186

Papers of Syrian-American immigrant Assad Joseph Fogaley.

Various places, 1930-1963
55 items in 3 folders; mostly moderate wear, a few paper clip stains and tears.

Assad Joseph "Joe" Fogaley (1890-1963) was born in Wadi Chahrour in what is now Lebanon; he variously gave his birthplace as Lebanon or Syria. He came to the United States at age 13, served as a sergeant in the United States Army in World War One, and spent much of his adulthood in Oklahoma and Texas. He edited a newspaper for his immigrant community, The Syrian Light. In 1950, he was a fire marshal in Corpus Christi, TX, and at the time of his death, he was the coordinator of civil defense for Hidalgo County, TX. He was active in the Freemasons and the Presbyterian Church as well as with Syrian immigrant groups. 

This archive of his personal and professional papers is mostly in English, with a few items in Fogaley's native Arabic. It illustrates the classic American story of a man with feet in two worlds, deeply patriotic but also attached to his original culture.

A file relating to Fogaley's Oklahoma City newspaper, The Syrian Light, includes 15 letters, 3 typescript articles, and 3 photographs, 1937-1938. A letter from the Rev. W.A. Mansur encloses his article "Mrs. Joe Adwon, Leader of Syrian-American Women." In response, Fogaley wrote "We need a writer who would point out our path as American Citizens. We must not rest alone on what our ancestors contributed to civilization, but we must carry on such traditions and contribute something ourselves to humanity." One letter is from actress Jeanne Farah, who performed as "Little Egypt" in MGM's "The Great Zeigfeld"; she recommends an article on a Borger, TX family renowned for their traditional Syrian bread: "I was so fascinated while watching Mrs. Haidy twirl that dough larger and rounder than anyone I had ever seen before, and when she actually used the saj, I was floored." A mimeograph article is titled "Status of American Citizens of Syrian or Lebanese Origin under the Terms of the Franco-Turkish Agreement." A letter from the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce comes with three promotional photographs of San Antonio, TX. 5 Letters Signed are from United States Senator Elmer Thomas of Oklahoma, 1937, forwarding information on Syrian immigration for use in the newspaper.

An additional correspondence file contains 32 letters, 1930-1955. Some relate to local politics, including a retained carbon of Fogaley's 1941 letter to an up-and-coming young United States Representative: "Since the campaign I have continued to keep the name of Lyndon B. Johnson before by friends and acquaintances, and I assure you that this vigilance will be maintained until Lyndon B. Johnson is given the place to which he is rightfully entitled." Some letters discuss Fogaley's quest for an Army commission in World War Two, including 5 Letters Signed from United States Senator Tom Connally of Texas. 5 letters are in Arabic.

Also included are the 1963 will of his American-born widow Adele Fogaley; and a 1931 typescript report of the Gladewater [TX] Chamber of Commerce.

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