Zaytoun and Murman Family Photographs

Family business

Lebanese--United States

Military

Photographs

Biographical/Historical Note

Ellis Zaytoun was born in Hammana, Lebanon on May 30, 1890. He immigrated to the United States in 1906 along with two of his brothers and by 1910 had moved to New Bern, North Carolina. Ellis began work as a peddler and dry goods clerk. In 1911, Ellis submitted an application for naturalization which was finalized in 1916. During this time, Ellis established himself as an integral member of the New Bern community. He volunteered for the local fire department and served as a member of the Syrian Brotherhood Society of New Bern, an early humanitarian group dedicated to providing aid to Lebanese, Syrians, and Armenians.

Ellis married Isabel DeKash in 1914, a fellow Lebanese immigrant from Hamana, Lebanon. Isabel and Ellis had six children who survived to adulthood: Evelyn Gladys Zaytoun Farris, Vivian Grace Zaytoun Salem, Constance Teresa Zaytoun Lamar, Joseph Ellis Zaytoun, Agnes Zaytoun Murman, and Henry Zaytoun. Ellis gradually expanded his business ventures from owning a fruit stand turned grocery to owning both a restaurant and a news agency. In 1940, Ellis was employed at John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, and in 1957 he founded Zaytoun and Associates with his eldest son, Joseph.

During World War II Agnes Zaytoun worked at her father's newspaper stand in New Bern, North Carolina. During the war, she met her husband, Charles Murman, at a dance in Cherry Point. They married after the war and moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Agnes was an active member of St. Luke's Parish throughout her adult life. Agnes Zaytoun had six children: Michael Murman, Elaine Murman Ferguson, Evelyn Murman Quigley, David Murman, Ann Marie Murman Grove, and Maureen Murman.

Scope/Content Note

This collection primarily contains photographs collected by Agnes Zaytoun featuring her and members of the Zaytoun and Murman families.

Agnes Zaytoun Estate

Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies

circa 1890s-2001

Processed by Celine Shay, 2021-2022. Collection Guide content contributed by Celine Shay and updated by Allison Hall, 2021-2022 and 2023, December.

The donor retains full ownership of any copyright and rights currently controlled. Nonexclusive right to authorize uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. Usage of the materials for these purposes must be fully credited with the source. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials.

English

KC 0058