The graduating class surrounding their professors for the University of Syria’s Institute for Arabic Law in 1925-26; for a larger image, click here

The image above shows the graduating class from the University of Syria’s Institute for Arabic Law in 1925-26. Among the professors is Fath Allah ‘Ali Adibe (top row, second from right), a graduate of al-Azhar and the grandfather of Dr. Najwa Adra. He is in the minority of professors sporting beards, although the moustache was clearly a necessity and only one of the scholars has a bare head and he is one of the few with spectacles. What is fascinating is the representation of the students, who are dressed entirely in Western suit and tie. About half have their moustache intact, with one showing a handlebar worthy of a Viennese gentleman. School graduation pictures like these are priceless. Would it not be a worthy project for someone or some school to archive these for the Middle East? Any takers out there?

The professors for the University of Syria’s Institute for Arabic Law in 1925-26; for a larger image, click here