Institute of Texan Cultures' Texans Series
In the 1800s, the Ottoman Turks ruled a large empire across Europe and Asia. It included the modern-day countries of Lebanon and Syria. Most Ottoman Turks practiced Islam, but they allowed their subjects to practice a variety of religions.
In the area now known as Lebanon and Syria, Maronite Christians and Druze lived under Ottoman rule. Druze practiced a religion that developed out of Islam. They were each given an area of land to control, but religious differences and economic tensions eventually led to fighting. In April of 1860, thousands of Lebanese and Syrian Maronite Christians were killed, villages were destroyed and hundreds of churches were burned.
This religious persecution caused many people living in this area to want to leave. In 1880, many Christians from Lebanon and Syria left their homes to find more religious freedom, and some of them came to Texas. Most early Lebanese settlers in Texas belonged to the Syrian Orthodox Church, Eastern Rite Catholic Church or Greek Catholic Church, and some were Protestants.
Handbook of Texas
- Lebanese-SyriansThis is a brief article about Lebanese-Syrians immigration to the state.
Selected Books
From Syria to Seminole: Memoir of a High Plains Merchant by Call Number: E184.S98 A79 2006 (Special Collections)
Organizations
- Ameleb Club of San AntonioThe Ameleb Club of San Antonio is organized to preserve the Lebanese American cultural heritage of its members. It will provide a physical and social environment in which its members can realize and strengthen an understanding of their rights and responsibilities toward their common cultural interests as members of the Lebanese American community in San Antonio, in the State of Texas, and in the greater United States of America.
- American Lebanese Cultural CenterThe American Lebanese Cultural Center maintains fellowship and unity of purpose among people of Lebanese descent and advance their social, cultural, and civic life while also promoting the ideas of civic responsibility and community service and integration of the Community Center through its cultural, educational, and charitable activities.
- Cedars of Lebanon Club of TylerThe Cedars' purpose is to preserve the heritage of the Lebanese people. The organization promotes, practices and encourages good citizenship and take an active part in all matters of a civic, charitable, and educational nature.
- Syrian American Club of HoustonThe Syrian American Club provides a sense of community to its members, and its many activities are aimed at both social and philanthropic purposes. The Club hosts several picnics and gatherings a year, it offers Arabic Language Classes, it raises money for scholarships, and it joins with other organizations to support educational and cultural programs.