Medina Diplomats: December 7, 1797 – October 16, 1961

"On October 9, the new office building of the Consulate General was completed, and on October 16 the move from the old buildings was completed." The laconic entry of the anonymous diplomat or consular clerk, writing in his or her best "Palmer Method" penmanship, belies its historic importance.  What is being described above, from one … Read more Medina Diplomats: December 7, 1797 – October 16, 1961


Tangier Inaugurations: From Steam Train to TGV

First train arrives in Tangier's Charf Station, 1920s Print from Donald Angus Collection of glass negatives, No. 86 TALIM library, Tangier American Legation Yesterday's ceremony to mark the start of construction of Africa's newest TGV or high speed train line brought French President Nicolas Sarkozy and King Mohammed VI to Tangier.  As a relatively frequent … Read more Tangier Inaugurations: From Steam Train to TGV


Mapping Mittelmeerland – An Architectural Mediterranean

Mittelmeerland will investigate the future of the Mediterranean and research six different cities over three years. In the second workshop we will study the dynamic territory of Tangier and the mutual dependencies of land and water. The Archictectural Association (AA) School of Architecture, London Yesterday's final session of the 10-day Mittelmeerland workshop in Tangier featured … Read more Mapping Mittelmeerland – An Architectural Mediterranean


Minister Gummere & Teddy Roosevelt’s Big Stick In Morocco

Samuel R. Gummere, First American Minister to Morocco (Tangier, 1898 – 1909) Note: This guest post by Mehdi Zainoune, summer intern en route to studies at Sciences Po in Paris, is part of our series of vignettes from the history of Morocco-United States relations.  Samuel René Gummere (February 19, 1849 – May 28, 1920) was … Read more Minister Gummere & Teddy Roosevelt’s Big Stick In Morocco


Legation, Consulate, Diplomatic Agency: Tangier’s American Presence

(click on picture to enlarge) Among all the documents that are squirelled away in odd corners of the Legation's research library or administrative files, every so often an item of more than passing interest surfaces. What we're looking at here is the unmistakable pink of the State Department "airgram" announcing in June 1956 that the … Read more Legation, Consulate, Diplomatic Agency: Tangier’s American Presence


The Joys of the Tangier Gazette

The leather bound volumes of the Tangier Gazette are a favorite among researchers who spend time at the Legation library. Part of it is the look and feel of history in its original form.  And there's all the period detail that gives context to the stories of events in Tangier and beyond. In the 1900 … Read more The Joys of the Tangier Gazette


Just Another International Conference in Tangier

I had to look up "intermediality" when I was invited to this conference, but it's not so difficult.  It's basically the nexus of theatre and performance with other media, including digital.  Plays on the internet.  Touch screens on stage.  Films within a one-woman show.  The sky is the limit for permutations on the theme. This … Read more Just Another International Conference in Tangier


History Tantalizingly Within Reach

The archives of the American Legation at Tangier record that 74 years ago the Sultan of Morocco, disturbed at the predatory methods of certain European Powers who looked covetously in the direction of Morocco and particularly Tangier, expressed the desire to turn over his entire empire as a protectorate to the United States.  We were … Read more History Tantalizingly Within Reach


Tangier’s New Port: Let the Water Flow

Engineer and Commercial Director of the Moroccan government chartered company SAPT Hassan Mzerma opened Day Two of the 2011 April Seminar, with the focus on the SAPT project of the conversion of Tangier's city port.  We thank SAPT chief Abdelouafi Laftit and Mr. Mzerma, probably two of the busiest people in Morocco, for their valuable … Read more Tangier’s New Port: Let the Water Flow