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Faris and Yamna Naff Arab American Collection

National Museum of American History
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Object Details

Creator
Naff, Alixa, 1919-2013
Names
American Arab Anti-discrimination Committee
Arab American Institute
Former owner
Archdioceses of Antiochan Orthodox, Melkites, and Maronites
Names
National Association of Arab Americans
Former owner
Southern Federation of Lebanese Clubs
Spring Valley (Ill.) Syrian Orthodox Church
Names
Syrian Protestant Church
Naff, Faris
Naff, Yamna
Place
Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)
Cedar Rapids (Iowa)
Dearborn (Mich.)
Detroit (Mich.)
Fort Wayne (Ind.)
Los Angeles (Calif.)
Spring Valley (Ill.)
Topic
Associations, institutions -- voluntarism
Automobile industry workers
Businessmen -- Arab Americans
Emigration and immigration
Emigration and immigration -- Arab Americans
Ethnic groups -- cultural history
Immigration and emigration -- Arab Americans
Naturalization -- Arab Americans -- United States
Peddlers
Press -- Arabic language
Transcripts
voluntarism -- associations, institutions, etc
Provenance
The collection is the result of research conducted by Dr. Alixa Naff relating to the study of the early Arab immigrant experience in the United States from about 1880-World War II. The study began with oral history interviews in 1962 and became a major project in 1980 with a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Creator
Naff, Alixa, 1919-2013
Culture
Arab Americans
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Faris and Yamna Naff Arab American Collection
Summary
The collection is the result of research conducted by Dr. Alixa Naff (1920-2013) relating to the study of the early Arab immigrant experience in the United States from about 1880-World War II. The study began with oral history interviews in 1962 and became a major project in 1980 with a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. It documents the assimilation of Arabic speaking immigrants in the United States.
Biographical / Historical
The Faris and Yamna Naff Collection is the result of the dedication and research efforts of Dr. Alixa Naff, the daughter of Syrian-Lebanese immigrants. She spent most of her life documenting the early American experience of the generation of Arabs, mostly Christian, from Syria/Lebanon who came to this country around the turn of the century. After an administrative career in private industry, Alixa Naff enrolled at the University of California to obtain her B.A. degree. During her senior year, she was required to write a paper for an American history seminar. The topic for the seminar was immigration. Alixa Naff chose Arabs in America as her subject. According to Naff, there was a lack of reference materials relating to her topic. Therefore, she relied mostly on conversations with her parents' friends. Impressed by her work, Alixa Naff's professor offered her a grant to collect Arab folklore. Alixa Naff conducted her research during the summer of 1962. She interviewed eighty-seven people in sixteen communities across the United States and eastern Canada. All of her informants were at least sixty years old at the time of the interviews and represented the last surviving members of her parents' pioneer immigrant generation. After completing her fieldwork, Naff went on to earn her master's and Ph.D. degrees. She taught on the college level at California State University and the University of Colorado. In 1977, she left teaching citing anti-Arab feelings as the reason for her shift in career paths. Her desire to counter the anti-Arab stereotyping with accurate sources of information created yet another opportunity for her to pursue more research about Arab Americans. Later in 1977, Alixa Naff served as a consultant on a documentary film relating to Arabs in America. She again realized existed on the subject of the Arab immigrant experience in America. Moreover, much of what she found conflicted with what pioneer informants had told her. Naff was also painfully aware that family members of decreased Arab immigrants often discarded the early artifacts, personal papers, photographs and books brought to America. Shortly after, she began working on a study on the history of Arab immigrants. In 1979, Alixa Naff met Gino Baroni, then undersecretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and founder of the National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs. His center helped her secure funding for her research from the National Endowment for the Humanities and provided an office for her to work. The result of this work was a book entitled Becoming American: The Early Arab Immigrant Experience published in 1985. Richard Ahlborn, then curator of the Smithsonian's Community Life Division (now its Department of Cultural Affairs), convinced Naff to donate the collection to the Smithsonian in honor of her parents, Faris and Yamna Naff, and their generation of Arabs who immigrated to America. Alixa Naff died on June 1, 2013 at the age of 93.
Extent
120 Cubic feet (295 boxes )
2,000 Photographs
450 Cassette tapes
Date
1862-2004, undated
Custodial History
Collection transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Community Life (now the Division of Cultural and Community Life), December 21, 1983.
Archival Repository
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Identifier
NMAH.AC.0078
Type
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Cassette tapes
Advertisements
Audiotapes
Books
Correspondence
Diaries
Journals (accounts)
Newspaper clippings
Oral history
Scrapbooks
Citation
Faris and Yamna Naff Arab-American Collection Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Arrangement
Collection is arranged into the eight series created by Alixa Naff. Series 1, Personal Papers, 1891-2002, undated Series 2, Photographs, 1890-1996, undated Series 3, Oral interviews, Abstracts, Transcripts and Supporting Materials, 1962-1995, undated Series 4, Publications, 1862-2000, undated Series 5, Subject Files, 1888-2000 Series 6, Project Files, 1977-1995 Series 7, Alixa Naff Personal Papers, 1943-1996, undated Series 8, Audio Visual Materials, 1908-1994, undated
Processing Information
Processed by Alixa Naff, volunteer; Cathy Keen, archivist; Saida Erradi, volunteer, 1996; Wendy Shay, archivist; Alison Oswald, archivist; Franklin Robinson Jr., archivist; Adrienne Cain, intern; Tiffany Draut, intern; Emily Hamstra, intern; Nathan Tomlanovich, intern; Megan Esseltine, intern; William R. Cron, Jr., intern; Kiley Autumn Orchard, intern, 2008; Anne Jones, volunteer; Elisabeth Warsinske, intern; Micheline Lovink Soughayar, intern; Dory Tamios Abi-Najm, intern, 2014; supervised by Vanessa Broussard-Simmons, archivist.
Rights
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Existence and Location of Copies
Digital preservation .bwav files for Subseries 8.1: 1962 Interviews were created by George Blood Audio LP, 2014 October. Digital access MP3 files created by George Blood Audio LP, 2014 October.
Genre/Form
Advertisements
Audiotapes
Books
Correspondence -- 19th-20th century
Diaries
Journals (accounts)
Newspaper clippings
Oral history -- Arab Americans
Photographs -- 20th century
Photographs -- 1850-1900
Scrapbooks
Scope and Contents
The collection documents the immigration and assimilation of mostly Christian Syrian-Lebanese who came to America at the turn of the twentieth century. The immigrants were predominately-small land-owning peasants and artisans from the village of Syria and Lebanon. According to Alixa Naff, immigrants knew exactly where they were going to live and what they were going to do once they immigrated to America. They mostly chose to live in cities where earlier immigrants had already created communities. The majority of the immigrants became peddlers. Peddlers carried packs containing scissors, razors, pins, buttons, ribbons, threads, needles, combs, mirrors, soap, voile and muslin, lace and crotchet crafts, perfume, scarves, picture frames, oriental rugs, fine linens, leather goods, pictures of saints, religious notions from the holy land, confections and cakes. Peddling offered the immigrants a source of income and a way to learn the English language, American customs and lifestyles. It often led to ownership of a small dry goods store. More successful businesspersons then went on to own a department store or a chain of stores. For those Syrian/Lebanese who chose not to pursue peddling as a source of income other occupations included farming, work in New England textile mills, Midwestern factories, Pittsburgh and Birmingham steel mills and Detroit's automobile assembly lines. It was in these Syrian communities created by Arab immigrants that Dr. Naff sought interviews, photographs and personal papers. For Alixa Naff this pioneering generation of people offered a wealth of information on the immigrant experience and the critical role that peddling played. Naff conducted interviews in urban and small town communities with an emphasis on Midwestern states. Her informants included first and second generation Christians, Druze and Muslims. Locations of interviews included Detroit, Michigan because it was an industrial city with a large and stable Syrian population of all faiths. Cedar Rapids, Iowa was smaller, a railroad depot at the turn of the century and home to the earliest Muslim groups. Peoria, Illinois was also a small, railroad depot at the turn of the century and it consisted predominately of the Maronite Sect originally from one village in Mount Lebanon. Spring Valley, Illinois was a small mining town with a Christian community and the remnant of a once flourishing peddling settlement. Their Eastern Rite Syrian Orthodox Church was the only one in Illinois until 1961 and served smaller Syrian groups. Oral history interviews deal with the sociological factors of the assimilation process. Most tapes have been fully transcribed or abstracted. Information from the interviews are supported with published articles; demographic statistics; articles from the Arab-American press, books, journals and dissertations published in the United States or in Arab countries. Personal papers collected from individuals and families provide evidence of the experiences discussed in the interviews and add a personal touch to the reference materials. While there are a number of original items included among the personal papers, there is a substantial amount of duplicate materials. Naff would often collect the originals make copies and then return the originals to the donors.
Restrictions
Collection is open for research. Researchers must use microfilm copies. Researchers must handle unprotected photographs with gloves. Researchers must use reference copies of audio-visual materials. When no reference copy exists, the Archives Center staff will produce reference copies on an "as needed" basis, as resources allow. Viewing film portions of collection require special appointment; please inquire with a reference archivist. Do not use when original materials are available on reference video or audio tapes.
Related Materials
Materials at the National Museum of American History The Division of Home and Community Life (now Division of Cultural and Community Life)holds artifacts related to this collection including. See Accession #: 2007.3245. Materials at the Smithsonian Institution Photo Lot 2011-02, Alixa Naff photographs of Europe, the Middle East and the Mediterranean and audio tapes on Mediterranean folklore, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Related link
Record ID
ebl-1562728822564-1562728822651-0
Metadata Usage
CC0
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8a88907b6-52b1-4275-beca-efb48f9cff4a

In the Collection

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  • Rizk, Victor

  • Organizations, 1875-1996; undated

  • Dawahar Dawahare

  • Rashid, Raymond

  • Portrait of mustached man wearing a fez: b&w photoprint

  • Olga Kahramann, singer: color photoprint

  • Nasr Christian, Orthodox, Muslim community in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

  • Daughters of Lebanon: 1930-1980 booklet

  • Pilgrimage to Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, Carey, Ohio black and white photoprint

  • Three children in a wicker baby carriage with an American flag : black and white photoprint

  • Audio icon(A) Rezma Abdelahad (B) Rezma Abdelahad; Skiyyie Saliba Samaha

  • Audio icon(A) Jim Azar (B) Jim Azar

  • Qalamiyya, Rabitat al

  • Curry, Joseph

  • Exterior of Doumar's drive in restaurant: b&w photoprint

  • Daughters of Lebanon

  • Katibah, (Litia and Habib)

  • Migala family portrait in native dress: black & white photoprint

  • Peddlers Aosey & Allbones - Quality Merchandise truck: b&w photoprint

  • Mokarzel (Jaoudi), Alice

  • Audio icon(A) Charles Habib; Tafaha Alteen (B) Tafaha Alteen

  • Ms. Ghantous and others in a car : black & white photoprint

  • Najjar, Edward A. (Ali Najjar)

  • Haddad

  • Dohes Elias Haney's naturalization certificate: document

  • Audio icon(A) George Maloley (B) Malaki Bhennessey

  • Marad, Grace

  • Audio icon(A) Rinjos Sakaib; Tafaha Alteen (B) Tafaha Alteen

  • Habib I. Katibah, reporter, notebook page of Arabic writing

  • Arabic text: booklet cover

  • Church exterior with small groups of people and cars in front: b&w photoprint

  • Children in a classroom with teacher: b&w photoprint

  • Mike Azkoul and bride; Faris Ziton and Rose Beshara: black & white photoprint

  • Kadaj, Amer

  • Ya-Ayouha-Llail par M. Mourre document

  • Fred Khoury's father and probably uncle : black-and-white photoprint.

  • Audio icon(A) Senior Citizens at the Cedars (B) Senior Citizens at the Cedars

  • Faris and Marina Ayout Naff and Siman and Anise Ayout Ayout: black & white photoprint

  • Audio icon(A) Yamna Azaky (B) Yamna Azaky; Louis Lebos

  • Audio icon(A) Mike and Ghandura Haddy and Nazira Nicola; Alice Abraham (B) Alice Abraham; Carl Nassif

  • Harageley (Haraguely), Julia

  • Audio icon(A) Mary Sayfee (B) Mary Sayfee; Nazha Haney

  • Mid Winter Conference Birthplace of Southern Federation of Syrian Lebanon American Clubs, booklet

  • Maria, Frank

  • Malooley (Maloley), Virginia and Nelliw

  • Peddlers Aosey & Allbones - Ready to Wear - Quality Merchandise truck: b&w photoprint postcard

  • Cast of "Hamlet": b&w photoprint

  • Pilgrimage to Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, Carey, Ohio, August 5, 1927 black and white photoprint

  • Syrian Ladies' Aid Society

  • Newspapers, 1900-2000

  • Al-Funoon

  • Louis Lutfe and family: black & white photoprint

  • Audio Discs, undated

  • Portrait of man wearing a fez and woman with glasses and Battenberg lace trim: b&w photoprint

  • Pilgrimage to Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, Carey, Ohio, August 5, 1927 black and white photoprint

  • Audio icon(A) Selma Salhaney (B) Selma Salhaney, Thomas and Letefee Cory

  • Arab-American Media Society

  • As-Salaam Club of New York

  • Syrian pack peddler from Birmingham, Alabama: black & white photoprint

  • Pilgrimage to Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, Carey, Ohio, August 5, 1927 black and white photoprint

  • Audio icon(A) Peter Fawaz; Essa Maloley (B) Mr. and Mrs. Essa Maloley

  • Audio icon(A) Amelia and Budelia Maloley; Maggie Maloley; Slayman Nemie (B) Maggie Maloley; Slayman Nemie

  • Syrian American directory almanac, booklet page

  • Joseph, Sue

  • Sultana Alkazin, nee Mohawigh, Beirut, Iraq: black & white photoprint.

  • Audio icon(A) Dan Sikrey; Ed Ellis (B) Ed Ellis

  • Cast of a play about Pasha, Turkish governor of Syria during WWI: b&w photoprint

  • Aossey, Sr., William

  • Afifi Karam: booklet page

  • 7th Annual Convention / The Midwest Federation of American Syrian Lebanon Clubs. black and white photoprint

  • The Syrian World: newspaper

  • Selma (sister of Faris Ghanlous), Alexa, Michael, Deanna Ghanlous (Faris's children): black & white photoprint

  • Frederick Milkie family: black-and-white photoprint

  • Two Lebanese female cousins in native dress: black & white photoprint

  • Scene from the play "Thesba": b&w photoprint

  • Personal Papers

  • Syrian and Lebanon American Clubs Welcomes the Annual 18th Convention of the Southern Federation of Syrian Lebanon American Clubs: booklet

  • Two women working in the kitchen: b&w photoprint

  • Audio icon(A) Rose Laba (B) Rose Laba; Mary Maloley

  • Bashara Forzley: b&w photoprint

  • Bashara Kalil Forzley, Worcester, Mass., with horse-drawn wagon: black-and-white photoprint.

  • George Elicas Doumar using waffle cone making machine: black-and-white glass plate negative.

  • Fares Brothers market in Birmingham, Alabama: black & white photoprint.

  • Families 1892-1987

  • Photographs

  • As-Sayeh

  • Individuals, 1890-1989

  • Amer and Sana Kadaj at home with their children in living room setting (Arab American family) : photoprint

  • As-Sayeh: newspaper

  • Struss, David

  • Room of women at sewing machines: b&w photoprint

  • Audio icon(A) Louis (Elias) Lebos (B) Essa Maloley and Sam Samara

  • Aed, Mitchell

  • Five young women posing by the road: b&w photoprint

  • The Syrian Ark

  • Young Lebanese Couple: document

  • First Dawahare store in Jenkins, Kentucky: black-and-white photoprint

  • Charles Joseph Doumar : glass plate black-and-white negative

  • Nazha Weston: black & white photoprint

  • Kenneth Edward Haney's baptismal certificate: document

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Faris and Yamna Naff Arab American Collection: 1999
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