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.
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.
View from the terrace of the workshop participants and leaders
Children paint in the rooms off the courtyard
Paints ready for the children’s projects
Teacher Fatima Ben Guerch talking with some of the children participating in the workshop
View from the terrace of the workshop participants and leaders
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)
Ayoub Artista leads an activity with the children in the courtyard
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.
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.
The Legation’s Christmas Tree is live and is the same as the one used last year
On behalf of all of us in Tangier, I would like to dispense a bit with protocol and write all of you directly to wish all of your and your families a very happy holiday season. This year the holiday stars have aligned, with Hanukkah, Christmas and the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday all falling in December. Here are two photos of a yesterday’s Hanukkah celebration in Tangier at the former Jewish Casino, and of our own Marché de Noël that we hosted Saturday at the Legation along with 14 other Tangier NGO’s and charitable organizations.
We are extremely grateful for your friendship and for your support to the Legation, both for your generous contributions and especially for the time that so many of you give to help us. We hope to welcome many of you back to Tangier next April for our 40th anniversary celebrations.
Here is TALIM’s Calendar of Events for November and December (in English and Arabic). All events are in English unless otherwise indicated. هنا هو التقويم تاليم من النشاطات في نوفمبر تشرين الثاني وكانون الأول (باللغتين العربية والإنجليزية). جميع الأحداث باللغة الإنجليزية ما لم يذكر خلاف ذلك Consult and subscribe to our Events Calendar
All of us at TALIM are very excited to host next year’s AIMS conference May 14-15, 2016. The theme, “Mediterranean Crossroads: Spanish-Maghribi Relations in Past and Present” is perfect for Tangier! Please see attached announcement and details about participation. http://aimsnorthafrica.org/AC/ac.cfm
On November 7, 7:00 pm, TALIM will host a discussion with Professor Karim Bejjit of Hassan II University in Casablanca, of his 2015 book, English Colonial Texts on Tangier, 1661-1684. Dr. Bejjit will discuss this collection of 18 Restoration pamphlets written about England’s venture in ruling Tangier in the 17th century. Click the button below … Read more Discussion of English Colonial Texts on Tangier, Nov 7
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