During the late 19th century, immigrants from present-day Lebanon, Syria, and historic Palestine began to settle on Manhattan’s Lower West Side. What was once a vibrant community woven into the rich tapestry of New York City eventually dwindled and has now almost disappeared. Only three buildings in the original neighborhood with ties to what is now known as the Syrian quarter remain today.
Join us as we hear from Linda Jacobs, who has worked to bring the people, stories, and history of Manhattan’s original Syrian quarter out of the shadows. An independent scholar, she undertook hundreds of hours at the New York City Municipal Archives and the New York City Surrogate Court Archives to reconstruct this community—individual by individual. Her detailed research formed the basis of her book, Strangers in the West: The Syrian Colony of New York City, 1880–1900. Her talk will be followed by a Q&A session.