Acknowledging the tremendous support for the ARCE fellowship program by Egyptian scholars and institutions, ARCE hosted a special reception on April 5th to honor the Egyptian Affiliate Scholars and senior officials from the National Archives and Library, the Egyptian Museum, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), and the Ministry of Antiquities who work closely with the Fellowship Program. This program has been an integral part of ARCE’s expanded operations in Egypt since the early 1960s.

ARCE fellows, who conduct research in museums, libraries, and archives, and at archeological and historical sites throughout the country, work closely with Egyptian scholars from the MOHE or inspectors and curators from the Ministry of Antiquities and/or Culture. With the guidance and support of these Egyptian colleagues, fellows navigate the local bureaucracies and expand their scholarly networks – deepening their understanding of Egyptian history and strengthening their capabilities as researcher and scholars.

Dr. Gerry Scott (ARCE Director), Madame Amira Khattab (ARCE Deputy Director for Research and Government Relations), and Dr. Hassanein Rabea (Senior Advisor, Egyptian Affiliate Scholars Program), welcomed the fellows and our Egyptian colleagues to ARCE, thanking them for their dedication to strengthening American-Egyptian cultural ties.

During the evening, Dr. Zein el Din Abd Elhady, Chairman of the National Library and Archives of Egypt and Dr. Emad Ahmed Helal, Director of Documents and Research Unit were treated to a personal tour of the ARCE Simpson Library by head librarian, Mr. Charles Van Siclen.

From the Egyptian Museum, with whom ARCE and the fellows work very closely, Dr. Sayed Hassan, Director and Dr. Mahmud El Halwagy, Assistant Director, also joined ARCE for the evening celebration.

From the Ministry of Antiquities, three officials who are instrumental in the research proposal clearance process were honored: Mrs. Manal Kamel, Director of Central Management for Cultural Relations, and Mrs. Manar Farouk and Mr. Lu’oy Mohamed Adri, both working with the Permanent Committee Department. Another honoree included Mrs. Amira Zakaria, from the Foreign Missions and Cultural Relations Department of the MOHE, which provides clearance for fellows who conduct historical research that is not antiquities related.

Senior Egyptian scholars, who form the backbone of the Egyptian Affiliate Scholars Program, were also present. Each year with the help of Dr. Hassanein Rabea, Senior Advisor, all fellows conducting research under the auspices of the MOHE, are assigned affiliate scholars to mentor them and assist them in navigating the labyrinth of the national archives and library.

For many fellows these professional associations continue to develop and expand throughout subsequent years. This year’s affiliates who were honored at the reception included: Prof. Dr. Mohamed Afifi, History Department, Cairo University; Dr. Hossam Abdel Moah, History Department Chairman, Beni Suef University; Dr. Hussein Hammuda, Arabic Language Department, Cairo University; Dr. Insaf Omar, Library and Documents Department, Cairo University; Prof. Dr. Sayyid Eshmawy, History Department, Cairo University; and Prof. Dr. Yasser Mungi, Faculty of Arts, Helwan University.