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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
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
See more items in
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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  • Coury, George and Lillian

  • Communities, Detroit Michigan

  • Karam, Kamal

  • July-December

  • Namora Namoura, Katibah, Litia Lydia, personal papers, 5 June 1940

  • Southern Federation of Syrian Clubs, bulletins, 1952

  • Data

  • As-Sameer

  • Atalla, Victoria, Mark, Illinois

  • Haddad family, correspondence, addressed to Al-Sayeh

  • Southern Federation of Syrian Clubs, bulletins, 1970s

  • World war I, effects of war

  • Jesus the Son of Man his Words and His Deeds as Told and Received By Those Who Kew him

  • Kadaj Khadaj, Khaddaj, Khaddajj, correspondence, 1952-1958

  • Statistics: Average Peddling Income Relative Calculations Work Sheets

  • Articles

  • A Notable Kentucky Family: The Dawahares

  • Arabs in the New World: Studies on Arab-American Communities

  • Arab American Community Advisory Council

  • Correspondence

  • Summaries

  • Skaff, professional materials

  • Strangers at the Door: Ellis Island, Castle Garden, and the Great Migration to America

  • Arab American Association of University Graduates

  • Middle East Institute

  • Daedalus

  • Abushady, A. Z., writings

  • Antiochian Christian Orthodox Church Archdiocese, musical program, 1995

  • Council of Eastern Orthodox Youth Leaders of the Americas

  • Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

  • Safita Club

  • Unidentified slides

  • Doumar family, scrapbook

  • Maria, Frank, professional materials, relating to united nations educational scientific and cultural organization (UNESCO), 1960

  • Syrian World

  • Haddad family, clippings, 1962

  • Emigration, first impressions

  • Arabic Contributions to the English Vocabulary

  • Arab-American Business Journal

  • Arab American Caucus of Virginia

  • Biographies, Halaby, Najeeb E.

  • El Diario Sirio-Libanes

  • Al-Hoda

  • Hyatt, Solomon

  • Mokarzel, Salloum, correspondence, 1938-1989

  • Telephone directory, Peoria, Illinois

  • Immigration: United States Government, Report of Immigration Community Volume 15 Immigrants in Industry Parts 14, 15, 16, Tobacco, Furniture and Sugar

  • Syrian Lebanese Star

  • Canada

  • Namora Namoura, Katibah, Litia Lydia, clippings

  • Ghantous/Naff family, clippings

  • Al-Bayan

  • Jacobs, Joseph J.

  • Arab News

  • American Lebanese Awareness Association, Incorporated

  • Abadayship- Reflection of Arab Character and Personality, manuscript

  • Syrian Orthodox Youth Organization

  • Homsian Fraternity of California

  • Katibah, Habib, writings, undated

  • Abbott, William, Spring Valley, Illinois

  • Farha, Mary, Washington, DC.

  • Skaff, professional materials, 1979, 1988

  • Life in America, marriage, singleness

  • Mirrors of the Soul

  • Country: An Organic Poem

  • "News Circle, The"

  • Biographies, Gantos Family

  • Arab Stereotypes, manuscript

  • Syrian World, The

  • Faris, Robert E.L., "Interaction of Generations and Family Stability"

  • Doumar family, writings

  • Star of Los Angeles, Star News and Pictorial, The

  • Salem, Samia

  • Malooley

  • Syrian Antiochian Orthodox Church of North America of New York and all North America

  • Skaff, correspondence, 1963-1986

  • Wagna, Sophia

  • Directory of Ethnic Organizations in Massachusetts

  • Skaff, correspondence, 1960-1970

  • Ajamy, Claire and Louis

  • Grandmother Told Me

  • Syrian American Club of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, financial papers

  • Development of Arab-American Identity, The

  • Antiochian Christian Orthodox Church Archdiocese

  • Habeeb, Rosalie

  • Michigan Census Data

  • Biographies, Mitchell, George J.

  • As-Sayeh

  • Iowa Update

  • Rask, Nellie

  • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Danny Thomas/Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities, American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC), Pavillion, Memphis, Tennessee, date

  • American Druze Society

  • Simon, Paul

  • Skaff, personal papers, 1946

  • Abushady, A. Z., personal papers

  • Ziadeh, Farhat

  • Haddy, Lillian and Sam G., Cedar Rapids, Iowa

  • Said, Allie

  • Correspondence

  • Naff, correspondence, undated

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Faris and Yamna Naff Arab American Collection: 1999
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