AUB's 125th anniversary celebrations in 1992 coincided with the beginnings of Lebanon's return to peace after sixteen years of civil war, throughout which AUB continued to function. This book is a special anniversary tribute to the founders of the university, originally the Syrian Protestant College, who laid the foundations on which the college could grow and develop into one of the leading institutions of higher education in the Middle East. The book documents seven of the original faculty: Daniel Bliss, the first president; David Stuart Dodge; Edwin R. Lewis; Harvey Porter; George E. Post; Cornelius Van Dyck; and John Wortabet. Sections in English and Arabic include speeches, official papers, letters, and articles – some contemporary, others more recent – that demonstrate the values and principles these founding fathers sought to put into practice.
Lead, Innovate, Serve: A Visual History of the American University of Beirut’s First One Hundred and Fifty Years represents a collaborative expression of love for AUB in celebration of its 150th anniversary. This elegant collection of images effectively walks the reader, year by year, through a selection of key elements and moments in the University’s history. The photographs are organized chronologically into five sections entitled “Founding 1862–1901,” “Taking Root 1902–1948,” “Academic Renaissance 1949–1970,” “Turmoil and Resilience 1971–1996,” and “A New Millennium 1997–2016.” The sections are accompanied by short essays relating to each period of the University’s history and by profiles of AUB’s presidents and numerous history makers who have contributed to the impact that the American University of Beirut has had both in Lebanon and beyond. We believe that Lead, Innovate, Serve will be treasured by all who have entered the gates of the University. Proceeds from sales of the book go to the 150 for 150 Scholarship Fund.
Founded in 1866, the American University of Beirut (AUB) has had a positive and transformative impact on Lebanon, the Middle East, and the world. Published on the occasion of AUB's 150th anniversary, this commemorative volume serves as a lasting testimony to the extraordinary influence of AUB in its first 150 years and sets the stage for its future. This volume examines AUB's history from diverse perspectives and points of view. It deals with key moments in the early history of the University, and with its current position as a local agent with global concerns, also focusing on its complex relations with the USA and the rest of the world. Some of the chapters highlight salient personalities and important constituencies who have contributed to the legacy of AUB. Parts of the book also focus on the campus and its location within Ras Beirut, as well as their resulting interaction and mutual impact over years of growth and transformation. The book is organized according to five themes: Early History, AUB, the USA, and the World, Space, Academic/Scientific Contributions, and Salient Personalities
The publication is the cumulation of a project by AUB's Neighborhood Initiative that identified and located 46 streets in Beirut that carry AUB-related names emphasizing the shared history between the university and the city. The goal of the project is to bring awareness to the connections between people and place through the actual names of Beirut’s streets and to those in whose honor they are named. The booklet is original published by AUB’s Office of Communications as a bilingual edition and includes a pull-out map of Ras Beirut highlighting the 28 AUB-related streets in the neighborhood.