News from the Legation

In Memoriam: James N. Tull, (1920-2005)

Click here for a pdf of the Director's Newsletter-November 2005

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Many TALMS members will remember with great affection Mohammed Senhadji who died July 26 following a short illness. For many years Senhadji taught at the State Department’s Arabic Language School then located at the Old American Legation. The plaque erected some years ago (see above) was provided by The Honorable Edward Peck, a student in the first Arabic language class held here.

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Plaque commemorating the first Arabic language class at the Old American Legation

TALM Intern Jameson (Jamie) Goodman

At the recommendation of TALMS Fellow, Dale Eickelman (Ralph and Richard Lazarus Professor of Anthropology and Human Relations at Dartmouth College) Jamie Goodman has taken up an internship with TALM until the end of the year. Jamie graduated this year from Dartmouth College. He is the recipient of a prestigious Lombard Fellowship established for humanitarian work. In addition, Jamie has received academic honors from Dartmouth College in political philosophy and cultural anthropology. With his Arabic and French language fluency and advanced computer skills, he is providing useful assistance in several areas, particularly in developing our social outreach programs—literacy and language training and youth activities. He has worked as a research assistant to Dr. Eickelman with whom he will collaborate on a co-authored social biography in Oman beginning in January.

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Jamie Goodman lecturing in Arabic to the AIMS summer Arabic language class (TSALP)

Gift of Painting

The musician, composer, and artist Tarik Banzi has donated a large oil painting to the Museum.

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Oil Painting by Tarik Banzi (untitled)

Tangier Summer Arabic Language Program (TSALP)

In mid June, the AIMS Tangier Summer Arabic Language Program (TSALP) got underway at the American School of Tangier under the academic direction of Dr, Driss Cherkaoui, head of Arabic Studies at William and Mary College. This year there were 19 students selected for intermediate and advanced classes. Students visited the Legation and were briefed on TALM activities including the resources of the Research Library. AIMS Librarian, Yhtimad Bouziane, gave a lecture in Arabic to the students at the American School where classes are held.

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Dr. and Mrs. Anne Marie Cherkaoui with students

AIMS Conference on Ibn Khaldun

TALM hosted its seventh American Institute for Maghrib Studies (AIMS) conference , June 8-10, organized this year by Dr. Ron Messier. 30 scholars from North Africa and the U.S. presented papers under the theme “The Worlds of Ibn Khaldun.” In addition to administrative support TALM organized a reception and an excursion to Tetouan for the participants

There were six sessions dealing with the following themes:

I. The world of Ibn Khaldum: paradigms, dichotomies and nuances

II. Religions, authority, and the law of Ibn Khaldun

III. Conflicts and tensions in the world of Ibn Khaldun

IV. Art in the world of Ibn Khaldun

V. Ibn Khaldun and the Berbers

VI The World of Ibn Khaldun: an ongoing process

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Head of Moroccan delegation, Professor Ennahid at the podium, AIMS President Ken Perkins and conference organizer, Ron Messier, seated

The April Seminars 2006: “Collaborative Relations in Public Diplomacy”

The annual April Seminars took place on April 14 and 15, 2006. TALMS president, Dr. I. William Zartman, who, conceived this annual two part seminar series 7 years ago, focuses on timely international, bilateral, and regional issues. Former American ambassador to Morocco and TALMS Board member, Edward Gabriel, helped with funding and the program. As in the past six years, the King of Morocco was the honorary patron of the event. This year’s theme was “Collaborative Relationships in Public Diplomacy.

Speakers for the April 14 seminar were:

--retired career ambassador Thomas Pickering, and formerly vice president for international relations at Boeing International, who gave his views on the nuclear stand-off with Iran; the Iraq war; and Arab-Israeli negotiations;

Thomas Pickering has had a long and distinguished career in the American Foreign Service. His various assignments include: Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, U.S. ambassador to Russia, India, Israel, El Salvador, Nigeria, and Jordan; U.S. ambassador and representative to the United Nations in New York; and Special Assistant to Secretaries William P. Rogers and Henry Kissinger. He has received several honorary doctorates and was awarded the State Department’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Award. Pickering serves on the TALMS Board of Fellows.

-- The Moroccan Minister for Social Development, the Family, and Solidarity, Dr. Abderrahim Harouchi who outlined the goals of King Mohamed VI’s Human Development Initiative that calls for an allocation of 5 billion dollars for social, educational, and infrastructure improvements in rural areas of Morocco.

--The Director of the UN Office for West Africa and Special Assistant Representative of the UN Secretary General, Mohamed Rhazaoui, who reviewed the history of economic development in Morocco stressing the importance of moving forward with a macro-economic development plan;

--The Chief Executive Officer for the Port of Baltimore, Brooks Royster, who gave a presentation on “Multi-niche Port Developments in a Container Port World”

--The President of the TANMED port, Said Elhadi who commented on the time table for completion of this gigantic port project, the largest development project in Morocco, as well as its impact on the north.

The April 14 seminar culminated in the signature of a Port Partnership Agreement between Baltimore port and the Moroccan TANMED port calling for mutual cooperation with respect to port management, port planning, and port business in general including exchanges of information in the fields of economy, training, shipping, and other possible industry-linked fields.

The Public Affairs Section of the American Embassy provided a grant to support the April Seminars. American Ambassador, Thomas T. Riley, attended along with Dr. Evelyn Early, head of Public Affairs. The senior governor of Tangier region was present for the opening and Morocco's Minister of Planning sent a delegation from Rabat.

The senior governor of Tangier region, Mohamed Hassad, was present for the opening and Morocco's Minister of Planning sent a delegation from Rabat.

The second seminar the following day featured several experts who explained the historical and commercial significance of the Grand Socco. The architect responsible for ongoing renovations in the Grand Socco spoke about his design for preserving the character of the area while making it attractive to tourists. (The Grand Socco was renamed, the Place April 9 Square to commemorate Mohamed V’s speech at this location in April 1947 in which he called for an end to the Spanish and French protectorates).

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April Seminars Poster from map by Abraham Ortelius 1595

Thomas R. Pickering Signing TALM Visitor Book

Minister Harouchi speaking at April Seminars 2006

TANMED President, Said Elhadi (center) with Tangier Region governor, Mohamad Hassad, (left) and TALMS President Dr. I. William Zartman (right)

UN Director Ahmed Rhazaoui, American Ambassador to Morocco, Thomas T. Riley, and career ambassador Thomas R. Pickering

Thomas Pickering with Governor of Tangier Region, Mohamed Hassad

TALM Literacy Program Discovers An Artist

TALM, in collaboration with the English art gallery in Tangier, offered Fatima Gharbaoui an art exhibit on February 17. She lives in the old medina near the Legation. Through the encouragement and support of TALM, Mrs. Gharbaoui developed her talents as an artist and was featured in two earlier exhibitions at the Legation. She is a student in the literacy and sewing classes that take place at the museum where her artistic bent was first discovered. The exhibit was a great success with the sale of more than 35 of her paintings. The English gallery intends to give her a second show at their other gallery in Marrakech.

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Artist Fatima Gharbaoui(in green) surrounded by members of the Tangier Medina Foundation headquartered at TALM

Painting by Fatima Gharbaoui, "Tea in a Rif Cafe."

American String Instrumentalist and Composer Performs at TALM

TALM and the Public Affairs Office of the Embassy in Rabat, co-hosted a performance of string music featuring the American musician and composer, Robert McNamara who performed to a packed house (see photo below). McNamara is a teacher at several schools including Monterey Peninsula College, Santa Carolina School in Monterey, and the Robert Louis Stevenson Upper School in Pebble Beach. Author of two works for guitar and lute, McNamara entertained the audience by performing on several instruments. Dr. Evelyn Early, Director for cultural affairs at the American Embassy, and an Arabist with extensive experience in the Middle East and North Africa, introduced the musician.

McNamara performing on the banjo

Full House at TALM for Guitar Concert

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Tangier Resident Donates Historical Document to TALM

Longtime Tangier resident, Anna McKew, has donated an interesting historical document to the museum—a written order dated March 13, 1808 from British Rear Admiral Sidney Smith authorizing the transfer of ten barrels of gunpowder to the Emperor of Morocco (Moulay Suleiman) as a gift from the King of England, George III). Smith was active in battles against the American colonies and in several major encounters against the French including the Battle of Waterloo. Napoleon is reported to have commented, “That man made me miss my destiny.”

Smith’s note reads, “You are hereby ordered and directed to deliver to his Excellency Sidi Mohammed Alawi Minister of the Emperor of Morocco at Tangier Ten barrels of gun powder as a present from the King of Great Britain to his master.”

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Rear Admiral Smith's Handwritten Order for Transfer of Gunpowder to The Emperor of Morocco

Four Antique Rugs Donated to TALM in Memory of Gordon Browne and his Wife, Eleanor

The noted oriental rug expert, Russell Pickering and his daughter, Brooke Pickering donated four beautiful Moroccan rugs to TALM, all pictured with commentary in their publication, Moroccan Carpets Hali Publications Ltd. London)(1) a 19^th century Rabat carpet featured on page 17; (2) a Chiadma region carpet of the first half of the 20^th century featured on page 30; (3) a Rehamna carpet also of the first half of the 20^th century featured on page 39; and (4) a Beni Saddene carpet of the mid 20^thcentury featured on page 113 of the book. Three of the rugs have already found their way back to Tangier where they adorn three galleries in the Museum. (see below) The rugs were donated in memory of Gordon Browne, a hero of the Allied Landings in North Africa in 1942, and his wife, Eleanor, now both deceased. Mr. Pickering's gift of rugs are an important addition to the many other antique Moroccan rugs displayed throughout the Museum donated in previous years by Joseph Verner Reed.

Saddene Rug in McBey Gallery

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Gordon Browne Decorated for Bravery by General Donovan in Washington Ceremony

Pickering's Chiadma Rug in The Paul Bowles Room

Pickering's Rabat Rug in the Second Floor Gallery

TALMS Secretary Publishes Novel

Tangier, a novel, by Diane Ponasik, Secretary for the Tangier American Legation Museum Society (TALMS), was published in January 2006 by Book Surge.

The story takes place in an era of civil war and political unrest as a young Sultan tries to fend off European powers interested in annexing Morocco, and bandits and pretenders threaten his throne. This is the story of Lili, a Moroccan girl raised in Tangier by the American Ambassador. Lili is convinced her future lies in becoming a Western woman, and, despite her attraction to a Moroccan noble, she marries an American diplomat posted to Morocco. As she watches the country fall into civil war and follows the noble, Tariq, in his resistance to its take over by the French, she realizes the strength of her allegiance to Morocco and her love for Tariq.

Lili’s stepbrother, Ted, experiences the same conflict. Educated in Moroccan palaces with three young aristocrats (of whom Tariq is one), Ted becomes a respected journalist reporting on Moroccan issues. He must choose between his career and his Jewish wife, Meriam, when she rejects the country of her birth.

TALM Director Thor Kuniholm provided the cover for the novel. The painting of the women and the man are taken from larger paintings in the TALM collection, one by James McBey and the other by Ion Perdicaris (see below).

Groom and Horse by Ion Perdicaris Women in White by James McBey and TALM art collection

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Ramadan Concert Benefits Literacy Classes

On October 21, 2005, in keeping with the month of Ramadan that began on October 04, we organized a benefit concert for our literacy classes. A nine member ensemble from Tangier played to a capacity crowd.

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BBC Television Crew Films at the Legation

(October 2005) A television team from BBC International led by World Affairs Correspondent, Humphrey Hawksley, spent most of an afternoon at TALM, taking footage of the Museum, interviewing the museum director, and filming our literacy classes. They are doing a program on the reception of the Bush Doctrine in the Arab world. The 30 minute program is expected to be shown in December.

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Governor of Tangier Visits Museum

TALM Director Thor Kuniholm called on Mohamed Hassad, the new Wali (senior governor) of the North, on August 25, 2005 to tell him about our museum collection, our research library, conference activities, and social programs. He expressed an interest in cooperating with us on the latter. Later, we were joined by Driss Benhima, Director for the Development of the North, a cabinet level position in Morocco. Benhima was familiar with our activities, of course, having been a principal speaker at this year’s April Seminars that dealt with the impact of the new Mediterranean port being constructed on the north Coast of Morocco.

The Wali made an appointment to visit TALM on August 30, and came accompanied by his Chef de Cabinet, Taoufik Zrdoune, and a local official.

Wali Mohamed Hassad signing TALM Guest Book

The Wali wrote (in French): “It is with great emotion that I visit a place filled with history, a place symbolizing the opening of Tangier and Morocco to the world and to other civilizations. Bravo for the upkeep of this building and for the passion invested in its valorization and with a discretion purely American….Bravo.”

Wali Mohamed Hassad and TALM Director Kuniholm

Hassad reiterated his interest in cooperating with TALM on our outreach activities. I presented him with a painting by Fatima Gharbaoui, a graduate of our literacy class program and a self-trained artist with developing talent.

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Legation Hosts More Maghribi Scholars

(August 2005) TALM hosted two more Maghribi scholars from Tunisia in August, Professors Faiza Derbel and Asmaa Nouira, both recipients of grants from the American Institute for Maghrib Studies (AIMS). As AIMS representative in Morocco, TALM administers these grants and offers Maghribi scholars the services of our research library as well as administrative support.

Maghribi Scholars Faiza Derbel and Asmaa Nouira at TALM

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Museum Registers Busiest Month for Drop-In Visitors

(August 2005) The Museum registered its busiest month for drop-in visitors in July. Our Museum Guide, Mohamed Jadidi, gave tours to hundreds of persons in four languages (Arab, Spanish, French, and English). In addition we hosted five group tours (English and Dutch). Unfortunately, the number of American visitors continues to be low.

The Museum was also visited by:

BBC presenter and economic analyst, Stephanie Flanders, who is writing an article on Tangier for The Daily Mail;

Fulbright grantee Lucy Melbourne whose father is a retired senior American career diplomat;

AIMS grantee and Harvard doctoral candidate, Blain Auer, and his wife, Amy who is enrolled in a master’s degree program at Harvard on museum management; and

Senor Rocard a photographer from Alicante, Spain, who is preparing a guidebook in Spanish on Tangier.

Rocard's photo of The Battle of the Three Kings Diorama, TALM Pavilion

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Tangier American Legation Museum

8 zankat America

Tangier 90000 Morocco

Contact: Legation@legation.org

News from the Legation

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