AMWRRI

Al'thr Newsletter - 1st issue

The Immigrants to Milwaukee from the Arab World:

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Our first oral history project of the year of 2010 is to document the first generation Arab and Muslim women immigrants and their families’ histories and experiences. This project is “Funded in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Humanities Council, with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the State of Wisconsin.”

“Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.”

“The Wisconsin Humanities Council supports public programs that engage the people of Wisconsin in the exploration of human cultures, ideas and values.”

The Arab and Muslim Women's Research and Resource Institute (AMWRRI) is a new organization in the Milwaukee region that is dedicated to documenting the experiences and histories of Arab and Muslim communities while promoting an understanding of issues that impact these communities in the U.S. and abroad. AMWRRI is documenting Arab and Muslim Americans social history through oral interviews and surveys, focusing on the experiences of various generations. Read the 1st issue

Most of the immigration from the Arab world between 1890s and late 1930s came from Greater Syria and, in particular, from Mount Lebanon. In Milwaukee, most of the first Arab immigrants came from a village called Ayn Bairdeh to participate in the Chicago Fair, where they enchanted Fair visitors with their demonstration of Arabian horsemanship and folk dances. After the fair ended some decided to stay and chose to settle in different Midwestern cities including Milwaukee, Read the whole article

Muslimerica: Photos of Mom

As a five-year-old I would love to spread black and white pictures and portraits in sepia over my mother’s beds and ask about the origins of the people that filled them. Women with dark features, almond-shaped eyes, and heads held proudly under muslin scarves. I wanted to know these women’s stories. The idea of young brides set to marry arranged dapper men and then growing to know them as life happened was so romantic. And their stories seemed lush with mystery. Read more