assembly acted on some of the recommendations: occasional lists of materials available would be included in Baha'i News, guidance on firesides, but that a plea for an additional permanent Bahá'í School in the South was denied.

The early 1957 Bulletin summaries included: circuits of traveling speakers were established for Wisconsin and Illinois were scheduled by the Central States region with Margery McCormick, Zella Svendson and Vivian Fellows, and in Central Atlantic region Maryland hosted viewings of pilgrimage slides and hospitality, Tennessee Valley efforts helped Mississippi and Tennessee, activities in the Rocky Mountains noted UN Day events in Montana and Idaho, and a movie showing was held in California.

Later spring Bulletin summaries covered activities. A California youth group held a sesion in Nevada in the Southwestern states. The Central Atlantic region held a conference in DC, East Central conferences were held in Ohio and Indiana, and a Michigan university campus held a conference on religion at which Baha'is spoke before their meetings. A meeting as held in the Gulf region in Texas and another was in New England in New Hampshire and Rhode Island while the North Atlantic region noted a meeting in Pennsylvania, and with two additional meetings in New Jersey while the North Central region had held a conference in the South Dakota. There was newspaper coverage of events in Colorado for the Rocky Mountain region and a schedule of events was held in New Mexico of the Rocky Mountain region while the South Atlantic region held various meetings in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The Tennessee Valley bulletin had a question and answer column.

In January there was approval of a Southern Bahá'í Summer School that was not a permanent site which was to include the entire South and was planned to be held in the summer of 1958. Report on convention suggestions. There was also a clarification about the relationship of the ATCs and local assemblies published in July saying: "The aim of the Area Teaching Committee is to offer teaching service and the Local Spiritual Assemblies, particularly the smaller ones, should gratefully accept such service, while the larger Assemblies should participate actively in extension and circuit teaching work and Area conferences." Green Acre planned to host a summer conference arranged by an ATC between its regular sessions.

April Bulletin summaries mentioned the Fourth Blue Ridge Conference in North Carolina was held in August 1957 for the South, plus others in Illinois, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Missouri. In May the Geyserville School in California planed a conference between its sessions as well, and similarly at the Davidson (Louhelen) School in Michigan. There was also announcement of a functioning circuit speakers set of youth who had spoken in Nevada and some cities of California.

Regular firesides from over months before in Baltimore were highlighted in a report by Alma Heise where she and Bill Burgess cooperated on the project which crossed city limits. Sometimes no one came but increasingly they were contacted by people and keep a conversational set of talking points well practiced in addition to humor and talk about hobbies but come back to the Faith, sometimes happening by the attendees themselves. They treated the guests since sincere warmth and serve refreshments. Of the 37 attendees they tracked 7 joined the religion. North Central states held youth meetings in several places in North and South Dakota along with firesides. It was also reported that a pioneer in the Washington area was honored by the Makah people, and a conference in South Central region was held in June.

In September there was a call for goals among the Southern States African American communities to be emphasized with cooperation of the National Teaching Committee, the Area Teaching Committees in the South and the Interracial Teaching Committee. A schedule for a round of conferences across many states was set by the national assembly for mid-September across 15 cities: 3 were in the Southwest, 2 were in each of the Northwest, Central and East Central states, and 1 each in New England, North Atlantic, South Central, Central Atlantic, South Atlantic, Gulf, and Rocky Mountains regions.

A review of goal city growth in Washington state was summarized, and then in December came the message of the death of Shoghi Effendi noting prior announcements had been sent out widely. A photo caption noted children's classes in of the North Atlantic states region being sponsored.

1958

The national assembly announced the holding of 38 conferences starting the late winter of 1958 after consulting with Hands of the Cause to which a Hand, an Auxiliary Board member, and or or a member of the assembly would speak. It was the third opportunity to 'preduce a maximum response' for pioneers multiplying communities but would also was 'planned …as an oppoirtunities for individual Bahá'ís to consult on the new and unprecedented situation created by the passing of the beloved Guardian" and the first list of cities drawn up were in the Northwest and nearby Rocky Mountain regions: Seattle, Spokane, Washington, Helena, Montana, Boise, idaho, all by a tour by Florence Mayberry and for Portland, Oregon, by Arthur Dahl.

By April there was a call for increasing homefront pioneering - there had been 176 pioneers the last half of 1957 that went out but 164 had been lost during the same time, and pointed out "the Bahá'i communities having 15 or more members are still the main reservoir" for pioneers.

There was a mid-September conference at which youth gathered in the Pacific Northwest mixed.

Late in 1958 the Los Angeles youth committee worked with the Southwestern Area Committee on meetings there as well as traveling to nearby states. A Southwestern summer school that allowed black attendees for the first time was held and reports were shared about regional progress. In the North Atlantic area and then the Southwestern regions work with children were outlined.

Overall there were 359 international pioneers sent from the US by the end of 1958 and 195 of the 300 assembly goal had been achieved.

1959

1959-1960 annual reports of committees are available detailing the Area Teaching Committees and situations. The North New England states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont had a committee of its own. They had sent out questionnaires seeking homefront pioneers, a set of traveling speakers who traveled circuits, publicity of their appearances, and there were conferences in the region including one cross areas at Green Acre, public library donations of materials, and most Area Teaching Committees did similarly, with regional summer schools instead of permanent schools as available. There was then a Northern and Southern New England Committees, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, East Central, Central, Gulf, South Central, Tennessee Valley, Rocky Mountains, Southwestern, and Northwestern.

A contribution to Negro History Week had been held in the Northwestern region, while three general conferences were held in the Rocky Mountains. Another spotlight of a developing community in Washington state was noted based this time on 1959 homefront pioneers. In September a conference in New England states was held at the Cathedral of Pines, and another in Connecticut. The Rocky Mountain Committee noted a need for enduring activities to keep short term events from being nothing more.

September timed five conferences the South Atlantic region's states - three in Florida, and one each in South Carolina and Georgia.

1960

There was a gathering of techniques of how communities had gotten listing in public telephone directories. The North Central states committee recieved a letter from an individual active Bahá'í and their activities.

Cathedral of the Pines hosted a Bahá'í conference in July for the North New England state region. There were Southwest and Northwest youth initiatives culminating in a November conference, along with coverage of conferences in other states. That winter a Frogmore Conference was held in the South Atlantic States region in South Carolina.

An end of the year report was published in several newspapers in variou places of the religion reaching to 71 away from goal of 300 spiritual assemblies.

1961

A May conference was held in the Southwest that invited non-Bahá'ís and their reaction to the teachings of the religion and there was a local documentary that the events were planned to be incorporated into. Later in 1961 the South Central states bulletin about themes of teachings of the religion and the life led by actions and choices.

1962

'Preferred goals' were listed in January 1962 cautioning people who wanted to homefront pioneer should work with the area teaching committees to make sure of coordination and the goal of preserving existing assemblies (there were 16 known assemblies lacking enough members to re-elect at the time,) specifically highlighting the larger communities from which people could move from: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Nashville, New York, Phoenix. Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle and Washington DC.

There was an overall update on stats on the goals published in April 1962 before the national convention: 228 local assemblies, 704 groups, 634 isolated Baha'is, noting accelerated declarations of youth, school systems recognition of Bahá'í Holy Days in 27 states and DC and Bahá'í marriage ceremonies now being recognized in 31 states. In a special insert for the June Baha'i News the national assembly announced 302 assemblies had been reported at the national convention and asking for at least eight more by September 1 for a total of 310 and could temporarily form any time of the year. And a 'preferred goal groups' were listed:

State	goals
California	El Cajon JD, Monterey, North Sacramento JD, Redding, San Bernardino JD
Connecticut	Bridgeport
Delaware	Newcastle County
Florida	Orlando, North Miami
Idaho	Nez Perce County
Illinois	Decatur, Elmhurst, Park Ridge
Minnesota	Olmstead County
Missouri	Joplin
New Hampshire	McKinley County
New York	Babylong Twp, Huntington Twp
Ohio	Kettering
Texas	Amarillo, Castle Hills
Vermont	Brattleboro
Wyoming	Cheyenne

That September the first Indian tribal leader of the Washoe joined the Bahá'í Faith, and the now annual Cathedral of the Pines conference was held. In December the local observances of anniversary of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's visits were held variously in the country.

1963

There were 112 incorporated assemblies as of 1963. Beyond them there were 331 total assemblies, 649 locations with groups of 2-8 Bahá'ís, short of electing an assembly, and 676 locations of isolated Bahá'ís, (see tables of assemblies.) Beyond the mainland there were other communities under the mainland National Assembly as of 1963. Hawaii had 4 assemblies (County, Honolulu, Kauai, Maui,) and one group on Molokai Island. There were additional groups of Bahá'ís in: Aleutian Islands, Andorra, Azores, Caroline Islands, and isolated Bahá'ís associated with the US National Assembly in a few locations: Shanghai, China, Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, and Kazakhstan.