Bahá’í Reference Library

Periodicals and Other Supplementary Materials

The Bahá’í World Volumes

The Bahá’í World was a publication described by Shoghi Effendi as a “unique record of world-wide Bahá’í activity,” which sought “to present to the general public…those historical facts and fundamental principles that constitute the distinguishing features of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh.”

The series—the first volume of which was published as The Bahá’í Yearbook in 1926—chronicles over 80 years of religious history. It provides accounts of significant events, documents major communications from Bahá’í institutions, compiles facts, figures and photographs, and presents articles and essays which explore the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and their implications for society.

Volumes are available for download below.

More about this publication

Volume 1 (1925–1926)

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  • Part One
    • “O Army of Life!”
    • A Statement of the Purpose and Principles of the Bahá’í Faith
    • Outline of Bahá’í History
    • The Passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
  • Part Two
    • Extracts from Bahá’í Sacred Writings
    • A Statement on Present-day Administration of the Bahá’í Cause
    • Bahá’í Calendar and Festivals
    • The Mashriqu'l-Adhkár
    • Brief History of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in America
    • Extracts from Mashriqu’l-Adhkár Report
    • The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of 'Ishqábád
    • Impressions of Haifa
    • Kunjangun
    • Old and New Path at Green Acre
    • World Unity Conference
  • Part Three
    • National Spiritual Assemblies
    • Leading Local Bahá’í Centers
    • Bahá’í Periodicals
    • Bibliography
    • References to the Bahá’í Movement
    • European and American Cities Visited by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
    • Transliteration of Oriental Terms Frequently Used in Bahá’í Literature
    • Dr. J. E. Esslemont
  • Part Four
    • The Relation of the Bahá’í Cause to Modern Progressive Movements
    • The Unity of Civilization
    • Equality of Men and Women
    • Esperanto and the Bahá’í Teachings
    • Unity of Religions
    • Science and Religion
    • Universal Education
    • Racial Amity
    • The Economic Teaching of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
    • World Peace 

Volume 2 (1926–1928)

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  • Part One
    • “O Army of Life!”—Words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
    • A Statement of the Purpose and Principles of the Bahá’í Faith and Outline of Bahá’í History
    • The Passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
    • Survey of Current Bahá’í Activities in the East and West
  • Part Two
    • Excerpts from Bahá’í Sacred writings
    • A Statement on Present-Day Administration of the Bahá’í Cause
    • Bahá’í Calendar and Festivals
    • The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár
    • Impressions of Haifa
    • Haifa, ‘Akká and Bahjí
    • Kunjangoon—The Village of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
    • Through India and Burma
    • Green Acre and the Ideal of World Unity
    • References to the Bahá’í Faith
    • Queen Marie of Rumania pays tribute to the beauty and nobility of the Bahá’í Teachings
  • Part Three
    • Bahá’í Directory
    • Bahá’í Bibliography
    • Transliteration of Oriental Terms frequently used in Bahá’í Literature
    • Guide to the transliteration and pronunciation of the Persian Alphabet
  • Part Four
    • Introduction to the Promulgation of Universal Peace
    • Poem–“A Prayer”
    • The Bahá’í Religion—Papers read at the Conference of Some Living Religions Within the British Empire
    • Living Religions and the Bahá’í Movement
    • The Bahá’í Attitude Towards Muhammad
    • A Modern Interpretation of Muhammadanism
    • The World-Wide Influence of Quarratu’l-‘Ayn
    • Souvenir Feast of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
    • The Bahá’í Cause at the Universal Esperanto Congresses at Edinburgh and Danzig
    • On the Borders of Lake Leman
    • Translation of a Letter from the Israelitish Assembly of Bahá’ís of Tihrán, Persia
    • Inter-Racial Amity
    • Bahá’í Persecutions in Persia—An Appeal to His Imperial Majesty Reza Shah Pahlavi
    • Appendix One—Summary of Bahá’í Teachings
    • Appendix Two—Excerpts from Letters of Bahá’u’lláh to the
    • Sultan of Turkey and the Sháh of Persia
    • Appendix Three—Words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá concerning Persia  

Volume 3 (1928–1930)

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  • Part One
    • “The City of Certitude”—Words of Bahá’u’lláh
    • Aims and Purposes of the Bahá’í Faith
    • Bahá’u’lláh: The Voice of Religious Reconciliation
    • The Dawn of the Bahá’í Revelation (From Nabil's Narrative)
    • Survey of Current Bahá’í Activities in the East and West
  • Part Two
    • Excerpts from Bahá’í Sacred Writings
    • The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh
    • Bahá’í Calendar and Festivals
    • The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár
    • Green Acre and the Bahá’í Ideal of Inter-racial Amity
    • Reference to the Bahá’í Faith
    • The Case of Bahá’u’lláh’s House in Baghdad before the League of Nations
    • Hippolyte Dreyfus Barney
  • Part Three
    • Bahá’í Directory
    • Bahá’í Bibliography
    • Transliteration of Oriental Words frequently used in Bahá’í Literature with guide to the transliteration and pronunciation of the Persian Alphabet
    • Definitions of Oriental Terms used in Bahá’í Literature
  • Part Four
    • Bahá’u’lláh’s Divine Economy: A letter of Shoghi Effendi
    • The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh: A Reflection, by G. Townsend
    • ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Visit to Woking, England
    • Impressions of Haifa, by Alaine Locke, A.B., Ph.D.
    • The World Vision of a Savant, by Dr. Auguste Henri Forel
    • The Cultural Principles of the Bahá’í Movement, by Dr. Ernst Kliemke
    • The Relation of the Bab to the Tradition of Islam, by Wanden Mathews LaFarge
    • The Bahá’í Movement in German Universities, by Martha L. Root
    • The City Foursquare, by Allen B. McDaniel
    • Religion for the New Age, by John Herman Randall
    • Before Abraham Was, I am!, by Thornton Chase
    • The Race of Men-Many Or One, by Louis G. Gregory
    • Haifa—and the Bahá’ís, by Dr. John Hayne Holmes
    • A Visit to Rustum Vambéry, by Martha L. Root
    • The Bahá’í Cause at the XXth Universal Congress of Esperanto at Antwerp, Belgium, August 1928, by Martha L. Root
    • Shrines and Gardens, by Beatrice Irwin
    • An Audience with King Faisal, by Martha L. Root
    • Bahá’u’lláh and His Teachings, reprinted from the “Japan Times and Mail”
    • ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Rabbi, by Willard P. Hatch 1611
    • Some Experiences Among the Poor in Brazil, by Leonora Holsapple
    • A Trip to Tahiti, by Louise Bosch 

Volume 4 (1930–1932)

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  • Part One
    • Bahá’u’lláh: The Voice of Religious Reconciliation
    • Aims and Purposes of the Bahá’í Faith
    • Martyrdom of the Báb
    • Survey of Current
    • Excerpts from Bahá’í Sacred Writings
  • Part Two
    • The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh
    • The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár
    • References to the Bahá’í Faith
    • Further developments in the Case of Bahá’u’lláh’s House: Extracts from the Minutes, of the Permanent Mandates Commission of the League of Nations
    • Bahá’í Calendar and Festivals
    • Short History of the International Bahá’í Bureau at Geneva Switzerland
    • In Memoriam
  • Part Three
    • Bahá’í Directory, 1931–1932
    • Bahá’í Bibliography
    • Transliteration of Oriental Words, frequently used in Bahá’í Literature with Guide to Transliteration and Pronunciation of the Persian
    • Definitions of Oriental Terms used in Bahá’í Literature, Glossary
  • Part Four
    • The Goal of a New World Order: A Letter of Shoghi Effendi
    • The Way of the Master, by G. Townshend
    • Italy and the Bahá’í Cause. by General Renato Piola Caselli
    • The World Economy of Bahá’u’lláh, by Horace Holley
    • Education as a Source of Good Will, by President Bayard Dodge
    • Unity through Diversity: A Bahá’í Principle, by Alain Locke, A.B.,Ph.D.
    • A Short Chronicle of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's Visit to London, 1911–1912, by Lady Bromfield
    • Professor Auguste Forel and the Bahá’í Teachings, by Stanwood Cobb
    • A Tribute from Dr. Edmond Privat
    • A Visit to 'Akká, by Mrs. Alexander Whyte
    • The First Fruits of Victory, by Keith Ransom-Kehler
    • Where is the Key to World Unity, by Louise Drake Wright
    • A Visit to Bahjí, by Nancy Bowditch
    • Religion in Asia, by Herbert A. Miller
    • China's Tribute to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh
    • Appreciation of the Bahá’í Movement, by Martha L. Root
    • The Supreme Affliction, by Alfred E. Lunt
    • The Bahá’í Movement and North American University Circles, by Martha L. Root
    • Bahá'í Ideals of Education, by Stanwood Cobb
    • Man and Mankind on the Way of Progress, by Lydja Zamenhof
    • The Epidemic of the Persian Jews, by A. J. Wienberg
    • The Younger Generation, by Mardiyyih N.MI Carpenter
    • Light On Basic Unity, by Louis G. Gregory
    • The Bahá’í Movement in Japan, by Tokujiro Torii
    • Science and Religion, compiled by Loulie A. Mathews
    • A Bahá'í Traveler in Palestine, by Walter B, Guy, M.D.
    • Dr. David Starr Jordan, by Willard P. Hatch
    • Song offerings
    • Echoes from the Spheres

Volume 5 (1932–1934)

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  • Part One
    • Aims and Purposes of the Bahá’í Faith
    • Survey of Current Bahá’í Activities in the East and West
    • Excerpts from Bahá’í Sacred Writings
    • The Passing of Bahíyyih Khánum, the Most Exalted Leaf
  • Part Two
    • The World Order of Bahá'u’lláh
    • The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár
    • References to the Bahá’í Faith
    • Further Developments in the case of Bahá’u’lláh’s House in Baghdád
    • Bahá’í Calendar and Festival
    • Youth Activities throughout the Bahá’í World
    • In Memoriam
  • Part Three
    • Bahá’í Directory 1935–1936
    • Bahá’í Bibliography
    • Transliteration of Oriental Words frequently used in Bahá’í Literature with Guide to the Transliteration and Pronunciation of the Persian Alphabet
    • Definitions of Oriental Terms used in Bahá’í Literature
  • Part Four
    • The Administrative Order in the Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh from a letter of Shoghi Effendi
    • The Descent of the New Jerusalem, by G. Townshend
    • The Spiritual Basis of World Peace, by Horace Holley
    • In the Footsteps of the Pioneers, by Keith Ransom-Kehler
    • The Orientation of Hope, by Alain Locke
    • La Foie et la Science Unies par l'Art, by Marie Antoinette Aussenac, Princesse de Broglie
    • Religion and Social Progress , by Keith Ransom-Kehler
    • Prince Paul and Princess Olga of Yugoslavia, by Martha Root
    • A Religion of Reconciliation, by Rev. Griffith J. Sparham
    • The Men of the Trees, by Richard St. Barbe Baker
    • Les Problêmes du Monde et la Foie Bahá’í, by 'Ali Afdalipur
    • The Bahá’í Movement, the Greatness of Its Power, by Martha Root
    • Der Sinn Unserer Zeit, by Dr. Hermann Grossmann
    • Le Bahá’ísm, by Eugen Relgis
    • A Visit to Adrianople, by Martha Root
    • The Re-florescence of Historical Romance in Nabíl, by Mary Maxwell
    • William Miller, Student of Prophecy, by Bertha Hyde Kirkpatrick
    • A New Cycle of Human Power, by Marion Holley
    • An Appreciation, by Dr. Rustum Vambery
    • The True Sovereign, by Alfred E. Lunt
    • The Nature of the Divine Manifestations, by Glenn A. Shook
    • Religious Education for the Young, by Mrs. M. H. Inouye
    • Why Do I Espouse the Bahá’í Cause? by Chi Kao Fujisawa
    • Count Leo Tolstoy and the Bahá’í Movement, by Martha Root
    • A Chinese View of the Bahá’í Cause, by Chan S. Liu
    • Vernunft und Glaube, by Dr. Adelbert Muhlschlegel
    • Influence of Astronomy on Religious Thought, by Giorgio Abetti
    • Haifa Calling, by Florence E. Pinchon
    • Taking the Message to the Maori People, by Keith Ransom-Kehler
    • Only a Ward, by Laura Dreyfus-Barney
    • Song-Offerings
    • Echoes from the Spheres
    • Map of the Bahá’í World

Volume 6 (1934–1936)

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  • Part One
    • Aims and Purposes of the Bahá’í Faith
    • Survey of Current Bahá’í Activities in the East and West
    • Excerpts from Bahá’í Sacred Writings
  • Part Two
    • The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh
    • References to the Bahá’í Faith
    • In Memoriam
  • Part Three
    • Bahá’í Directory 1935–1936
    • Bahá’í Bibliography
    • Transliteration of Oriental Words frequently used in Bahá’í Literature with
    • Definitions of Oriental Terms used in Bahá’í Literature
  • Part Four
    • Articles and Reviews
      • Religion and World Order, by Horace Holley
      • Queen Marie of Rumania, by Martha L. Root
      • The Epic of Humanity, by Christophil
      • President Eduard Benes, by Martha L. Root
      • Spiritual Perspectives, by Prof. Raymond Frank Piper
      • Splendor at the Core, by Angela Morgan
      • Bahá’í-Glaube und Christen tum, by Dr. Engen Schmidt
      • Bahá’ísmo kaj la Socia Problemo, by Prof. Paul Christaller
      • Bahá’u’lláh's Ground Plan of World Fellowship, by Archdeacon George Townshend
      • Die Bahá’ís und meine Erfahrungen, by Prof. Dr. J. Rypka
      • Impressions of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá , by Louise R. Waite
      • Zwei Heilige Grabstatten, by Dr. Adelbert Muhlschlegel
      • In Praise of Words, by Helen Bishop
      • The Continuity of Religion, by Stanwood Cobb
      • The Most Great Peace, by Marion Holley
      • King Haakon of Norway, by Martha L. Root
      • Some Memories of the Sojourn of ‘Abdu’I-Bahá in Paris, by Lady Blomfield
      • Racial Likenesses and Differences: The Scientific Evidence and the Bahá’í Teachings, by Louis G. Gregory
      • Denmark's Oriental Scholar, by Martha L. Root
      • La Bahia Filozofio, by Lidja Zamenhof
      • The Bahá’í Movement, by Renwick J. G. Millar
      • ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's Historic Meeting with Jane Addams, by Ruth J. Moffett
      • The Soul of Iceland, by Martha L. Root
      • Ein Junger Glaube wird Bekannt, by Dr. Hermann Grossmann
      • South America : Journey Taken in the Interest of the Bahá’í Cause, by Loulie A. Mathews
      • Glimpses of Sweden, by Olivia Kelsey
      • Russia's Cultural Contribution to the Bahá’í Faith, by Martha Root
      • A Bahá’í Incident from the Netherlands, by Louise Drake Wright
      • Mr. Harald Thilander and his Publications for the Blind in Sweden, by Nellie S. French
      • The Modern Miracles of Palestine, by Beatrice Irwin
      • A New Future for Radio, by Shirley Warde
    • Song Offerings
    • Echoes from the Spheres
    • Map of Írán showing Bahá’í Centers
    • Map of the United States Showing Bahá’í Centers