James M. Ansara, an American of Arab descent, has written extensively on migration of Arabic-speaking people in the United States and has been active in Arab-American organizations. Ansara served as executive secretary of the Syrian and Lebanese American Federation of the Eastern States and as editor of the Federation Herald, its monthly publication. The Federation Herald was renamed the National Herald when the National Association of Syrian-Lebanese American Federations, formed to coordinate the regional federations, took over the headquarters. Ansara then became its executive director. In 1956, he moved to Boston and set up a consulting business on Middle Eastern and Arab relations, but he continued to be active in the National Association.
Papers (ca. 1920-1982) of James M. Ansara consist of correspondence, writings, notes, newspaper clippings, photographs, certificates, magazines, newsletters, and books pertaining to associations of Americans of Arab descent including the Syrian and Lebanese American Federation, Eastern States and the Syrian-lebanese American Federation as well as the National Herald; Syrian history; Arab-Israeli problems, the 6 Day War, Middle East economic problems, student papers from the American University of Beirut, the occupation of Palestine, Middle East Tours, and Arab American relations.
Inventory available.
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