ICOM International Council of Museums - Museo Estancia Jesuitica ...

Lina Gebrail Tahan : Fascinating Historical Events of the National Museum of Beirut
ones found in Byblos; and when the French were excavating there, one tomb had been
rifled shortly before discovery, thus he concluded that those artefacts had come from
the robbed tomb 51 . It was proven that the objects came from ‘Phoenicia.’ Richmond
sold the collection for 900 Palestinian Liras to the Museum of Beirut. He gave the
priority to the Lebanese government rather than the Palestinian one, as he thought it
was important for the Lebanese heritage (Arch. IFAPO/SAHC) 52 .
High-Commissioner Puaux insisted on opening the museum after ten years had
passed and the construction of the museum was almost finished. The exhibition would
group 20,000 objects placed in showcases imported from France. Moreover, Puaux
wrote to the President of the council of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and told him that
the Lebanese Government had contacted the ‘Siegel Company’ to import the
showcases. Lebanon wanted an agent from the National Museum of France to see
how to mount them and what kind of measures to be taken. The agent should also
verify that they are well constructed according to the order of command. Puaux asked
the president to talk to the Minister of National Education and Fine Arts (Arch
IFAPO/SAHC) 53 . Apparently, sixty-five showcases were ordered and were constructed
under the supervision of the Direction des Musées Nationaux (DMN) in France. Mr.
Thevenard, head of the DMN carpentry workshop, was designated as an agent along
with a representative of the Lebanese Government Mr. Ayoub (Arch. MN Z 67
BEYROUTH) 54 . It seems also that the reconstruction of a painted tomb from Tyre was
implemented. Puaux stated that once the last phase of work is finished and the
collection documented, then the museum should be opened to the public and
inaugurated at the end of the year (Arch. IFAPO/SAHC) 55 . The building was completed
in 1937 and Emir Maurice Chéhab declared that the museum would house all
Lebanese Antiquities (Chéhab, 1937: i). The Museum was eventually inaugurated on
May 27, 1942 by Alfred Naccache who was then President of the Lebanese Republic.
Until 1975, the NMB received a large number of visitors until its doors were closed
when the Civil War (1975-1990) broke out (The Short Guide of the NMB, 2001: 5-6).
The advent of the ravaging civil war greatly hampered the activities of the NMB that
remained closed until 1997.
Conclusion
A museum travels through a series of events from the moment it is conceived to the
moment it is achieved. One can see that each museum has a particular history that has
shaped it as an institution. Most historians and museologists have argued that history is
an important point of reference within any society. History can become in some of the
museums a political tool and thus the museum narratives are no longer innocent or
pure. They are created to cater for the needs of a contemporary society.
51
Letter No. 1599 from the High-Commissioner for Palestine J.R. Chancellor to His Excellency the High-
Commissioner for Syria and Lebanon in Beirut, dated Beirut, June 26 th , 1930.
52
Letter No. 148 from the Curator of the Beirut National Museum Emir Maurice Chéhab to His Excellency
Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, dated Beirut, February 29, 1931.
53
Letter No. 1032/ S.A. from General Puaux, High-Commissioner of the French Republic to His
Excellency President of the Council at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not dated, but most probably
1939. The letter was sent from Beirut.
54
Letter from Soubhi Haidar, Director of National Education and Fine Arts to the Siegel Company, dated
Beirut, December 7, 1939.
55
Letter No. 144/S.A. from Gabriel Puaux, High-Commissioner of the French Republic in Syria and
Lebanon to the Delegate of the High-Commission next to the Government of the Lebanese Republic,
dated Beirut probably 1939 or 1940 as there is no date on the letter. General Puaux was High-
Commissioner from October 27, 1938 to June 1940.
473