An example of “race amity” conferences and meetings held by American Baha'is in 1920s and 1930s

In the 1920s and 1930s, the Bahá’í community of the United States sponsored a series of “race amity” conferences and meetings, like this one held by the New York Bahá’í Assembly and the New York Urban League in New York City in 1930. (Baha’i Media Bank)

Worldwide travels of Ruhiyyih Khanum

'Abdu'l-Baha Abbas

'Abdu'l-Baha, portrait taken in Paris

"Thou knowest, O my God, that I desire for Him naught except that which Thou didst desire, and have chosen Him for no purpose save that which Thou hadst intended for Him. Render Him victorious, therefore, through Thy hosts of earth and heaven... Ordain, I beseech Thee, by the ardor of My love for Thee and My yearning to manifest Thy Cause, for Him, as well as for them that love Him, that which Thou hast destined for Thy Messengers and the Trustees of Thy Revelation. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the All-Powerful."

- Baha'u'llah  (Quoted by Shoghi Effendi in 'The World Order of Baha'u'llah')

Dr. 'Ali-Akbar Furutan - One of the Principals of Tarbiyat School, Secretary of Iranian National Spiritual Assembly for 24 years, One of the Nine Custodial Hands of the Cause

In the face of sustained persecution, Dr. Furutan's family left their native city of Sabzivir in Khurasan, Persia, in 1914 and settled in Ashkhabad, Russia. As a youth he became an active member of the local Baha'i community and, whilst still in his teens, became a teacher in its school. In 1926 he won a scholarship to the University of Moscow to study education and child psychology. In 1930 he returned to Iran where he established a school for Baha'i children in one of the villages. Dr. Furutan was appointed as principal of the Tarbiyat school for boys until its closure in 1934, and wrote study books for Baha’i children’s classes which are still in use. In April 1934 he was elected to the newly formed National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Iran and served as its secretary until the passing of Shoghi Effendi in November of 1957. Dr. Furutan was appointed a Hand of the Cause by Shoghi Effendi, in the first contingent of Hands, in December 1951. In 1957 he became one of the nine custodial Hands of the Cause in Haifa. Dr. Furutan’s Persian publications are extensive, and several have been translated into English. 

(Adapted from ‘A Concise Encyclopedia of the Baha’i Faith’, by Peter Smith)(See also Baha'i Calendar - this month in history)

circa 1935: Front view of the Haziratu'l-Quds of Tihran, Iran

Calligraphic arrangement of part of the opening sentence of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha

Calligraphic arrangement of part of the opening sentence of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha: 'All Praise to Him Who, by the Sheild of His Covenant, hath gaurded the Temple of His Cause'. 

(The Baha'i World 1976-1979)

1928: Haifa and Mount Carmel

(Star of the West, vol. 18, no. 11, February 1928)

1919: A group of Western pilgrims with some local Baha'is in the Garden of Ridvan near Akka

Calligraphic exercise of the Bab written before He was ten years old

Bahá'u'lláh's Father's House in Tihran, Iran

In the streets of Haifa

'Abdu'l-Baha

1910: Some of the Baha'is of Mandalay, Burma with two visiting Baha’is from the West

Charles Mason Remey (left) and Howard Struven (right)

circa 1909: Some Baha'is in Washington DC

Holding the Greatest Name is Mason Remey. Directly in front of him, seated behind the table is Lua Getsinger with a scarf over her hair. Seated behind the table on the far right is Joseph Hannen. Left of him is his mother-in-law, Amelia Knobloch. The young man seated on the floor in fron of the table is Ahmad Sohrab.

1989: The "Peace Chariot"

The Baha'i Mobile Deepening Institute in the State of Uttar Pradesh, India, is drawn from village to village on a bullock cart. The Institute has become known as 'The Shati-Rath' (Peace Chariot). 

(Baha'i News, December 1989)

Haifa 1928 -- Looking up Carmel Ave. toward the Shrine of the Báb

(Star of the West, vol. 19, no. 3, June 1928)

1988: Fifth Continental Indigenous Council, South Dakota, USA

Counsellors Jacqueline Delahunt (left) and Lauretta King congratulate Lakota hoop dancer Dallas Chief Eagle, who declared his belief in Baha'u'llah shortly after performing at the fifth Continental Indegenous Council which was held in South Dakota, USA, during August 1-5, 1988.

1975: Members of first Togo National Spiritual Assembly

The members of first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Togo assemble with the Hand of the Cause of God Rahmatu'llah Muhajir, seated second from left. The Togo National Spiritual Assembly was elected at the first National Convention, April 1975. The members are, from left, Kawku Negble Attigah, vice chairman; Amevor Amernatchron; George Allen, secretary; and, standing, Yao Azikpati; Kodjo Honsou; Maylo Murday, treasurer; Komi Koussanta, assistant treasurer; Baban Soga Kamoe, assistant secretary; and Amru'llah Khelghati, chairman. 

(Baha'i News, October 1975)

May 1, 1931: The first picture taken on the Chicago Temple steps after the completion of the superstructure

(Baha'i News February 1976)

Prayer-beads of the Báb and Baha’u’llah

Baha'u'llah's Prayer-beads and Ring (right), the Bab's Prayer-beads and Ring (left), Baha'u'llah's Pen-case and Tea-glass.

Reconstructed House of Bahá’u’lláh's father in Takur, Mazindaran, Iran, circa 1936

The Master

My name is 'Abdu'l-Bahá. My qualification is 'Abdu'l-Bahá. My reality is 'Abdu'l-Bahá. My praise is 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Thraldom to the Blessed Perfection is my glorious and refulgent diadem, and servitude to all the human race my perpetual religion... No name, no title, no mention, no commendation have I, nor will ever have, except 'Abdu'l-Bahá. This is my longing. This is my greatest yearning. This is my eternal life. This is my everlasting glory.

-  'Abdu'l-Baha  (Quoted by Shoghi Effendi in 'The World Order of Baha'u'llah')

1928: The Shrine of the Báb on Mt. Carmel and a part of the beautiful terraced gardens

(Star of the West, vol. 19, no. 3, June 1928)

Interior view of the bath the Bab went to when a child

(The Baha'i World 1934-1936)

1962: First National Spiritual Assembly of Finland

Left to right, seated: Mavlys Tulvenhumo, Gurun Opategaard (treasurer), Josephine Kruka, Sirkka Salmi (secretary), Greta Jankko. Standing: Maija Ravola (recording secretary), Mark Namdar (vice-chairman), Ghodrat Bidardel, K.H. Zalrhian (chairman) 

(Baha'i News, August 1962)

Northern Persia: A Summer Interlude Place for Bahá'u'lláh's Family

Murgh-Mahallih, the 'abode of the birds' in Shimran district, place of a summer interlude of the young family of Bahá'u'lláh.

Marriage Certificate of Bahá'u'lláh

1912: A group of Baha'is in London

Standing, left to right: Yu'hanna Davud, Beatrice Platt, unknown, Arthur Cuthbert, Lutfu'llah Hakim, Mr. Jenner. Seated at the center is Ethel Rosenberg, and to her left is Lady Bloomfiled.

1907: Thornton Chase Visits Cairo

Chase is seated second from right. To his left is Mirza Abu'l-Fadl

Persia circa 1911: Some Western and Eastern Baha'is

Left to right standing: Elizabeth Stewart, N. Labib, founder of Children's Savings Bank co., Dr. Sarah Clock, Mirza F. A'zam, one of the directors of the Children's Savings Bank Co. Sitting, left to right: Lillian Kappers, preceptress Tarbiyat Girl's School, Dr. Susan Moody, Ghodsieh Ashraf, and two school children 

(Star of the West, vol. 17, no. 8, November 1926)