Dear Friends,
The year 2025 marks a momentous chapter in the history of the Albright Institute. Not only does it commemorate 125 years since the founding of the American School of Oriental Research (now the AIAR) in 1900, but it also marks the centennial of our iconic building in Jerusalem. It is this latter milestone that we celebrate in our upcoming Centennial Weekend, including a special gala evening on June 28.
Before extending a formal invitation to these events, I want to reflect on our decision to proceed with these celebrations given current circumstances.
Last year, we made the difficult decision to cancel our annual July 4th event due to the ongoing war. I concluded the letter announcing the cancellation by writing that “I hope we can celebrate more peaceful times together at our July 4 party next year.” Sadly, that hope has not yet been realized. Nonetheless, a centennial is a milestone of deep significance. While we carefully considered postponing in hopes of calmer days, we have decided to move forward with our plans. In so doing, we recognize the Albright’s enduring role in advancing U.S. research excellence through the many periods of unrest over the past century, and we reaffirm our commitment to the region for the century to come.
Join Our Gala Celebration — June 28
It is my pleasure to invite you to a gala evening at 7:00 pm on Saturday, June 28, to celebrate the centennial of the inauguration of our building. This is a significant occasion for the Albright, and we encourage cocktail attire (smart, stylish, or business wear) to honor the event.
For this special evening, we are charging $60 per ticket to help cover the event’s costs. The ticket price includes all food and beverages throughout the evening. Tickets can be booked here [Link to tickets] until June 22. Please remember to download your ticket to your phone or print it out to present at security upon arrival.
Join Our Independence Day Celebration — June 29
As part of our Centennial weekend, please join us at 2:00 pm on Sunday, June 29, for an early Independence Day celebration. This is an informal gathering open to you, your family, and friends. The event is free of charge, but we kindly ask that you reserve a ticket [here] to assist us with catering arrangements. No need to present these on arrival.
Support Our Centennial Fundraising Campaign
As we approach our Centennial, the Albright has run a fundraising campaign to grow our endowment — the single most strategic step we can take to secure our future and support our mission for the long term. We are proud to have almost reached our $3 million goal, and I want to sincerely thank everyone who has contributed so generously.
It would be extraordinary to cross the finish line during this final month of the campaign. Please consider supporting the Albright and the important work we do by donating directly through our campaign webpage [here]. Among the giving options is the opportunity to name a paving stone ($250) in your name, or in honor of someone special, which will be placed along a dedicated pathway of Albright supporters in our grounds.
If you would like to explore more personal giving opportunities, including naming options for spaces around our building and campus, I warmly invite you to contact me directly. All donations are tax-deductible in the USA.
Despite the challenging news from the region, life at the Albright continues as normal. We have enjoyed a wonderful spring cohort of fellows-in-residence, and our academic program is thriving. I include below a photograph of our staff and fellows taken last month. Our Albright lectures continue to attract enthusiastic audiences—drawn as much by Hisham and Ahmed’s splendid catering, perhaps, as by the fascinating lectures themselves. It is fantastic to see so many of you joining these lectures via Zoom, despite the tyranny of distance and time zone.
I look forward to seeing many of you in person during our Centennial events. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or to our wonderful hospitality manager Naual Herbawi (naualherbawi@aiar.org), if you have any questions.
With warm wishes,
Jamie
James Fraser, PhD
Dorot Director
W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research
jamesfraser@aiar.org
