As-Sameer Newspapers, السمير
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Biographical/Historical Note
As-Sameer, السمير [The Entertainer] was an Arabic-language newspaper published in Brooklyn, New York. It was founded in 1929 by Elia abu Madey, إيليا أبو ماضي (also known as Elia Daher Madey, Elia abu Madi, and Iliya abu Madi).
Abu Madey was born on May 15, 1889 in al-Muhayditha, Syria (now Bikfaya, Lebanon) and immigrated to the United States in 1911. He settled first in Cincinnati before moving to New York City in 1916. Though he had very little formal education, abu Madey was drawn to literature from a young age, publishing his first collection of poetry in 1911. In New York, abu Madey became associated with the Arabic literary movement al-Rabita al-Qalamiyya, or the Pen League, and was published in their literary journal al-Funun. Abu Madey was widely recognized across the Arabic-speaking world for his skill as a poet, and he remains a highly influential literary figure to this day.
In addition to his literary works, abu Madey was a successful and influential publisher. Both professionally and personally, abu Madey became linked with Najeeb Diab, founder of the long-running newspaper Mira’at al-Gharb. In 1918, abu Madey became editor in chief of Mira'at, and two years later he married Diab’s daughter Dorothy.
In 1929, he departed from his position at Mira’at al-Gharb to create As-Sameer. When the paper expanded in 1936, abu Madey wrote regular columns and editorials. Abu Madey was recognized for his prominent role in journalism, and in 1948 he was one of the representatives of the immigrant press to the third UNESCO in Beirut. As-Sameer ceased publication in June 1957.
Scope/Contents Note
In partnership with the descendants of Elia abu Madey, the Khayrallah Center has digitized As-Sameer from June 1, 1929 to June 28, 1957.
Initially, As-Sameer was a monthly journal. It acquired its own printing press in 1931, and moved to a semi-weekly news format in 1936. As a semi-weekly it was published three times a week with few irregularities.
The paper reported on world events, particularly as they related to the impact that the world wars and decolonization had on the Arab world.
To access the fully searchable digitized issues of the newspaper, search the Khayrallah Center's Arabic Newspaper database.
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