Archives and Special Collections Department, American University of Beirut Beirut, Lebanon © 2020 Nasri Khattar Collection, 1932-2008 A Finding Aid to the Collection in the University Libraries, AUB Prepared by Dalya Nouh and Shaden Dada Contact information: [email protected] Webpage: www.aub.edu.lb/Libraries/asc/ Descriptive Summary Call No.: AA:6.2.11.4 Library Catalog ID: b18934110 Record Creator: Khattar, Nasri, 1911-1998. Collection Title: Nasri Khattar Collection, 1932-2008. Collection Dates: 1932-2008 Physical Description: Approximately 13 linear feet (40 boxes) Abstract: This collection includes Nasri Khattar’s (1911-1998) bibliographic information, academic and scholarly work, and a life’s work in Engineering and Architecture; it also includes his pioneering designs, most notably of which was his ambitious initiative to design a Unified Arabic Font. Also, included in the collection is his personal and business correspondence. The latter includes exchanges with Remington Rand Inc., IBM, Aramco and other business associates. Language(s): English, Arabic and French Administrative Information Source: The Nasri Khattar collection was donated by the Khattar family to the AUB Libraries in 2015. Access Restrictions: The collection can be accessed within the premises of the Archives and Special Collections Department, Jafet Memorial Library, American University of Beirut. Photocopying Restriction: No photocopying restriction except for fragile material. Preferred Citation: Nasri Khattar Collection, 1932-2008, AA:6.2.11.4, Series no., Box no., File no., American University of Beirut/Library Archives. Scope and Content Counting approximately 13 linear feet of archival material, this collection includes Nasri Khattar’s personal and business correspondence (with companies such as Remington Rand Inc., IBM, and Aramco among others), bibliographic information, academic activity, and material related to his professional career in the fields of Engineering and Architecture, and typography. The collection extensively documents (through patents, testimonials, articles, press clippings, and invoice bills among others) Khattar’s most noteworthy invention: The Unified Arabic Font, a project to simply and modernize the Arabic alphabet, and to put the new typographical design at the service of a new way of learning and teaching the Arabic language. This collection is an invaluable source of information for scholars interested in architecture, anthropology, design, education, language, typography, and visual culture. Arrangement The Collection is arranged in twelve series: Series I: Biographical information, personal documents & invitation cards Series II: Poetry, Education & Work Series III: Correspondence Series IV: Unified Arabic Alphabet Series V: Engineering & Architecture 2 Series VI: Drafts & Sketches Series VII: Books & Magazines Series VIII: Photos Series IX: Audiovisuals Series X: Posters (see poster cabinet) Series XI: Oversized material Series XII: 3D Material Biographical Sketch Nasri Khattar (1910-1998) was a Lebanese architect-typographer (he called himself a “typotect”) whose work was motivated by the Arab postcolonial project of modernity. He practiced his profession for thirty-five years in the United States; in Colombia, South America; and, Lebanon, where he pursued his early education at the American University of Beirut (AUB) with a B.B.A. awarded in 1930. In 1940, he earned an M.A. in architecture from Yale University and was one of the last students of Frank Loyd Wright. He was the architect for the Lebanese pavilion at N.Y. World's fair in 1939. He participated in the language and script reform project initiated by the Arabic Language Academy in Cairo in the 1930s. Khattar's work focused on the Arabic script's technological and aesthetic reform; Khattar was an Arabic consultant to IBM in the fifties, architect, Arabic calligrapher, and Arabist to Arab-American Oil Company (Aramco) in New York City, 1950-1957. During this time, he made innumerable calligraphic works for both Aramco, and came up with his seminal invention, the Unified Arabic Font, which is an Arabic type system that simplifies the printing and teaching of Arabic, Urdu, Farsi, and other languages utilizing the Arabic alphabet. Subject Headings Khaṭār, Naṣrī, 1911-1998. Unified Arabic Alphabet. Typographers -- Lebanon -- Biography. Type and type-founding -- Arabic type. Patents. Architectural Design. Painters. Calligraphers. Calligraphy, Arabic. Arabic alphabet. Printing. Architects -- Lebanon. Buildings -- Design and construction. Designers. خطار، نصري، 1998-1911. اﻻبجدية العربية الموحدة. الطباعون -- لبنان -- تراجم. الحروف وسبك الحروف -- الحرف العربي. براءات اﻹختراع. التصميم الهندسي المعماري. 3 الرسامون. الخطاطون. الخط العربي. اﻻبجدية العربية. الطباعة. المهندسون المعماريون لبنان. المباني -- التصميم والبناء. المصممين. Container List Series I: Biographical information, personal documents & invitation cards Box 1: General File 1: Biographical information - Biographical Sketch - USA Passport (3) - Lebanese Passport - Application for Passport/Registration (2 copies) - Operator's License / Operator's renewal License Stub / Suburban Vehicule 1958 Registration - Biographical Sketch of Nasri Khattar (9 copies) موجز سيرة المهندس نصري خ ّطار. )نسختين( ;(CV (16 copies - - Highlights in the life and career of Nasri Khattar - Recent likeness Nasri Khattar - Draft about Nasri Khattar File 2: Khattar Family - Situation of the Khattar Family - A Note to our family tree by Nasri Khattar - 2 books stories: ‐ "The little Swiss Guard by Mary Dick”. For Christopher, Camille and Alexandra with best wishes and love from Mary Dick. May 6, 1956; ‐ "Jesus tells me by Mary Dick”. For Christopher with Love from Mary Dick. August 26, 1960 File 3: Invitation Cards and poster ‐ 3 Christmas cards from Nasri Khattar; Notes/ verses from the Bible; - دعوة من اللجنة الثقافية للنادي الثقافي العربي للتعرف على المهندس نصري خطار. 9 شباط 1947 )نسختين( - Invitation card: AUB invites you to a lecture by N. Khattar on "The Unified Arabic Type". 8-Dec-48 (2 copies) - A letter from Mrs. Eleanor Speer to T.V. Allen if he could supply those 200 of the three listed cards. 10/17/1957. Invitation card from The Unified Arabic Alphabet Foundation to a reception and to attend an Exhibit of the Simplified Arabic System Type at West Hall. 30-Apr-59 (2 copies; Invitation Card: Simplified Arabic Type Exhibit at West Hall-AUB تعلن مؤسسة اﻷبجدية الموحدة عن إفتتاح معرضها لحروفها المطبعية المبسطة وست هول، أيار 1959. )نسختين( 4 - An Important Lecture by Nasri Khattar: "Arabic's ABC's in the hands of the Architect," Jan-81 - Invitation Card for the American Community School commencement exercises. Assembly Hall 9:00 am June 18, 1982. (2 copies); Draft of a poster: A big boost to Arabic culture updating Arabic typefaces" a lecture by Nasri Khattar at West Hall, 17-Nov-1980 - Poster for an exhibit: "For the electronic age: unified Arabic alphabet exhibition". May 29 - June 5, 1982. May 29-June 5, 1982 - Invitation Card to a lecture at the American University of Beirut: Arabic's future and the computer " by Nasri Khattar (+ poster) 18-May-1995 - Invitation from the Officers and Directors of the American Academy of Political and Social Science to Nasri Khattar to membership in the Academy - Invitation Card: On the occasion of the State visit of his Majesty King Mohammed V the Ambassador of Morocco and Madame Ben Aboud request the pleasure of the company of Nasri Khattar at a reception - Invitation card from the Nazeeh Karaky Est., Nasri Khattar, and the contact and resource .a breakthrough in the Arabic language, May 28 - June 5 جديد فتح center to - دعوة لحضور زواج. 5 تشرين الثاني 2002 مكتب تأسيس عن :اعﻻم Notice: about the foundation of Commodore enterprise International - انترناسيونال انتربرايز كومودور العربية الطباعة تس ّهل الموحدة الحروف .Brochures: "Unified" type simplifies Arabic printing - - Brochure: New Arabic Alphabet Designs "Unified" Type the "New" is based on the Old. القديم أساس على الجديد الموحدة بحروف الهجاء لحروف جديدة رسوم - Brochure: Statutes of the Association Tyographique Internationale - A letter from Najib Dumit to Nasri Khattar returning his statement initialized as requested by him. الجناح اللبناني، Exposition du Livre au Mois de l'UNESCO: 1948 - File 4: Addresses - Appointment Card: "Nasri Khattar has an appointment with Edwin W. Pickhardt - Business Card for Nasri Khattar; Business card: Albert Nicholas Alexander - Commercial attaché of embassy of the Unites States of America - Business card: F. Jenkinson Matrix Consultant at Intertype Limited - Address of Miss Anne Pellowski; Address of Ghazi G. Khoury Commerce de Coton - Address of Dr. Ibrahim H. N. Habiby - Address for Stuart Conhead - List of Names - List of Daily newspapers published in Baghdad, Iraq; - Address for Sadeddin Said Ojakli - List of Lebanese Newspapers - List of LEBANESE Weekly Publications - List of names that the Quarterly magazines was sent to them - Note (send Toufic Chemaly (Ahram) any pictures or news of interest to him; send Kanaan; clippings from arch. Forum of newspapers plants.) - List of names with their addresses 5 - Countries covered by trade lists أسماء الجرائد والمجﻻت :List for Khattar; Notes - - List of Persons to whom Form 9 was sent. - ﻻئحة بالجرائد اليومية، المجﻻت اﻻسبوعية والمجﻻت الشهرية في سوريا. - قائمة بأسماء أصحاب الصحف اللبنانية. )3 نسخ( - List of Middle East Newspapers and Magazines; List of Newspapers published in Urdu - (India) File 5: The King Badouin International Development Prize, 1998 King Badouin