For Bahá’ís, scholarship is a lifelong effort animated by the spirit of inquiry into the limitless meaning of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings. Bahá’í scholarship is characterized by the welcome it offers to all who wish to be involved in it, each in his or her own way, by mutual encouragement and cooperation among its participants, and by the respect accorded to distinguished accomplishment and outstanding achievement.

Association for Bahá'í Studies Conference
(www.bahai-studies.ca/)
The Association for Bahá’í Studies promotes the development and dissemination of scholarship on the Bahá’í Faith in North America. The Association holds an annual conference, as well as occasional seminars and symposia. Through its Area Committees, it sponsors regional Bahá’í Studies activities across the United States, which provide further opportunities for scholars to present the results of their research and to exchange ideas.

Bahá'í Chair for Peace
(www.bahaipeacechair.org)
The Bahá’í Chair for World Peace was established in 1993 at the Center for International Development and Conflict Management at the University of Maryland, College Park, under the auspices of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. The mission of the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace is to develop alternatives to the violent resolution of conflict management, global education, international development, spiritual awareness, and world trade; to share the experience of the Bahá’í world community in building a global society; and to offer the community as a model for study.

Research Resources

• National Bahá'í Archives
The National Bahá’í Archives was established by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States to collect, arrange, and preserve archival material, such as historical documents, records, letters, manuscripts, photographs, and books. The Archives provides research and reference services to Bahá’í institutions and to scholars and historians researching Bahá’í history as well as individuals who wish to deepen their knowledge of the Bahá’í Faith. The National Bahá’í Archives is located in the lower level of the Bahá’í House of Worship, 100 Linden Avenue (corner of Linden Avenue and Sheridan Road), Wilmette, Illinois. It is open by appointment to qualified researchers Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with an hour closure for lunch. The Archives is closed on holidays and Bahá’í Holy Days.

• National Bahá'í School Libraries
The Libraries at Bosch, Green Acre, and Louhelen Bahá’í Schools offer a rich collection of Bahá’í-related books, biographies, and other media. To learn more about the offerings at these libraries, email each school at the following addresses: Bosch, bosch@usbnc.org; for Green Acre, greenacre@usbnc.org; and for Louhelen, Louhelen@usbnc.org.