In a noteworthy initiative by the Samir Youssef Hitti family, the archives of the ARZIT LEBNEN [أرزة لبنان] newspaper, founded by Youssef Ayoub Hitti, and the AZ-ZAJAL AL-LUBNANI [الزجل اللبناني] and ASH-SHE’R AL-QAOUMI [الشعر القومي] newspapers, founded by Khalil Ayoub Hitti, were donated to the Phoenix Center for Lebanese Studies at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik for preservation and archiving in service to researchers and students.
The gift agreement was signed on behalf of the family by Dr. Youssef Samir Hitti in the presence of his brother the journalist Paul.
Youssef Ayoub Hitti (1885-1945) was born in Damour and is a prominent figure of the Lebanese expatriate press and publishing. In 1916, he founded the Arzit Lebnen (Cedar of Lebanon) political newspaper in Rio de Janeiro to serve the Lebanese cause of independence from Ottoman rule. In 1923, he moved back to Lebanon where he continued publishing the newspaper until 1943 as an information bridge between resident Lebanon and the expatriate diaspora.
For his part, Youssef’s brother Khalil Ayoub Hitti (1888-1977) founded in Beirut in 1933, along with Youssef Bahout, the Az-Zajal Al-Lubnani [Lebanese Vernacular Poetry] newspaper, which is considered the foundation stone of the Lebanese vernacular press. In May of 1934, Khalil went his own way and founded the Ash-She’r Al-Qaoumi [National Poetry] newspaper which he published until 1951 when he renamed it Arzit Lebnen in homage to his late brother. He continued publishing it until 1972.
The original press release in Arabic is available, among other sites, on:
https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/education/671995/جرائد-آل-حتي-تنضم-الى-مجموعة-أرشيف-الجرائد-في-جامع
