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Show Dr. Aziz S. Atiya, professor of languages at University of Utah, delves mto one of the many crates of books he collected last summer in native Egypt. Dr. Atiya gave Ralph D. Thomson, left, U. of U. associate librarian, a problem- where to pot some 11,000 volumes which make up shipment of Egyptian book*. U. of Uo professor it in a trip to his native Egypt I T J L Y S ' I E R I O U S EGYPT v. ill not be ' so mysterious to students at the University of Utah in the future, thanks to a recent acquisition of some 3-1,000 volumes dealing with Arabic culture. The books, which total approximately 10 tons, were acquired by Dr. Aziz S. Atiya, professor of languages at the university, who was commissioned to travel to his native country last - summer to locate valuable and desirable books for the U. of U, library. The results of his search are staggering. Included in the shipment are books of literature, history, science, philosophy and linguistics, many of them falling in the "rare" category, and some of them becoming the first and only ones in this country. Among them are n u m e rous incunablua (products of Egypt's earliest printing presses and printed from stone impressions) which gives the university library more books of this type than any other university library in the country. The books include an almost complete set of first editions of the "Bulaq" printing press, first to be established in Egypt, nearly 200 years ago. LISTED AMONG the valuable books is a collection of Korans, including an edition made especially for royalty. Perhaps one of the most valued items in the shipment is a recording of the enchanted Koran on 44 long-play records. It was presented by the Minister of Wakfs (religious affairs) himself. The only other set to enter the United States subsequently was given to the Library of Congress through the offices of John S. Badeau, U.S. ambassador to the United Arab Republic. But the U. of U.'s set was the first in this country. / Acquisition of the books also gives the U. of U. library a more complete set of Arabic dictionaries than can be found anywhere in America. The variety of the books is tremendous. In addition to the wide run of subject matter, they vary from small paper-backed pamphlets, almost falling apart, to elaborate volumes with gold embossed covers. Search for the books began immediately after Dr. Atiya and his family arrived in Egypt last June. It was conducted throughout the length and breadth of the country, in cities, in towns, in villages, in private homes, in institutions, at book publishers. Familiar with the field in which he was searching. Dr. Atilya Is a former chairman of the history department at the University of Alexandria and was founder of the Institute for Coptic Studies. HE HAS taught at several American universities, including Michigan, Columbia and Princeton. At the University of Utah he initiated an Arabic program where Arabic language and culture are now being taught. Dr. William Mulder, right, director, Center for Intercultural Studies, listens with Dr. Atiya, to recording of the Koran, first to be brought into this country. W h e n the books bes:ar> -o eorrsr Into Cairo, a team of shaikhs, (retired professors from Al-Azar University) came '«B6&^A&£23U03tt* and', cites worked until midnight, organizing and recording the materials received - Finally when they were recorded, the materials were crated, and Dr. Atiya changed his return passage from a liner to a freighter in order to stay near his precious cargo and supervise the handling of them for safe arrival in the United States. Now the 11,000 books have to be classified and catalogued (some of them will have to be rebound) and "stacked" in the library. This will cost more than the original cost of the books. ITS GOING to be quite a job, due to the language difficulty, to accomplish the first steps, and then the problem comes up as to where they will be kept. Ralph D- Thomson, associate librarian in charge of purchases and technical processes, admits this is a problem, but is hopeful that more room will be made available for the steadily growing library. But when the books are catalogued and available to students of the Middle East, they will form the nucleus of what is hoped to become an internationally known research center on that subject. In addition, Dr. Atiya said, it is planned to make a series of displays from the various subjects found in the collection so that the public can observe the materials. "I A M G R A T E F U L to the people of great vision who provided the funds for me to go to the Middle East to obtain these valuable reference materials," Dr. Atiya said, adding that he is already looking forward to future "explorations" to improve the library both in quality and quantity. He said some books he wanted were not available at the time of his last trip, but that "I am keeping in touch with my agents over there (Egypt) and undoubtedly some will be made available after negotiation." Salt Lake City, January 21, 1962 5 |