Hillary Chapman is a writer, guitarist, and songwriter who currently lives in Washington DC. He is the creator of the following books, short stories, and songs:


Books:

• Foreigner: The life story told in vignettes of an Iranian immigration to the Untied States (George Ronald, Oxford, UK, 2019)

• Awakening: The story of religious turmoil and development in the town of Nayriz, Iran; based on oral memories and first-hand accounts. (Baha’i Publishing, Wilmette, IL, 2012)

• Abdu’l-Baha in New York: The story of Abdu’l-Baha’s visit to New York City in 1912; also contains some social history of New York in that period. (Juxta Publishing, London, UK, 2012)

• The Calling: Tahirih of Persia and the Women of the Great Awakening: A detailed account of the little-known life of the mystic of Tahirih of Persia; told in episodes that are intertwined with stories from the lives of American women of the Great Awakening with some social history as background.

(George Ronald, Oxford, UK, 2016)

• A Way out of No Way: The untold story of the Harlem Preparatory School: Based almost entirely on interviews, a brief history of one of the original alternative schools; contains some social history of New York City. (Publisher TBD)


His songs for the Nashville and other markets which have been recorded by numerous local and regional artists: www.reverbnation.com/hillarychapman

His short stories often draw on motifs from famous short stories which have been published in the Saturday Evening Port, 


Hillary has a BA in History from Haverford College, an MS from the U. of Pennsylvania, and various other paper from the U. of Paris and other schools. He has done extensive community service for the Baha'i Faith in Russia and French Polynesia.

Dr. Hussein Ahdieh was born and raised in Nayriz, Iran, He is a sixth generation Bahá'í, his ancestors figuring among the first in Nayriz to accept the Bábi and later Bahá'í Faith. Hussein immigrated to the United States as a young man of 19. Like many immigrants seeking a better life in America, he worked and attended college in the New York area. Hussein eventually completed a Masters Degree in European Intellectual History and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts.

Dr. Ahdieh has had a distinguished career in education in New York. His proudest achievement is to have been one of the founders and Assistant Headmaster of the Harlem Preparatory School--a world renowned charter high school for disadvantaged students. The school is credited with helping numerous people to rise from poverty to a better life. Dr. Ahdieh also served as Director of Educational Programs at Fordham University.

In addition to Awakening, which has been translated into 6 languages, Dr. Ahdieh has co-authored 'Abdu'l-Bahá in New York (translated into three languages), a concise, informative history of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's activities during his visits to the area; “A Way out of No Way: Harlem Prep –Transforming Dropouts into Scholars-1967-1977, a Baha’i inspired institute. His new book is comprehensive study about the life of Tahirih and her American contemporaries in English and Persian languages.