The Arab Academy of Damascus

Two renowned authors, Sami Dahan (Syria) and Henri Laoust (a French orientalist), provide a nice summary of the history and activities of the Arab Academy of Damascus in an article published  in 1951 by the Institut Français de Damas in its periodical, the Bulletin d'Etudes Orientales. This brief study covers the period from 1918 till 1950.

It all started right after WWI and the expulsion of the Ottomans from Syria under King Faisal and his military governor, Rida Pasha al-Rikabi when a section for translation and publication was established in the fall of 1918. This section morphed into the Supreme Council of Public Education in February 1919 presided by Muhammad Kurd Ali. On June 8 the Arab Government assigned Mr. Ali the task of founding an Arab Academy to be modeled after its French namesake for the purpose of reviving the Arab language and literature casting aside religious and political polemics. Thus defined, the Academy was the first of its kind in the Arab-speaking lands. 

As for its organization, its membership comprised two categories: 

1. Active members, 20 in total. They had to be Syrian citizens, residents of Damascus, aged 35 years or more. 

2. Corresponding members: no limit as far as residence or numbers are concerned. 

As of 1950, the Academy was presided by Kurd Ali with Sheikh Abdul Kadir al-Maghribi as vice president and Khalil Mardam Bey as secretary (a poet best know as the author of the Syrian National Anthem). An crucial threshold was crossed when the Academy assumed the management of the National Library (al-Zahiryia) in 1927. The Zahiryia Library was established in 1878 at the funerary Islamic school of the Mameluke Sultan Baybars. Starting with the acquisition of the historical manuscripts of 10 different libraries, the Zahiryia's has since added to its priceless collection through purchases and donations. The Academy's choice fell on the Ayyubid Madrasa Adiliyia  for its headquarters.  

In addition to its own periodical, the Academy had published quite few independent review and research works mostly related to studying and commenting historical manuscripts. It also had organized lectures and conferences. 

For a thorough list of its articles and books, one may consult the original article cited above. Following are few names out of a total of 93 members as of 1950:

Two physicians: Dr. Husni Sabah & Dr. Murshid Khatir.

The veteran politician and lawyer Faris bey al-Khuri.

The poets Muhammad al-Bizm, Badawi al-Jabal, Omar abu Rishe, Bishara al-Khuri (al Akhtal al-Sagheer).

The illustrious writers Ahmad Hassan al-Zayat, Taha Hussein Pasha, Abbas Mahmud al-Aqqad, Khayr al-Deen al-Zarkali.

The historian Philip Hitti. 

The French orientalist  René Dussaud and his German counterpart  Carl Brockelmann. 

And many more.