United States
From Bahaikipedia
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United States
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 North American House of Worship, Wilmette, Illinois
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| National Office | Evanston, Illinois | |
| National Assembly | NSA:United States | |
| - | Elected members | Muin Afnani |
| - | Jacqueline Left Hand Bull | |
| - | Kenneth Bowers | |
| - | Juana Conrad | |
| - | Valerie Dana | |
| - | Robert C. Henderson | |
| - | William Roberts | |
| - | Erica Toussaint | |
| - | David Young | |
| Statistics: | ||
| Number of Bahá'ís | ||
| - | Bahá'í source | 156,892 [1] |
| Local Assemblies | 1,163 | |
| History: Firsts |
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| - | Local Bahá'í | Thornton Chase |
| - | National Assembly | 1925, with Canada 1948, independently |
| - | National Convention | 1909 |
| How to contact: | ||
| - | Phone | 847-733-3559 |
| - | Fax | 847-733-3430 |
| - | See here | |
| - | Address | 1233 Central Street Evanston, IL 60201 |
| Official Website | http://www.bahai.us/ | |
The United States Bahá’í community was opened in 1894 when Thornton Chase became the first American to declare his belief in Bahá’u’lláh.[2] The current estimated number of Bahá’ís in the United States is 156,892.[1]
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[edit] History
The Bahá’í Faith was first mentioned in the United States in 1893 by a Presbyterian missionary at the World's Parliament of Religions held during the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The following year, Thornton Chase, a Chicago insurance manager, became the first American Bahá’í. By the end of 1894 four other Americans had also become Bahá’ís. The Bahá’í Faith spread quickly and groups formed in cities across the country. In 1909 the first National Convention was held and 39 delegates from 36 cities attended.
In the 1920's, Bahá’í communities representing more than 60 localities increased their activities in several areas. Most notable were Bahá’í efforts in the struggle for racial harmony in the United States. Racial amity conferences were hosted in several major cities throughout the country with the cooperative participation of the NAACP, the National Urban League, U.S. congressmen, and college presidents. In 1927, the National Spiritual Assembly framed its constitution, which has served as a model for the formation of more than 160 National Spiritual Assemblies throughout the world.
By 1930, eighteen books of Bahá’í scriptures were available in English. Scores of other compilations, expository works, and pamphlets were published. By the mid-1930’s, Bahá’ís resided in more than 200 localities. In 1944, the centennial year of the Bahá’í Faith, every state in the nation had at least one local Bahá’í administrative body. By 1963, Bahá’ís resided in more than 1,700 localities, and by 1968, in more than 3,300. Currently more than 150,000 Bahá’ís reside in over 7,000 localities throughout the United States, including over 100 Indian reservations.[3]
[edit] Contact
To request information about the Bahá’í Faith or to meet Bahá’ís:
- 1 (800) 22-UNITE
Media and Public Information:
For any media-related inquiries and general questions about the Bahá’í Faith.
Phone: 847-733-3559
Fax: 847-733-3578
Email: See here
Address:
1233 Central Street
Evanston, IL 60201
Media Inquiries about National and International Affairs
For media inquiries regarding persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran or other Muslim countries, Bahá’í involvement at the U.N., in promotion of human rights, advancement of women, sustainable development, religious freedom, and other public policy issues.
Phone: 202-833-8990
Fax: 202-833-8988
Email: See here
Address:
1320 19th Street, NW Suite 701
Washington, DC 20036
External Affairs Office
For government affairs, public policy issues and issues related to the persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran and other Muslim countries.
Phone: 202-833-8990
Fax: 202-833-8988
Email: See here
Address:
1320 19th Street, NW Suite 701
Washington, DC 20036
For Bahá’í House of Worship activites in Wilmette Illinois.
Phone: 847-853-2300
Email: See here
Address:
112 Linden Avenue
Wilmette, IL 60091
[edit] See also
[edit] External Links
[edit] References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 September 2006 pdf
- ↑ Thornton Chase, First American Bahá’í
- ↑ http://www.bahai.us/us-bahai-history
