read about ‘The Pen League’ — Al-Rabita Al-Qalamiyya

In 1920, an influential group of Arab writers came together in New York City to create a powerful literary society called: ‘The Pen Bond,” al-Rabitah al-Qalamiyah. For a decade, they led a revolution of Arabic poetry and prose, modernizing and reforming the structure and language and creating intentional space the freedom of the Arab writer. Founded and led by Khalil Gibran and Mikhail Naimy, it included prominent writers such as Nasib Arida, Rashid Ayoub, Ameen Rihani, Nudra Haddad, and Abd-al Masih Haddad.

Black and white photo of four men in formal attire sitting together for a portrait.
“To lift Arabic literature from the quagmire of stagnation and imitation, and to infuse a new life into its veins…”
— Mikhail Naimy, Secretary, Al Rabitah al-Qalamiya (The Pen Bond), NYC
An old newspaper called "Kawkab America" dated Friday, April 29, 1892, displaying articles in English and Arabic, including sections on local news, Syrian affairs, and the Ottoman Empire.
Two pages of a book showing historical photographs and text about the Arab literary renaissance and Arabic literature in the United States.
Black and white image of a man and woman working with a statue of the Statue of Liberty. Handwritten notes indicate Syrian migration to New York and historical establishment of Syria on Washington Street, Manhattan.
Black and white photo of the Statue of Liberty with a group of men dressed in vintage suits sitting and standing around a table, with some holding cups and bottles. The statue appears to have a partially visible Arabic figure at the base. Text on the
Black and white photo taken from inside a cafe or shop, showing a person sitting by the window with their back to the camera. The window features handwritten text discussing the history of Brooklyn and its past as a location for shops, restaurants, a
A black and white photograph of a woman with short dark hair and a smiling expression, holding a bunch of pink and white dried roses. There are labels indicating a mala made of sandalwood beads to the left, and the words "The Brooklyn Garden" at the
A collage of two images: the top image depicts a colorful, painted scene of a historic building with windows and doors, and two women in period costumes, one reaching up towards a tree. The bottom image is a black and white historical photograph of a