We’re thrilled to announce that we have now published lesson plans about the Tangier American Legation. They’re perfect for teachers planning to bring groups of Moroccan students to visit our museum. There are lesson plans for beginning, intermediate and advanced level students. Please take a look, share with your fellow teachers, and send us your feedback.
You can click here to go directly to the lesson plans, of you can find them under Education & Research in the menu above. There you will also find information about our research library, and the literacy and skills training offered at the Legation.
The 2016 AIMS Conference, titled “Mediterranean Crossroads: Spanish-Maghribi Relations in Past and Present” kicked off on Saturday May 14th at the Grand Hotel Villa de France, with three panels that cast a new light on the history and people of this region.
On May 13 we were pleased to host a “Green Journalism” climate change workshop for journalists from Tangier, Tetouan and Laraiche The workshop , offered by the Thomson Reuters Foundation and the U.S. Embassy, was the second of five to be held in Arabic (in Oujda, Tangier, Ouarzazate, Marrakesh and Agadir) and two in … Read more Green Journalism Workshop
Our thanks to Columbia University professor and author Hisham Aidi for returning to his home town to participate in this month’s Salon International de Tanger des Livres et des Arts. In his round table on “The Artistic Power of Tangier,” Dr. Aidi deconstructed certain stereotypes of expatriate Tangier writers/artists and pointed out the rich diversity … Read more Columbia’s Hisham Aidi Returns to Tangier
On Saturday April 9th, just as our 40th anniversary festivities were coming to a close, we had the opportunity to meet over 40 returned Moroccan alumni of US exchange programs. These professionals are at all stages of their careers, some are students, some teach and many others work in the private sector or in other areas of Moroccan civil society. They were involved in a variety of projects while in the U.S. and they shared with us some of their aspirations for the future.
Participants introducing themselves.
Our day began with professor Dale Eickelman of Dartmouth College, who gave a talk titled “New Directions: The Tangier American Legation since 1976”. He spoke about TALIM’s transformation from its inception as a non-profit organization to its work today. The Legation and TALIM are opening up to more community involvement through events and programs. Professor Eickelman unveiled our latest initiative during his talk. The “Legation Scholars” program, developed by TALIM and local partners, aims to provide high school students from the Old Medina of Tangier with English language training and baccalaureate support so that they may pursue higher-level studies in the STEM fields. Many of the Moroccan U.S. alumni present at the talk expressed interest in becoming involved in these kinds of programs, through mentorships and other types of collaboration.
On Saturday, April 9, TALIM hosted a urban gardening and arts workshop. The event gave those attending the 40th anniversary events an opportunity to see TALIM’s outreach programs live. See some photos in the gallery.
Children paint in the rooms off the courtyard
Paints ready for the children’s projects
View from the terrace of the workshop participants and leaders
Ayoub Artista leads an activity with the children in the courtyard
View from the terrace of the workshop participants and leaders
View of the children around the workshop table
Work by the children decorates zankat America (rue d’Amerique)
Teacher Fatima Ben Guerch talking with some of the children participating in the workshop
View from the terrace of the workshop participants and leaders
The 40th Anniversary Conference held today at TALIM reviewed the history of the Tangier Legation as a diplomatic presence, then as a museum, and finally as the multifunctional research, educational, and cultural center it is today.
The day began with opening remarks by Director John Davison, and President Dale Eickelman. Presentations on the first panel included “The First Daughter of the Legation” by Anna Reidy, New York University; “The Perdicaris Affair” by Jeremy Gunn, Professor at Université Internationale de Rabat ; and “Twilight of the International Zone” by Gerald Loftus, Former TALIM Director.
The courtyard and terrace approximately 40 years ago
Today was the first full day of events held to mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Tangier American Legation Museum, now the Tangier American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies (TALIM). The events are being held in conjunction with the annual meetings of the TALIM Board and Fellows. Ordinarily the meetings are held in the US, but this year they are being held in Tangier to mark this milestone anniversary.
Today’s Museum Week challenge asks us to zoom in on a particular item in our collection. Over the past few weeks we have had several visitors with a keen interest in seeing Villa Perdicaris in its old splendor. There was the restoration crew charged with bringing Villa Perdicaris, also known as Villa Aidonia, back to … Read more A new look at the old Villa Perdicaris for #MuseumWeek #ZoomMW
View of the stairs at the north end of the east courtyard.
For Wednesday of Museum Week 2016, we focus on the architecture of TALIM.
The Tangier American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies (TALIM), straddling both sides of rue d’Amerique ( زنقة اةمريكا ) approximately 20 m (75 feet) past the southernmost gate in the wall of the old medina, is a very interesting structure from an architectural perspective. It is a multifunctional structure composed of several buildings built at different times and in different architectural styles. Yet the structure as it exists today is remarkably unified.
TALIM, or the Old American Legation as it is commonly known in Morocco, turns 40 this year, but is housed on the site of the building given to the United States by Sultan Moulay Suleyman in 1821. For approximately 140 years the site served as the American diplomatic presence in the city, until 1961 when a new consular complex was built outside the wall of the old medina. The museum, library and cultural center that make up TALIM are housed in a historically significant structure, but it bears little resemblance to the original, single story building. It was badly damaged in the 1844 bombing of Tangier, and essentially rebuilt in an expanded form in 1848.
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