JORDAN MUSEUM

Book Acknowledgement

Mrs. Widad Kamel Kawar is a member on the Board of Trustees of the Jordan Museum. Her continuous efforts and support towards the Museum are extremely valued and appreciated. We would like to sincerely thank her by acknowledging her new book titled Threads of Identity. A synopsis can be found below along with a brief biography of her admirable and distinguished life.

Threads of Identity is a history of Palestinian women of the 20th century told through aspects of popular heritage, focusing on traditional dresses, but also including textiles and weaving, rural and urban costumes, cuisine, and festivities.  The interviews with women who lived through the traumas and changes of the 20th century are a contribution to oral history, augmenting standard historical accounts. While most writing about the Middle East concentrates on politics, this book focuses on the dignity of ordinary people, and woman in particular, bridging the gap between the major events of history and everyday life.

Mrs. Widad Kamel Kawar grew up in Bethlehem and studied Arab history and sociology at the American University of Beirut. She has since become recognized internationally as one of the leading authorities on Palestinian and Arab costumes. Her extensive collection has been exhibited throughout the world. Widad has published books and articles on costume and given numerous lectures on the subject. The author lives in Amman, Jordan.