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Free to Use and Reuse: Arab Americans

Selected images represent the historical experiences and achievements of Arab Americans, primarily during the early 1900s when many people immigrated from Lebanon and the region known as Syria. A formal celebration of Arab American heritage occurs each year in the United States in April. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division.

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  Kahlil Gibran, a Lebanese American poet and author. Memorial in Washington, D.C. Photo by Carol Highsmith, around 2000.

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  Josephine Wehby Sharbel playing and singing the Lebanese national anthem. Photo by Brenda McCallum, 1982. Source: American Folklife Center, Ethnic Heritage and Language Schools in America Project collection

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  Arabic class at St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church in Birmingham, Alabama, taught by Khattar Wehby, around 1915. Source: American Folklife Center, Ethnic Heritage and Language Schools in America Project collection

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  Early Arabic language books used at St. Elias school by Josephine Sharbel's father, Khattar Wehby, in Birmingham, Alabama, around 1915. Source: American Folklife Center, Ethnic Heritage and Language Schools in America Project collection

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  The Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, 2019.

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  Donna Shalala, Lebanese American and Secretary of Health and Human Services. Photo by Michael Geissinger, 1998.

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  Children of immigrants from Greater Syria playing a game on a sidewalk in New York City. Photo by Bain News Service, around 1915.

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  Women chatting in New York City’s Syrian neighborhood. Photo by Bain News Service, 1916.

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  12 year old Joe Hajjar, of Syrian descent, in Boston. Red Cross photo, 1920

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  Ralph Nader, a Lebanese-American and consumer advocate. Photo by Thomas O'Halloran, 1975.

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  Revolutionary War muster roll for the Continental Army lists Private Nathan Badeen, a Syrian immigrant. In "History of Colonel Edmund Phinney's Eighteenth Continental Regiment ...," 1898, p. 60. Source: General Collections

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  “Five Haddad Brothers on Various Fighting Fronts.” Syrian American family featured in the Waterbury Democrat newspaper, May 24, 1945, during World War II. Source: Chronicling America.

• Zaida Ben Yusuf, an Algerian-German-American photographer. Self-portrait, 1901.

• Afifa Karam, a Lebanese American author, published "The New World: A Ladies Monthly Arabic Magazine," 1912.

• Alexander Maloof, a Lebanese American composer and producer published “A Trip to Syria” in 1913. Source: National Jukebox

• Marie El-Khoury, a Syrian American and jewelry designer. Photo by Arnold Genthe, 1921.

• Sam Maloof, a Lebanese American furniture designer, created the dining room pieces for his home in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Photo by Tavo Olmos, 1999.

• Eight year old Syrian girl, Phoebe Thomas, going to work at 6 a.m., August 14, with great butcher knife, to cut sardines in Seacoast Canning Co. Factory #4, Eastport Me. Photo by Lewis Hine, 1911.

• A restaurant in New York City’s Syrian neighborhood. Photo by Bain News Service, 1916.

• Syrian food seller with a pushcart on New York City street. Photo by Bain News Service, 1916.

• Paul Anka, a Canadian American of Lebanese and Syrian descent. Photo by Bernard Gotfryd, 1960s

• Ameen Rihani, a Lebanese American and writer, published Myrtle and Myrrh in 1905. Source: General Collections

• Our Lady of Mercy Syrian Roman Catholic church in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. Photo by Dick Sheldon, around 1938.

• Relief sculpture of St. George slaying a dragon at St. George's Syrian Catholic Church, New York City. Photo by Angelo Rizzuto, 1953

• Abraham Mitrie Rihbany, a Lebanese American, theologian, and historian, published "The Hidden Treasure" in 1920. General Collections