Mary Louise Tweel Haddad
(1912-2000)
First Woman Kfeirian Reunion Leader
by W. T. “Ted” Tweel, MD
My aunt Mary Louise Tweel Haddad belonged to the first American born generation of Kfeirians and was the only sibling to actually experience life in Kfeir. She grew up in a cultural mix of differing expectations especially for women. It was a time marked by such events as the women’s right to vote (1919), women independently driving automobiles, and Amelia Earhart crossing the Atlantic (1928).
In 1929 Mary, an enthusiastic and recent high school graduate, accompanied her father John to Kfeir. My grandfather had not seen his father for 24 years. Having never experienced Lebanon and village life first hand, the journey would be a culturally broadening life experience for Mary that would motivate and greatly influence her career in education. The waypoints were a thrilling and highly educational experience; but the rudimentary conditions of Kfeir were a shock. Villagers were amazed (and amused) by her lady heeled shoes on the rocky terrain and her bathing suit! But Mary with her genuinely respectful and friendly persona was determined to adapt to the Syrian culture, lowering her hemlines, sewing more acceptable dress, and sending for more appropriate attire. She learned to cope with the “talk” about would be suitors, some of whom saw her as a “ticket” to the U.S. But Mary always made it clear her priority was to further her education both while in Kfeir and after returning home.
Unfortunately, her stay in Kfeir extended almost 3 years, complicated by an ailing father. But this also gave Mary opportunity to learn much about middle eastern life, traveling to other villages, and even staying a while in Damascus with relatives. She brushed up on her French, studied written Arabic, and then taught English classes while there. She eventually became expert in Arabic, French, and Spanish.
Petite Mary, who in later years complained about having to visit the children’s department to buy her pantyhose, had great spunk. In 1929, a parallel Kfeirian Brotherhood Society to the Huntington organization was being formed in Lebanon. A pre “Women’s Lib” Mary “crashed” those all male meetings in Kfeir to assist since she was from Huntington. No doubt a village woman would have not have considered attending or been allowed; but Mary was an American with Huntington membership connections. Mary would remain an active member of the renamed Kfeirian Reunion Foundation. Later she became the first woman Kfeirian Reunion leader.
Tragically in 1931, her father died in Kfeir; and a bereaved but matured Mary returned home. True to her life goals, Mary entered Marshall Teachers College (now University) graduating in August 1934 with a Bachelor of Arts in education. She assumed teaching positions at Huntington High School and in Canton, Ohio. In 1938 Mary married a Lebanese man, Edward Michael Haddad, from Canton, Ohio. They were later blessed in 1942 with a child.
In 1944 Mary organized and sponsored the Al-Banat “The Girls” Club in Huntington. The club was for Lebanese or Syrian girls 12-18 years old. The purpose was “to study Arabic culture … unite the best of the American and Arabic culture … friendship, understanding, and service … and to stand for the best in the home, church, and the community”. Even though Mary worked as a teacher and had the usual parental responsibilities, she was still determined to further her education.
In 1945 she earned her Masters of Arts in education at Marshall. But that would not end her educational pursuits for she was a lifelong learner. She faced the criticism of the time when she temporarily left her husband at home, taking her daughter with her to further her education at Columbia University. Traveling to New York City in 1948, staying at the multicultural International House, she continued studies at the University of Havana, New York University, and Columbia Teachers College. Unfortunately, her studies were interrupted in 1950 when her mother Anna became terminally ill.
In her career, Mary served as a consultant on middle-eastern culture, co-authoring a Columbia University handbook for foreign students. She also assisted with the protocol for King ibn Saud’s visit to the U.S. during the Nixon administration. At age 79, then the oldest Columbia College doctoral candidate, Mary would defend her dissertation Al-Kfeir in America, published posthumously in 2013 by Joseph Touma, MD. Copies of her book are still available at the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church in Huntington, W.Va. There is more about Mary Haddad in The Milhim Taweel Branch family history (including her 1929 letter “Life in Kfeir”) posted on the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation website.
(1912-2000)
First Woman Kfeirian Reunion Leader
by W. T. “Ted” Tweel, MD
My aunt Mary Louise Tweel Haddad belonged to the first American born generation of Kfeirians and was the only sibling to actually experience life in Kfeir. She grew up in a cultural mix of differing expectations especially for women. It was a time marked by such events as the women’s right to vote (1919), women independently driving automobiles, and Amelia Earhart crossing the Atlantic (1928).
In 1929 Mary, an enthusiastic and recent high school graduate, accompanied her father John to Kfeir. My grandfather had not seen his father for 24 years. Having never experienced Lebanon and village life first hand, the journey would be a culturally broadening life experience for Mary that would motivate and greatly influence her career in education. The waypoints were a thrilling and highly educational experience; but the rudimentary conditions of Kfeir were a shock. Villagers were amazed (and amused) by her lady heeled shoes on the rocky terrain and her bathing suit! But Mary with her genuinely respectful and friendly persona was determined to adapt to the Syrian culture, lowering her hemlines, sewing more acceptable dress, and sending for more appropriate attire. She learned to cope with the “talk” about would be suitors, some of whom saw her as a “ticket” to the U.S. But Mary always made it clear her priority was to further her education both while in Kfeir and after returning home.
Unfortunately, her stay in Kfeir extended almost 3 years, complicated by an ailing father. But this also gave Mary opportunity to learn much about middle eastern life, traveling to other villages, and even staying a while in Damascus with relatives. She brushed up on her French, studied written Arabic, and then taught English classes while there. She eventually became expert in Arabic, French, and Spanish.
Petite Mary, who in later years complained about having to visit the children’s department to buy her pantyhose, had great spunk. In 1929, a parallel Kfeirian Brotherhood Society to the Huntington organization was being formed in Lebanon. A pre “Women’s Lib” Mary “crashed” those all male meetings in Kfeir to assist since she was from Huntington. No doubt a village woman would have not have considered attending or been allowed; but Mary was an American with Huntington membership connections. Mary would remain an active member of the renamed Kfeirian Reunion Foundation. Later she became the first woman Kfeirian Reunion leader.
Tragically in 1931, her father died in Kfeir; and a bereaved but matured Mary returned home. True to her life goals, Mary entered Marshall Teachers College (now University) graduating in August 1934 with a Bachelor of Arts in education. She assumed teaching positions at Huntington High School and in Canton, Ohio. In 1938 Mary married a Lebanese man, Edward Michael Haddad, from Canton, Ohio. They were later blessed in 1942 with a child.
In 1944 Mary organized and sponsored the Al-Banat “The Girls” Club in Huntington. The club was for Lebanese or Syrian girls 12-18 years old. The purpose was “to study Arabic culture … unite the best of the American and Arabic culture … friendship, understanding, and service … and to stand for the best in the home, church, and the community”. Even though Mary worked as a teacher and had the usual parental responsibilities, she was still determined to further her education.
In 1945 she earned her Masters of Arts in education at Marshall. But that would not end her educational pursuits for she was a lifelong learner. She faced the criticism of the time when she temporarily left her husband at home, taking her daughter with her to further her education at Columbia University. Traveling to New York City in 1948, staying at the multicultural International House, she continued studies at the University of Havana, New York University, and Columbia Teachers College. Unfortunately, her studies were interrupted in 1950 when her mother Anna became terminally ill.
In her career, Mary served as a consultant on middle-eastern culture, co-authoring a Columbia University handbook for foreign students. She also assisted with the protocol for King ibn Saud’s visit to the U.S. during the Nixon administration. At age 79, then the oldest Columbia College doctoral candidate, Mary would defend her dissertation Al-Kfeir in America, published posthumously in 2013 by Joseph Touma, MD. Copies of her book are still available at the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church in Huntington, W.Va. There is more about Mary Haddad in The Milhim Taweel Branch family history (including her 1929 letter “Life in Kfeir”) posted on the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation website.
Mary at the 1933 Reunion. Mary is second from the left on the second row from the top of the picture.
|
Mary as Leader of the 1959 Reunion
|