Chronology: Date 1956-0

date	event	tags	firsts
1956 21 Jul	As a result of the intervention of the UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold in July of 1955, promises were given by the Iranian government officials that the persecutions would cease however, that was not the case. The Bahá'í International Community, as an accredited member of the Non-Governmental Organizations at the United Nations, sent delegates to Geneva to attend the meetings of the Economic and Social Council and to present the Bahá'í case to the sub-Committee on the Discrimination and Protection of Minorities. At Geneva the Bahá'í representatives met a number of delegates to the Economic and Social Council enlisting their sympathy in the case and requesting them to inform their Foreign Offices. Following a news conference held by the Bahá'í representatives a full story appeared in the New YorkTimes of July 21, 1956. [CBN No 81 October 1956 p1-2]	Persecution, Iran; Iran
1956 20 May	Louisa Mathew Gregory, (b. 1 February 1866 in Penge, Kent, England) whose wedding to Hand of the Cause of God Louis Gregory in 1912 was the first interracial western Bahá'í marriage, passed away in Eliot, Maine. [BW13:878; SYH19, 239] She had been introduced to the Faith by Edith Sanderson in Paris in about December of 1909. Edith had been taught by May Maxwell in 1902. [SYH5, 206] For her obituary see BW13:376–8. Error in this article There was no Bahá'í Congress in Prague in 1928 She did not attend Cambridge but rather the examination for her credentials were administered by Cambridge. 'Abdu'l-Bahá did not attend her marriage on the 27 September 1912. He was in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. [SYHvii-viii; 28] Her biography, A Seed in Your Heart - The Life of Louise Mathew Gregory by Janet Fleming Rose was published by George Ronald in 2018.	Louisa Mathew Gregory; Louise Gregory; Edith Sanderson; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Firsts, other; Eliot, ME; Maine, USA; USA; Penge; Kent, England	first interracial western Bahá’í marriage
1956 May	Mary Zabolotny (later Mrs Ken McCulloch), of Ukrainian background, arrived on Anticosti Island, Canada, and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449]	- Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Mary Zabolotny McCulloch; Islands; Anticosti Island, QC; Canada
1956 Ridván	After their pilgrimage Harlan and Elizabeth Ober travelled to South Africa where they helped form the first all-African Local Spiritual Assembly in Pretoria as had previously been request of them by the Guardian. They returned in December as pioneers. [BW13869]	Harlan Ober; Elizabeth Kidder Ober; Pioneers; Haifa, Israel; Pretoria, South Africa	first all-African Local Spiritual Assembly
1956 Ridván	The first local spiritual assembly in Taiwan was formed in T'ainan. [The Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle by Barbara R. Sims p15]	Local Spiritual Assembly; Tainan; Taiwan	first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Tainan, Taiwan
1956 Ridván	Formation of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Guam.	Local Spiritual Assembly; Guam	first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Guam.
1956 Ridván	The local spiritual assembly of Addis Ababa incorporated, the first one in Africa to do so. [BW13:287]	Local Spiritual Assembly, incorporation; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia	first Local Spiritual Assembly to incorporate in Africa
1956 Ridván	The first local spiritual assembly of Hong Kong was formed.	Local Spiritual Assembly; Hong Kong	first Local Spiritual Assembly Hong Kong
1956 Ridván	With the enrolment of the first Micronesian Bahá'í, the first local spiritual assembly of Guam was formed.	Local Spiritual Assembly; Guam	first Local Spiritual Assembly Guam
1956 Ridván	The first local spiritual assemblies in Korea were formed at Seoul and at Kwangju.	Local Spiritual Assembly; Seoul, South Korea; Kwangju; Korea	first Local Spiritual Assemblies Korea
1956 Ridván	The first local spiritual assembly in Bermuda was formed.	Local Spiritual Assembly; Bermuda	firstLocal Spiritual Assembly Bermuda
1956 Ridván	In his message to the four African Conventions for the National Spiritual Assemblies of Central and East Africa, North East Africa, North-West Africa, and South and West Africa, the Guardian announced that there were "over three thousand avowed supporters, five-sixths of whom belong to the Negro race, scattered throughout more than fifty territories and islands, and residing in over four hundred localities. Representatives of no less than one hundred and forty of its tribes have, moreover, enlisted under the banner of the Faith. Over a hundred and twenty Bahá'í Local Assemblies are already functioning throughout its territories. Into more than fifty of its indigenous languages Bahá'í literature has been and is being translated. The process of incorporating the newly formed Local Assemblies has furthermore been inaugurated. A National Administrative Headquarters has been established in each one of its four pivotal centres, while three Temple sites situated within its confines have been recently purchased, on one of which the Mother Temple of Africa is soon to be erected." [That Promising Continent 24-26]	Statistics; - Africa
1956 Ridván	The Regional Spiritual Assembly of North East Africa was formed by expanding the jurisdiction of the National Spiritual Assembly of Egypt and Sudan. [BW13:284] Its area of jurisdiction now included Egypt, Sudan, Abyssinia, Libya, Eritrea, British, French and Italian Somaliland and Socotra Island. From this date forward all African territories originally allocated to the United States, the Persian, the Egyptian, the Indian, and the British National Spiritual Assemblies became, in the course of the Ten-Year Plan, to benefit from the advantages of sustained assistance by these Assemblies Spiritual Assemblies. [MBW71-72] Since 1956 National Spiritual Assembly of North East Africa had been led by the former National Spiritual Assembly of Egypt and the Sudan. In 1960 difficulties in Egypt made it impossible to administer territories outside of Egypt a regional administrative committee was formed and this, in turn, was replaced with a new National Spiritual Assembly with its headquarters in Addis Abba. [BW13p287]	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Egypt; Libya; Sudan; Eritrea; French Somaliland; Djibouti, East Africa; Italian Somaliland; Ethiopia; Socotra Island; British Somaliland; Abyssinia; Eritrea	first Regional Spiritual Assembly of North East Africa
1956 Ridván	The first local spiritual assembly was formed in Morocco (International Zone).	Local Spiritual Assembly; Morocco	first Local Spiritual Assembly Morocco
1956 Ridván	The Regional Spiritual Assembly of North West Africa was formed with its seat in Tunis, Tunisia. [BW13:284] Its area of jurisdiction was Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco (International Zone), Spanish Morocco, French Morocco, Rio de Oro, Spanish Sahara, French West Africa, Gambia, Portuguese Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gold Coast, Ashanti Protectorate, British Togoland, French Togoland, Nigeria, British Cameroons, French Cameroons, Northern Territories Protectorate, Spanish Guinea, St Thomas Island, Cape Verde Islands, Canary Islands and Madeira. [MBW71-72] See the Guardian's message to this Assembly. [That Promising Continent 27, 32]	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Tunis, Tunisia; Tunisia	first Regional Spiritual Assembly of North West Africa
1956 Ridván	The Regional Spiritual Assembly of Central and East Africa was formed with its seat in Kampala, Uganda. [BW13:284; MBW71-72] Its area of jurisdiction was Uganda, Tanganyika, Kenya, Belgian Congo, Ruanda-Urundi, French Equatorial Africa, Zanzibar, Comoro Islands and Seychelles Islands. See the Guardian's message to this Assembly. [That Promising Continent 30] Ali Nakhjavani, Hassan Sabri, Philip Hainsworth, Oloro Epyeruj, Jalal Nakhjavani, Aziz Yazdi, Tito Wanantsusit, Max Kenyerezi, and Sylvester Okurut were members of the first regional national assembly. [History of the Bahá'í Faith in Tanzania] This regional assembly was dissolved at Ridván 1964. [BW14p96]	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Kampala, Uganda; Uganda	first Regional Spiritual Assembly of Central and East Africa
1956 Ridván	The Regional Spiritual Assembly of South and West Africa was formed with its seat in Johannesburg, South Africa. The National Convention was held at the Sears farm. Those elected to serve were: John Allen, Festus Chembeni, Walter Dlamini, William Masehla, Robert Miller, Andrew Mofokeng, John Robarts, William Sears and Max Seepe. In January 1957 Walter Dlamini resigned and Marguerite Sears was elected to replace him. [BW13:284; MBW71-72; BN no608 November 1981 p11] Its area of jurisdiction was the Union of South Africa, Basutoland, Zululand, Swaziland, Bechuanaland, South West Africa, Angola, Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Mozambique, Madagascar, Réunion Island, Mauritius and St Helena Island. See the Guardian's message to this Assembly. [That Promising Continent 28-29]	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Johannesburg, South Africa; South Africa	first Regional Spiritual Assembly of South and West Africa
1956 7 Apr	The first indigenous person to become a Bahá'í in Micronesia, 22-year-old Joe Erie Ilengelkei from Palau, Caroline Islands, enrolled.	Joe Erie Ilengelkei; Palau; Caroline Islands	first indigenous Bahá’í in Micronesia
1956 Apr	The publication of Ade-rih-wa-nie-ton On-kwe-on-we Neh-ha: A Message to the Iroquois Indians in the Canadian Bahá'í News. This pamphlet was translated to the Mohawk language by Mr. Charles Cooke of Ottawa and there is reason to believe the translation was commissioned by the Québec Regional Teaching Committee. [Letter from the National Spiritual Assembly to Dr. C Buck 6 January 2021; CBN No69 Oct 1955 p4; CBN 45 April 1956 p.11] See Deganawida, the Peacemaker by Dr Christopher Buck published in American Writers: A Collection of Literary Biographies Supplement XXVI (2015) See as well Native Messengers of God in Canada?: A Test Case for Bahá'í Universalism by Christopher Buck published in Bahá'í Studies Review, 6, pages 97-133 London: Association for Bahá'í Studies English-Speaking Europe, 1996. Also Native Messengers of God in Canada? A test case for Bahá'í universalism, by Christopher Buck:Commentary by William P. Collins. Also of interest on the same subject is his article Dr. David Ruhe's Tribute to Indigenous Messengers of God. See as well Messengers of God in North America, Revisited: An Exegesis of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablet to Amír Khán by Christopher Buck and Donald Addison. For information about the Tablet to Amír Khán see Tablet to Amir Khan and Tablet of the Holy Mariner by / on behalf of Universal House of Justice. Bahá'í Universalism and Native Prophets by Christopher Buck. See the series Indigenous Messengers of God.	Indigenous Messengers of God; Iroquois; Native Americans; Canada
1956 Apr	Shoghi Effendi announced the extension to Egyptian Bahá'í women of the right to be elected to the National Spiritual Assembly and to participate in the national convention. [MBW96–7]	National Spiritual Assembly, women; Women; Equality; - Middle East; Egypt
1956 Apr	Shoghi Effendi announced that the Bahá'í Faith was established in 247 countries, in 3,700 localities and that there were more than 900 local spiritual assemblies, of which 168 were incorporated. Bahá'í literature had been translated into 190 languages. [MBW92–3]	Statistics
1956 Apr	Shoghi Effendi announced that the remaining 22 pillars of the International Bahá'í Archives had been erected and that the last half of the 900 tons of marble from Italy had been delivered. Forty-four tons of glazed green tiles from Utrecht had been placed in position. [MBW108] He also announced that: the dilapidated house located near the Mansion had been restored, Negotiations were underway with the Development Authority of the State of Israel for the acquisition of two plots to the north and south of the Shrine. the destruction of a row of sheds near the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, that an expropriation order had been published in the Israel Official Gazette related to the buildings enclosed within the Haram-i-Aqdas regarding the occupancy of these buildings of the Covenant-breakers. [MBW108-109]	International Bahá'í Archives; Haram-i-Aqdas; Covenant-breakers; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Tea House of; - Bahá'í World Centre; Bahji, Israel
1956 9 Mar	The passing of Albert R Windust (b. 28 March 1874 in Chicago) in Berrien County, Michigan. He was buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Chicago. Albert, in spite of his meagre education, was a deep student of the Writings, an able speaker, and a profound teacher of the Laws and Ordinances. His classes on the Covenant and Bahá'í Administration were most helpful both to newcomers and Bahá'ís of long association with the Faith. There was a freshness and vigor in his teaching; he radiated a love that reached the hearts. In his every-day life he demonstrated the power of the revealed Word of Bahá'u'lláh. "Deeply grieved passing much loved greatly admired staunch ardent promoter Faith, Albert Windust, Herald Covenant, whose notable services Heroic Formative Ages Faith unforgettable. Assure friends relatives fervently supplicating progress soul Kingdom." – Shoghi [BW13p873-874 ] At the age of fourteen Albert became an apprentice in the printing firm where his father worked. Later he became the first publisher of the Writings of the Faith in America. He printed booklets, early editions of prayers, and the Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh (16 March 1900 BFA2p25). In 1910 he founded and started printing the first Bahá'í monthly publication, Star of the West. He gathered and published the well-known three volumes of Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá from Tablets written to the Bahá'ís in North America. He also assisted Howard MacNutt in publishing Promulgation of Universal Peace. Albert also helped in the compilation and publication of the first five volumes of The Bahá'í World for the years 1926 to 1934. When his father died on May 21st, 1913 Albert wrote to 'Abdu'l-Bahá and asked Him to pray for him. 'Abdu'l-Bahá responded by sending a Tablet with a prayer. It was published in SoW Vol 11 Issue 19 p219 and has been printed in Spiritual Strength for Men p82-83 published by Kalimat Press and in Family Worship p66 compiled by Wendi Momen and published by George Ronald. See also Prayer for Fathers by 'Abdu'l-Bahá as translated by Ahmad Sohrab.	In Memoriam; Albert Windust; Chicago, IL
1956 (Early)	In early 1956, Rudolfo Duna, his wife Angelica, and eleven year old daughter Julia, early Mozambican Bahá'ís, undertook the arduous train journey from Johannesburg, South Africa to Luanda, Angola, covering over 5,000 kilometers. Within a week after their arrival in Luanda, a community large enough to establish a Local Spiritual Assembly was formed. Another example of a new African believer arising was the case of Dorothy Chivunda in Zambia. When word of the Faith reached the church Dorothy attended, it aroused the curiosity of the congregation. The church decided to send Dorothy to investigate the claims of this new religion. Within three weeks, she declared as a Bahá'í, promptly organizing a teaching trip to her native village in Kawiku, in Chibwakata area of North Western Province. This trip, and the others that followed, involved over 300 kilometers of travel over rough terrain. It set in motion a process that would lead to the enrolment of thousands of her fellow tribesmen, the Lunda of Zambia, into the Faith. [A Brief Account of the Progress of the Bahá'í Faith in Africa Since 1953 by Nancy Oloro-Robarts and Selam Ahderom p3]	Pioneering; Rudolfo Duna; Angelica Duna; Julia Duna; Dorothy Chivunda; Luanda, Angola; Angola
1956 25 Feb	Husayn Uskuli, (b. 1875) long-time pioneer to Shanghai from 'Ishqábád, passed away in Shanghai at the age of 82 and was buried in the Kiangwan Cemetery in Shanghai. [PH29, BW13p871-873] He had heard about the Faith at the age of 18 from Mírzá Haydar-'Alí. After his marriage he moved to 'Ishqábád where he was very active in the community. After his move to Shanghai his home was the centre of activity and hospitality for all those passing through. He was the only foreign-born Bahá'í to remain in China after the regime change. The xenophobic attitude of the government precluded any meaningful contact with the local citizenry. He was survived by four daughters and a son.	Husayn Uskuli; In Memoriam; Births and deaths; Ashgabat; Turkmenistan; Shanghai, China; China
1956 21 Feb	The first Bahá'í pioneer, Marguerite Allman, (later Miners), formerly of Hamilton and her pioneer post in the Queen Charlotte Islands (now Haida Gwaii), arrived in 1956. She taught the second Icelandic Bahá'í, Erica Petursson. [BN No 487 October 1971 p20; BN303 May 1956 p13]	Pioneer; Reykjavik, Iceland; Iceland; Hamilton, ON
1956 12 Feb	The first four people to become Bahá'ís in Hong Kong, Nari Sherwani, Ng Ying Kay, Chan Lie Kun and Chan Lie Fun, enrolled. [PH75]	First Bahá'ís by country or area; Hong Kong	first four Bahá’ís in Hong Kong
1956 Jan	The first Bahá'í pioneer in what is now the Central African Republic, Samson Nkeng, arrived in Bangui from the British Cameroons1	Samson Nkeng; Pioneer; Central African Republic	first pioneer in Central African Republic
1956 c.	The first person in Tibet to become a Bahá'í, Chiten Tashi, a young businessman from the village of Chombethan, enrolled.	First Bahá'ís by country or area; Tibet	first Bahá'í in Tibet
1956 (In the year)	A Roman Catholic priest lodged a complaint against the Bahá'ís of Morocco with the Moroccan Security Service.	Persecution, Morocco; Morocco
1956 (In the year)	Kedarnath Pradhan, from neighbouring Sikkim, arrived in Nepal, the first pioneer to the country. [Bahá'í Faith In Nepal by Prof. Anil Sarwal]	First travel teachers and pioneers; Nepal; Sikkim, India; India	first pioneer to Nepal
1956 (In the year)	The first indigenous person to become a Bahá'í in New Guinea, Apelis Mazakmat, a school teacher and member of the local government council, enrolled.	Apelis Mazakmat; New Guinea	first indigenous Bahá’í in New Guinea
1956 (In the year)	The first people to become Bahá'ís in Cape Verde enrolled.	First Bahá'ís by country or area; Islands; Cape Verde	first Bahá’ís in Cape Verde
1956 (In the year)	The first Tlinget to become a Bahá'í in Alaska, Joyce Anderson Combs, enrolled.	First Bahá'ís by country or area; Alaska, USA; USA	first Tlinget Bahá’í in Alaska
1956 (In the year)	The first indigenous person to become a Bahá'í in Dutch Guiana (Suriname), George van Axel Dongen, enrolled.	George van Axel Dongen; Dutch Guiana (Suriname)	first indigenous Bahá’í in Dutch Guiana (Suriname)
c. 1956	Shoghi Effendi acquired the title to the Pilgrim House at Bahjí from the Israeli government as part of the exchange for the Bahá'í properties at Ein Gev. [BBD177; DH226]	Pilgrim house, Bahji; Pilgrim Houses; Purchases and exchanges; Bahji, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
1956 (In the year)	The publication of Religion for Mankind by Horace Holley. There were subsequent publications by George Ronald in 1966, 1969, and 1976 and the Bahá'í Publishing Trust in Wilmette and a printing in 1967. It was transcribed into braille in 1970. [Collins7.1222-7.1226; 8.100] "A collection of cogent essays on several aspects of the Bahá'í social programme and the dynamic of community and administrative life. [Collins7.1222]	Horace Holley; * Publications
Try also a shorter date like or 1956 or 195 try also the Chronology Canada — 1956-0 or 1956 or 195

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