American Center Of Oriental Research Photo Archive

American Center Of Oriental Research Photo Archive

The American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR) in Amman, Jordan, is a non‑profit, 501(c)(3) academic institution dedicated to promoting research and publication in the humanities and social sciences, with a particular focus on issues related to Jordan and the broader region.

The ACOR Library holds a remarkable photographic archive related to its role in preserving and promoting the country’s heritage. The complete collection, estimated to number more than 100,000 images, provides primary visual documentation of Jordan, including the major archaeological and cultural heritage projects that the center has sponsored across the country over the decades.

Given its broad range of content and subject matter, the ACOR Library photographic archive has the potential to be a crucial resource for American, international, and Jordanian scholars involved in cultural and natural heritage preservation and management.

As a first step in making this extensive archival collection available to researchers, the ACOR Library is cataloging, digitizing, and making accessible online ACOR’s major institutional and donated photographic holdings.

The project is supported by a U.S. Department of Education, Title VI grant (2016-2020)

The ACOR Research Library Photographic Archive Project is made possible under a Fiscal Year 2016  American Overseas Research Centers grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Use ACOR Photo Archive Images:
Request to use images
Read more about our archive policies: ACOR Library Photographic Archive Notice and Takedown policy

A Guide to Online Visual Sources in Middle East, North Africa, and Islamic Studies

A Guide to Online Visual Sources in Middle East, North Africa, and Islamic Studies by Amanda Hannoosh Steinberg the Visual Resources Librarian for Islamic Art & Architecture at the Harvard Fine Arts Library.

"Let’s face it: every publication is better with images. Whether it’s a presentation, a blog post, a book, or just a paper, images engage an audience instantly. The internet is flush with images from Islamic art, architecture, and society, but reliable sources (with credit information) are more difficult to track down. So we’ve done it for you! Here are some of the best sites for finding credited visual resources for Islamic, Middle Eastern and North African Studies. Feel free to suggest more in the comments and we’ll update the list!...
see more 

Open Access Newspaper Archive: La Reforma and el Mundo Árabe (1930-2014)

La Reforma and el Mundo Árabe (1930-2014)
Weekly social, cultural and literary newspaper of Arab community in Chile
Place of publication: Santiago, Chile
Published by :  Jorge Sabaj Zurob
Dates available: 1930-2014

Alphabetical List of Open Access Historical Newspapers and Other Periodicals in Middle East & Islamic Studies

125 More Arabic Scientific Manuscripts in the Qatar Digital Library

125 More Arabic Scientific Manuscripts in the Qatar Digital Library

"The second phase of the British Library/Qatar Foundation Partnership digitisation project has now come to a successful close. You can find lists of the 80 manuscripts digitised during the first phase of the project here and here, and as we enter the project’s third phase, we are delighted to present an overview and complete list of the 125 Arabic scientific manuscripts digitised during the second phase..."

See also: Alphabetical List of Open Access Islamic Manuscripts Collections

Open Access Manuscripts Collection: Omani Ministry of Heritage and Culture

Omani Ministry of Heritage and Culture is making available more than 4,000 manuscripts in the fields of the Humanities, Hadith, Quran, Arabic Language, Jurisprudence, History, Literature, as well as Astronomy, Medicine and Marine Science.

 See also: Alphabetical List of Open Access Islamic Manuscripts Collections

[NOTE via Evyn Kropf: "Please note that these manuscripts are presently not being made available in their entirety open access, but for a fee (at this stage most manuscripts appear to be set at the price of 10 Omani Rials or about 25 USD)... Registration is also required. And images are watermarked.

It is however possible to search the database of descriptive data and to view an excerpt (looks to be around 10 openings or so) without registering or submitting payment.  "

Ocean of Paper Database

"An Ocean of Paper seeks to stimulate new research in the social history of the Sultanate by collecting, cataloging, and publishing the thousands of deeds (called waraqas) produced by Omanis in South Arabia and East Africa during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. These deeds, which exist in private and public collections in Oman and East Africa, recount transactions in money, property, and commodities between Omanis from different parts of the country who engaged in activities around the Indian Ocean. Individually, they tell stories of the lives, fortunes, and trajectories of Omani migrants; together, they constitute some of the richest written records we have on any community in the region, and promise to completely reshape the foundations of Omani social and economic history in the Indian Ocean."

Ocean of Paper is a part of Indian Ocean in World History educational resources project of Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center.

Facebook's black market in antiquities : trafficking, terrorism and war crimes

Facebook's black market in antiquities : trafficking, terrorism and war crimes 

by Al-Azm, Amr‏ ; Paul, Katie A. with contributions by Graham, Shawn.
Publisher: Athar Project
Published:  June 2019
83 pages.

"Facebook’s “Groups” feature, which allows users to create and control a contained network of individuals with “shared interests,” has become a facilitator for the expansion of antiquities trafficking networks. The Groups provide a seamless environment for digital interactions and cross-border networking between users interested in buying and selling antiquities, allowing them to communicate efficiently and discretely. The ATHAR Project’s report covers nearly two-years of investigative research and incorporates a case study on Groups based in Syria.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Facebook’s rapid growth and lack of internal policing mechanisms over the past decade have helped the platform become a digital black market where users buy and sell goods, including illicit antiquities, from some of the world’s most conflict-ridden nations. The social media platform has marketed itself as a tool for the global dissemination of ideas and information. In the process, however, it has unwittingly expanded the communication abilities of transnational criminal networks the world over.
Today, Facebook offers a veritable digital toolbox for traffickers to utilize, including photo and video uploads, live streaming, disappearing ‘Stories,’ payment mechanisms, and encrypted messaging. Facebook is the perfect platform for a one-stop-shop black market..."