|
The
Palestinian Heritage Foundation
By
Hanan and Farah Munayyer
The Palestinian Heritage Foundation is a cultural
and educational organization aimed at promoting awareness and
understanding of Arab and, specifically, Palestinian culture and
traditions. These aims have
been pursued through programs that deepen the
pride of Arab-Americans in their heritage, namely, lectures, live costume
shows and exhibits in the United States, Canada and Palestine, and
introduce the general American public to this Arab heritage.
Wedding scene at the Brooklyn Museum during Mahrajan Al Fan.
Our activities commenced in April 1987, with the
acquisition of a large collection of Palestinian costumes and jewelry. In
1990, we acqui red a unique collection owned by the late Rolla Foley,
an American Quaker
who was in Palestine in 1938 as a teacher at the Friends School in
Ramallah. Foley’s collection, purchased from Mrs. Ulla Foley included
a large number of quality items of Palestinian and
Syrian costumes,
some date back to 1850.
Utilizing
these incredible art pieces and the research material Hanan had gathered
in
1990, we produced a video documentary “Palestinian
Costumes and Embroidery: A Precious Legacy”, explaining the
origin and history of the art of
embroidery in Palestine and the Near
East, now widely used in schools, universities, public libraries and other
institutions.
"Bani Na'im",
Hebron region
at National Cathedral.
In 1992, we established the Palestinian Heritage
Foundation. The PHF owns a small collection, thanks to the generous
donations by the late Miriam Ross of Virginia, Sandra Shatila of Montreal,
Dr. and Mrs. Freedman, Mrs. Margaret Carr and Mrs. Robert Munn of
California, Dr. Elise Crossby of Wyoming, Mrs. Elizabeth FitzHugh, Mrs. Carol Sutherland, Mrs. Sheridan
Collins, and Mrs. Helen
Gillard of Washington DC.
The Palestinian Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit,
tax-exempt organization, aided by an Advisory Board composed of dedicated
and talented personalities in the intellectual, cultural and artistic
fields.
Hanan Karaman Munayyer and Farah Joseph Munayyer of West Caldwell, New Jersey, are Palestinian
American scientists, who immigrated to the United States in 1970 from
Haifa and Lydda, Palestine. Since then, both have been working in
pharmaceutical research.
Next
Page
|