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About Harvest of Light

A Private Research Library on the Bábí & Bahá'í religions

Mission

Harvest of Light is a library dedicated to research and education. It seeks to make available a wide range of materials on the Bábí and Bahá'í religions.

It promotes independent investigation, insight into constructive patterns of moral and ethical behavior, and dialogue and fellowship among peoples of diverse backgrounds and beliefs. A resource for the teacher, scholar, student, and speaker, Harvest of Light is actively involved in obtaining and preserving books, pamphlets, periodicals, journals, papers, dissertations, manuscripts, audiovisual materials, and Bahá'í relics and memorabilia. It is sponsoring the Long Island Bahá'í History Project, an ongoing attempt to collect materials about the Bahá'í Faith on Long Island, NY.

Organizational Structure

Harvest of Light is a private library. Independent in character and spirit, it is not affiliated with any governmental, commercial, civic, educational, or religious organization.

Management is the task of the director, John McNair. Assistance is also received by librarians, archivists, educators, family, and friends. All staff work as volunteers, including the director. Funding is provided primarily by the library's founders, John and Marie McNair, as well as the support of friends.

Facilities

The main collection of Harvest of Light is located in a small, one-room cottage in E. Patchogue, Long Island, N.Y. The library has approximately 6,000 items, among which are hundreds of rare and out-of-print books and pamphlets.

In addition to the materials on the Bábí and Bahá'í religions, it houses a collection of basic books on the world's religions, contemporary spiritual / religious movements, beliefs of primitive societies, and general reference materials.

Of Special Note

1. Harvest of Light has a substantial collection of books and photocopies of works by Professor E.G. Browne, Oriental Studies, University of Cambridge, as well as books by A.L.M. Nicolas, Comte de Gobineau, A.G. Tumanski, and Baron Victor Rosen.
2. The collection of 19th-century books that refer to the Bábí and Bahá'í religions is becoming a unique source of materials. Foremost in this collection is Persia and the Persian Question by George N. Curzon. Also notable are Five Years in a Persian Town by Napier Malcolm and Lady Sheil's Life and Manners in Persia.
3. The Long Island Bahá'í History Project encompasses materials specific to the history of Bahá'í presence on Long Island from the early 20th century onwards. This archival collection is particularly rich and includes originals, photocopies, and photographs revealing the earliest traces of Bahá'í activity on Long Island. In addition, there is a growing collection of oral histories detailing Long Island Bahá'í activities in the last half of the 20th century.
4. Among some other treasures is a voice recording of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, several books signed by prominent Bahá'ís, and original letters from such Bahá'ís as Louis Gregory, Madame Khan, Lua Getsinger, and Arthur Pillsbury Dodge.

A copy machine, fax, computer with Internet connection, and audiovisual equipment are available to patrons on a limited basis. The facility is humidity and temperature controlled. It has various security precautions in place, and there is a program of pest control, all to ensure the preservation of the collection.

All materials in Harvest of Light are for REFERENCE ONLY and are not permitted off premises. The library is free and open to all. At present, there are no public hours of operation.

Access is by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Patrons are expected to follow the rules posted while using the facility. Harvest of Light offers a research service on a limited basis.

History

Harvest of Light was founded in 1992 by John (retired photographer) and Marie McNair (elementary school teacher), long-time residents of Long Island, New York. It represents thirty years of diligent work towards the fulfillment of their vision of establishing a learning center. The impetus for their vision stems, in large part, from their personal beliefs. Both are members of the Bahá'í Faith which stresses the independent investigation of truth and the oneness of religion and humanity.

Donations

If you wish to support Harvest of Light with donations of materials, financial aid, or to volunteer your time and talents, your help would be greatly appreciated. The library does not have a not-for-profit status, so donations might not be tax deductible. Please make checks payable to Harvest of Light.

The Future

Harvest of Light has taken steps to ensure that the library will remain intact and be available for researchers into the future. Efforts will be made to heighten awareness of this research facility, and steps will be taken to promote its use by the public, educators, and the media.

Plans to continue acquiring research materials will ensure that Harvest of Light will remain one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of its kind in the area.

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