Via Martin Kramer, check out this page of photographs from Syrian history. I've only just discovered it, so it if turns out to have some horrible political bias or whatever, bring it up with them. I've taken a couple of nice pictures of political rallies to give you a sense of what they've got - click on the picture to enlarge. I'm finding the pictures just wonderful to look at - what a perfect use of the internet. If anyone knows of similar on-line photo archives of Arab history, please let me know!
Have a nice weekend, everyone!
Credit where credit is due: I learned about the Syria website from Joshua Landis, who gives an account of its genesis here.
And in regard to your hunger for more, Abu Aardvark, check out this searchable archive of Nasser photos. (Interface in Arabic.)
Posted by: Martin Kramer | February 11, 2005 at 04:22 PM
Thanks! I don't know how I missed the story on Josh's site, since I just linked to him yesterday...
Posted by: the aardvark | February 11, 2005 at 05:12 PM
The Levant Cultural Server (Almashriq) has a huge photographic documents section. Borre Ludvigsen, a Norwegian web pioneer who happened to grow up in Lebanon (long story) has devoted years of his life to building the photographic documentation site, mirrored at the American U. of Beirut.
The above page also includes links to many external collections, including the one at U. Chicago.
The Images from the Past Page links to thousands of 19th and early 20th century photos in various collections, like the Blatchford, including zillions of Bonfils photos.
And yes, my own family photos are archived on this site, because Borre spent his childhood in my father's village and later befriended us through the wonders of the internet. I'm the only toddler in that series, watching my grandparents bake bread.
Borre has most recently been uploading scans of ancient Arabic manuscripts from the Jafet Library collection (AUB). Click on a book to see "inside". That Borre is obsessed. You just won't believe your eyes.
Posted by: Leila Abu-Saba | February 11, 2005 at 11:07 PM
I didn't make it clear - most of the photos at the Al Mashriq site are of Syria, Lebanon and Palestine - 19th and 20th century.
Posted by: Leila Abu-Saba | February 11, 2005 at 11:18 PM
I mean most of the old photos. O jeez, I'm getting confused. THere are so many photos at Al Mashriq that it's dizzying.
Posted by: Leila Abu-Saba | February 11, 2005 at 11:53 PM
my sister in law, Hayat Karanouh, is a Lebanese photographer who has done two excellent books of photojournalism:
the first book, 'And the Smile Remains' is a photodocumentary about the Lebanese people living in the south, after the civil war.
the second book, 'Lebanon Shot Twice,' incorporates well-known photos taken during the war, and contrasts them with recently taken pictures at the same sites.
you can see many of the pictures at http://www.hayatkaranouh.com/
inside the books section.
i think you will find many interesting historical and contemporary photos there!
regards,
-DWitt
Posted by: DWitt | February 13, 2005 at 04:48 PM