News

Feb 22, 2017

Interview with Dr. Lena Merhej: Beirut-based illustrator and activist

This interview was conducted by Renée Michelle Ragin, a PhD student in Literature at Duke University where her research focuses on the negotiation of national identity in post-conflict Middle Eastern and Latin American states. Her previous articles focus on refugees and oral history and war, memory, and archiving. Lena Merhej is the co-founder of Samandal, a… 

Feb 1, 2017

Transplanted Family Trees – In search of Yazbek: What makes us who we are?

This article is the third and final installment written by Cecile Yazbek who was born into a Lebanese family in East London, South Africa. She is the author of four books all related to the Lebanese diaspora. Her other installments include Albinos in the Laager and The Chasm of Assimilation. All photos courtesy of author.… 

Jan 30, 2017

2017 Conference Presenters

Meet the presenters of the 2017 Khayrallah Center conference, "A Time of Crisis." 

Jan 9, 2017

A Time of Crisis: An International Conference

The Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies will host an international scholarly conference on Middle East and North African migration. 

Jan 4, 2017

The Desire for Progress in The Syrian World: Education

This article is authored by Dr. Akram Khater, Director of the Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies and Khayrallah Distinguished Professor of Lebanese Diaspora Studies, and Professor of History at NC State, and Nicole Coscolluela, a second year MA student in Public History and completing the Digital Humanities Certificate at NC State. The Syrian World was a publication… 

Nov 30, 2016

Arbeely family: Pioneers to America and founders of the first Arabic language newspaper

This article is written by Dr. Akram Khater, Director of the Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies and Khayrallah Distinguished Professor of Lebanese Diaspora Studies, and Professor of History at NC State. This research would not have been possible without Ms. Martha Hess, Volunteer in the History Room, Maryville College Archives for her help in providing the photo… 

Nov 16, 2016

Notes From the Field: Behind the Scenes at “The Lebanese in America” Exhibit

This article is written by Katie Schinabeck who is pursuing a PhD in Public History at NC State University. At the Khayrallah Center, she is currently creating educational programming for the traveling exhibit, The Lebanese in America. This is her first article. Currently on view in Johnston County, NC, the exhibit “The Lebanese in America” tells the… 

Nov 11, 2016

Interview with 2016 Khayrallah Prize Winner Joseph Geha

Read an interview with 2016 Khayrallah Prize winner Joseph Geha. 

Oct 26, 2016

‘For God’s Sake Send Me Ten Lira,’: Women, Migration, and World War I in Mount Lebanon

This post is authored by Graham Auman Pitts, who is currently a post-doc in NC State’s International Studies department. He completed his dissertation at Georgetown University on the environmental history of Lebanon. The primary sources are letters from residents in Lebanon preserved in the US National Archives. You can browse these letters here. You can also… 

Oct 24, 2016

Dr. Lena Merhej: Visual storyteller living in two worlds

This post is written by Raja Abillama. He teaches anthropology and international studies at North Carolina State University. His research is focused on transnational secularism and the government of religion in Lebanon. Abillama is working on a series for the Center about Lebanese adoptive diaspora. You can read the first of three installments here. North…