As-Sameer A Semi Monthly Arab Magazine
As-Sameer (Al Samir) was a monthly Arabic magazine that eventually became published five times per week by Elia Abu Madi. In either 1889 or 1890, Elia Abu Madi was born in the village of Al-Muhaydithah in what is now modern-day Lebanon. In 1911, Abu Madi relocated to Alexandria, Egypt to assist his uncle’s business. That same year, he composed his first poetry collection entitled Tadhkar al-Madi.
Not long after moving to Egypt, Abu Madi relocated once again to the United States, first settling in Cincinnati, Ohio. And just four years later, in 1916, Abu Madi moved to New York City to initiate a career in journalism. Elia Abu Madi built a successful empire in the Arabic journalism and literature field and became the chief editor of Mirat al-Gharb. A member of the Pen League alongside Khalil Gibran and Ameen Rihani, Abu Madi’s most successful project was As-Sameer. This publication recorded news from the Arab-American community and discussed development abroad.
Abu Madi wrote the chief editorials, and his publication contained business advertisements, which I have uploaded to this website under the previous business sector post. The impressive magazine is another reminder of all of the density and intellectual sophistication of the early Arab-American community.
Latest News
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Daily News Story on National September 11 Museum and “Little Syria”
May 18, 2013
Today the New York Daily News posted this informative piece by Carol Kuruvilla about our efforts to preserve the neighborhood and to encourage the National September 11 Museum to include some recognition. We want to emphasize that we only went public with our frustrations after several years of local historians asking the Museum to incorporate [...]
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Community Board One Resolution on “Little Syria” Historical Signage
May 16, 2013
On May 1, 2013, the Financial District Committee of Community Board One unanimously advanced the below resolution advocating signage for “Little Syria.” While not all members necessarily voted or were present, the committee includes Edward Sheffe, CHAIR; Susan Cole, CO-CHAIR; Deron Charkoudian; Linda Gerstman; Mariama James; Michael Ketring; Joel Kopel; Elizabeth Lamere; Megan McHugh; Patricia [...]
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Wall Street Journal Piece on Little Syria (Jennifer Weiss)
March 26, 2013
This morning the Wall Street Journal has a wonderful print and video piece about our campaign to protect the remaining complex of three historic buildings on Washington Street in Little Syria. This is indeed an urgent situation, and we would ask that people contact the Landmarks Preservation Commission (Chairman Robert Tierney) and Mayor Bloomberg, asking [...]
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Salaam Club in New York Hosts Holiday Hafleh To Benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
December 14, 2012
On Saturday, December 8, our friends at the Salaam Club of New York City hosted a holiday hafleh (the Arabic equivalent of “party”) to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the internationally-known pediatric treatment and research facility in Memphis, Tennessee. Some people may not realize that the hospital was founded by popular Lebanese-American entertainer Danny [...]
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Walking Tour of Washington Street on November 10 (With Joe Svehlak and Esther Regelson)
November 6, 2012
During Hurricane Sandy, lower Washington Street was flooded to near waist-high levels. Power is still trickling back, and the basements of most buildings were flooded, leaving some damage. However, a few of the neighborhood’s great advocates — local historian Joe Svehlak and community activist Esther Regelson — are still going forward with a walking tour [...]
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