Preserving a Diaspora: Chicago Project Chronicles Arab Immigrant Journeys Through Family Artifacts

Chicago– An Iraqi American historian in Chicago has launched an oral-history initiative to document the experiences of Arab immigrants through personal artifacts and family narratives, aiming to preserve a largely undocumented history of Arab settlement in the United States dating back generations.

Dorrah Alharbi, a history graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago, founded The Little Palestine Project to collect and archive stories from immigrants of Arab origin who settled in the Chicago metropolitan area, particularly in the southwest suburban communities collectively known as “Little Palestine.”

The project uses personal objects brought by immigrants during their journeys to the United States as entry points into broader conversations about migration, identity and community formation. Participants are invited to share items that hold personal or cultural significance, ranging from photographs and clothing to official documents and family heirlooms.

“The Little Palestine Project is an object-based oral history initiative,” Alharbi said. “I ask people who have immigrated from any Arab country what items they decided to bring with them on their journey here to Chicago.”

Although Alharbi is Iraqi American, she said the initiative was inspired by the multicultural Arab character of the neighborhood where she lives, which is home to Palestinians, Iraqis, Lebanese, Yemenis and other Arab communities.

The effort comes amid heightened national attention on immigration and identity issues in the United States. Alharbi said documenting personal histories has become increasingly important to improve public understanding of Arab American communities and preserve stories that are often absent from mainstream historical narratives.

Her own family immigrated from Iraq during the 1990s and initially settled on Chicago’s North Side before relocating to the southwest suburbs, where Arab and Palestinian populations have grown significantly over recent decades.

Communities including Bridgeview, Palos Hills and Orland Park have become important centers of Arab American life in the Chicago area. Bridgeview, in particular, was formally designated as “Little Palestine” earlier this year with decorative signage recognizing the area’s cultural heritage.

Alharbi said early efforts to recruit participants were challenging, with some local business owners declining to display promotional materials for the project. She continued outreach efforts across the community to encourage participation and build trust among families willing to share their experiences.

Drawing on her training in art history, Alharbi focuses on material culture as a way of uncovering personal and collective histories. She said physical objects often provide a more accessible and comfortable starting point for conversations about migration, identity and belonging.

The project has documented 15 stories to date. Collected items include family photographs, key chains, wedding memorabilia, immigration documents, traditional clothing, embroidery and a driver’s license issued in Palestine in 1921.

Images and stories from the collection are currently featured through the project’s social media platform, and Alharbi said she plans to launch a bilingual website to make the archive more accessible to a wider audience.

“We’re able to uncover more and more history that isn’t really narrativized,” Alharbi said.