Arabic Department Library
The Arabic Department is excited to introduce the Muhammad Alwan Collection.
This collection, located in the department, hosts nearly 2,000 books donated by the late Professor Muhammad Alwan. For more information, or to check out a book, please visit the library or navigate the collection online using our website.
About the Collection
This collection was made possible by the generous donation of Muhammad Baqir Alwan, former professor of Arabic at Tufts, in whose memory this library is dedicated. Ustadh Alwan (1930-2024) was born in Iraq where he first became interested in education. He fled Iraq for the UK where he began his studies, before finishing them in the United States. Ustadh Alwan earned his PhD in Arabic Literature and taught at universities around the country and the world.
His collection of books demonstrates the immense care and passion he had for Arab literary and religious history, among other subjects. An accomplished academic and translator, Alwan’s works include translated poems of Langston Hughes and مـعـتـقـدات الـعـرب الـبـدائـيـة، قـصـيـدة الـحـكـم الـبـهـرانـي في عـجـائـب الـمـخـلـوقـات. In the spirit of Ustadh Alwan’s admiration and care of education, the Arabic department hopes this library will provide the community with comprehensive access to literature on the Arab World.
By the Numbers
The collection covers the years from 1846-2015 and represents more than a dozen languages from three dozen countries.