Modern Assyrian Research Archive Foundation (MARA)by Tomas Beth-Avdalla Isik — MARA Project Manager. May 29, 2012. Posted: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at 09:27 PM UT
This is MARA MARA (Modern Assyrian Research Archive) is a digital and physical archive about the Assyrians* in modern times. We are a tax-exempt foundation that collects, preserves, and makes available materials such as manuscripts, old and historical photographs, documents, periodicals, books, and audio and video recordings. *Assyrians are indigenous to parts of the Middle East (Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey), and today, many live in the diaspora mainly in the USA, Europe and Russia. MARA, founded in 2008 by academics from various countries interested in Assyrian studies, is affiliated with the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge. Our goal is to create the world's largest digital and physical archive focusing on Assyrians in modern times. This is how MARA works
MARA's work leads to:
We are creating the world's largest archive of Assyrian material MARA's success is due, in part, to a worldwide network of individuals, organizations, universities, and libraries. Informing as many sources as possible allows us to collect different types of material. MARA covers all costs associated with getting the material to us to digitize and then either returning or keeping it in a safe environment. Our work is demanding and time consuming. The digitization of the materials is a slow process. Books and documents are scanned and audio/video recordings converted to a digital format which all computers can manage. The material is catalogued and made available on the Internet at the MARA website www.AssyrianArchive.org where all visitors can read, listen and view the materials free of charge.
Gleanings of the material from Assyrians around the world MARA collects material worldwide where Assyrians reside. The current archive consists of material collected from Russia, the USA, Australia, Sweden, Germany and the countries of origin of the Assyrians in the Middle East. Below are some examples of unique Assyrian material collected and digitized from the Middle East, the USA and Russia.
Affiliation with University of Cambridge
Books, documents and other physical material collected are deposited both at the Cambridge University Library and the MARA archive. The history is building the future - MARA needs your support The history of the Assyrians in modern times is a continuation of thousands of years of culture from its origins in Beth Nahreen (Mesopotamia). This modern history deserves to and must be preserved for posterity. MARA is a non-profit foundation organized and directed by persons committed to the preservation of modern Assyrian history. MARA's goal and ideals are unique, but the work is costly. Therefore, MARA seeks financial assistance from individuals, institutions and companies worldwide to meet its goal. If you wish to support MARA's objective, please donate.
Here are several ways to support MARA*:
Our website, www.AssyrianArchive.org, provides specific information on the various methods for donating to MARA. * For residents of the USA, donations should be made through the Assyrian Foundation of America. See our website for further instructions. Thank you in advance for your kind donation! |
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