Al-Wafa Newspapers, الوفاء‎ 1907-1910

Materials in this collection are in Arabic.

Al-Wafa, الوفاء [Fidelity] was a semi-weekly Arabic-language newspaper published in Lawrence, Massachusetts from 1907 until approximately 1910. In the early twentieth century, Lawrence was home to one of the largest Lebanese populations in the United States. Unlike other large communities, such as New York City, it was unique for the high percentage of immigrants who worked in factories.

Al-Wafa was an initiative of the Zahley Association, a group of immigrants who had largely originated from Zahlé, Lebanon. They maintained ties with one another, and were involved in the formation of the Al-Wafa Publishing Company. The paper was edited by Joseph M. Khoury, and was one of two that was published in Lawrence in the first decades of the twentieth century. At least two more Arabic-language newspapers were published out of Boston. Though short-lived, Al-Wafa had a transnational circulation with copies read in Mexico and throughout the Caribbean.

Its religious leanings were Christian and its political orientation was fairly neutral, not yet distanced from the Ottoman identity. It leaned towards Orthodox Christianity with frequent reports on fundraising efforts for the construction of churches and other religious events. Despite Lawrence’s large working-class population, the intended audience of the paper appears to be middle-class immigrants.

Al-Wafa Newspapers collection contains digitized newspapers from March 29, 1907 to May 5, 1910.

The paper offers insight into an early Arab-American community outside of New York. It chronicles visitors to Lawrence from other places throughout the diaspora, business openings and job opportunities, conflict between the Syrio-Lebanese and other immigrant communities, and advertisements for businesses. It also contains news on events in the United States and around the world.

This collection is arranged chronologically.

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[Identification of item], Al-Wafa Newspapers, الوفاء‎, NS 0008, Hoda Z. Nassour and Herbert R. Nassour Jr., MD, Archive of Lebanese Diaspora

Collection of Lawrence Public Library Materials 1910-1940, GR 0007

Materials digitized through a collaboration between the Khayrallah Center and Lawrence Public Library Special Collections, 2017 July (Accession No. 2017.009).

Processed by Claire A. Kempa, 2017. Finding aid content contributed by Claire A. Kempa, 2017. Finding aid created by Laura Lethers, 2023 August.