The Bseiso Legacy
The Bseiso Family Archive is the living memory of Mahrous Mustafa Bseiso. During the first half of the twentieth century, Mr. Mahrous was a pillar of the Bi’r Al-Sab’ community and the archive is a living testimony of the industrializing philanthropist and social entrepreneur who he was.
His achievements and endeavors, as attested in the archive, display his aspirations and vision for Bi’r Al-Sab’ over the span of the first half of the last century. The heirloom documents the socio-political changes that Bi’r Al-Sab’ witnessed. This brief introduction highlights the personal and historical lineage of this archive that is currently in the trusted possession of Mr. Adel Bseiso.
The Carer of Cats
Mr. Mahrous is from the renowned Bseiso family which is a branch of the Kayali family. This noble family is rooted in Palestine and its history transcends the political epochs their land has witnessed. The family’s verifiably well-documented lineage places Mr. Mahrous, and his grandson, Mr. Adel Bseiso, within the noble Hashemite ancestry through the Prophet Mohammad’s daughter. The project details this lineage as it reinstates this archive within history.
For over a millennium, the Kayali family produced countless prominent scholars, scientists, artists, poets, and businesspeople in the larger Levant and Palestine; one of whom was a famous businessman and philanthropist whose care and kindness included not only the people of Palestine, but also stray cats that he sheltered in his mills. The man was colloquially designated as the carer of cats, or Abu Besseh/bseiseh (“cat” in Arabic). This designation was later adopted by his descendants as the particular family branch name. Mr. Mahrous carried and passed on this long and ingrained family tradition of leadership and ethical entrepreneurship. The archive that is before us now is a testament to all of this rich history and more.
The Carer of Cats
Mr. Mahrous is from the renowned Bseiso family which is a branch of the Kayali family. This noble family is rooted in Palestine and its history transcends the political epochs their land has witnessed. The family’s verifiably well-documented lineage places Mr. Mahrous, and his grandson, Mr. Adel Bseiso, within the noble Hashemite ancestry through the Prophet Mohammad’s daughter. The project details this lineage as it reinstates this archive within history.
For over a millennium, the Kayali family produced countless prominent scholars, scientists, artists, poets, and businesspeople in the larger Levant and Palestine; one of whom was a famous businessman and philanthropist whose care and kindness included not only the people of Palestine, but also stray cats that he sheltered in his mills. The man was colloquially designated as the carer of cats, or Abu Besseh/bseiseh (“Cat” in Arabic). This designation was later adopted by his descendants as the particular family branch name. Mr. Mahrous carried and passed on this long and ingrained family tradition of leadership and ethical entrepreneurship. The archive that is before us now is a testament to all of this rich history and more.
The Carer of Cats
Mr. Mahrous is from the renowned Bseiso family which is a branch of the Kayali family. This noble family is rooted in Palestine and its history transcends the political epochs their land has witnessed. The family’s verifiably well-documented lineage places Mr. Mahrous, and his grandson, Mr. Adel Bseiso, within the noble Hashemite ancestry through the Prophet Mohammad’s daughter. The project details this lineage as it reinstates this archive within history.
For over a millennium, the Kayali family produced countless prominent scholars, scientists, artists, poets, and businesspeople in the larger Levant and Palestine; one of whom was a famous businessman and philanthropist whose care and kindness included not only the people of Palestine, but also stray cats that he sheltered in his mills. The man was colloquially designated as the carer of cats, or Abu Besseh/bseiseh (“Cat” in Arabic). This designation was later adopted by his descendants as the particular family branch name. Mr. Mahrous carried and passed on this long and ingrained family tradition of leadership and ethical entrepreneurship. The archive that is before us now is a testament to all of this rich history and more.
The Collection
The family archive is a treasure trove of information that can be approached from various angles and directions. The set of documents restore Mr. Mahrous’s status within the often-overlooked historical reality of Southern Palestine as a leading businessman whose work turned the barren desert in and around Bi’r Al-Sab’ into gardens and farms early in the twentieth century. Mr. Mahrous introduced wells, farms, mills, mining, and cutting-edge irrigation machinery into Bi’r Al-Sab’ where he owned vast acreage, (known as Dunams in Arabic) and estates in the city center and what is now its suburbs. In addition to that, the family archive bears witness to the socio-political development of Bi’r Al-Sab’ and Palestine. Some of these documents indicate the changing political climate from the Ottomans, to the British and the subsequent Jordanian and Israeli control and governance. Moreover, the documents and land deeds are almost always signed by a selection of historically relevant people from the Bi’r Al-Sab’ area. Those people seem to have served as intermediaries between Mr. Mahrous and the public of Bi’r Al-Sab’ and their testimonial signatures reflect the socio-economic power position of Mr. Mahrous vis-à-vis the signatories and the Bi’r Al-Sab’ public. Prominent of which are Sheikhs of large tribes of the Negev desert and various other businesspeople of the Bi’r Al-Sab’ region. Mr. Mahrous and his family remained in Bi’r Al-Sab’ until he was forced out of his estate by Israeli forces in 1948 leaving everything he owned behind. Bi’r Al-Sab’ was renamed to its current colonial name of Beersheba at this time.
Palestine – 1948
The Collection
The family archive is a treasure trove of information that can be approached from various angles and directions. The set of documents restore Mr. Mahrous’s status within the often-overlooked historical reality of Southern Palestine as a leading businessman whose work turned the barren desert in and around Bi’r Al-Sab’ into gardens and farms early in the twentieth century. Mr. Mahrous introduced wells, farms, mills, mining, and cutting-edge irrigation machinery into Bi’r Al-Sab’ where he owned vast acreage, (known as Dunams in Arabic) and estates in the city center and what is now its suburbs. In addition to that, the family archive bears witness to the socio-political development of Bi’r Al-Sab’ and Palestine. Some of these documents indicate the changing political climate from the Ottomans, to the British and the subsequent Jordanian and Israeli control and governance. Moreover, the documents and land deeds are almost always signed by a selection of historically relevant people from the Bi’r Al-Sab’ area. Those people seem to have served as intermediaries between Mr. Mahrous and the public of Bi’r Al-Sab’ and their testimonial signatures reflect the socio-economic power position of Mr. Mahrous vis-à-vis the signatories and the Bi’r Al-Sab’ public. Prominent of which are Sheikhs of large tribes of the Negev desert and various other businesspeople of the Bi’r Al-Sab’ region. Mr. Mahrous and his family remained in Beersheba until he was forced out of his estate by Israeli forces in 1948 leaving everything he owned behind. Bi’r Al-Sab’ was renamed to its current colonial name of Beersheba at this time.
Palestine - 1948
The Collection
The family archive is a treasure trove of information that can be approached from various angles and directions. The set of documents restore Mr. Mahrous’s status within the often-overlooked historical reality of Southern Palestine as a leading businessman whose work turned the barren desert in and around Bi’r Al-Sab’ into gardens and farms early in the twentieth century. Mr. Mahrous introduced wells, farms, mills, mining, and cutting-edge irrigation machinery into Bi’r Al-Sab’ where he owned vast acreage, (known as Dunams in Arabic) and estates in the city center and what is now its suburbs. In addition to that, the family archive bears witness to the socio-political development of Bi’r Al-Sab’ and Palestine. Some of these documents indicate the changing political climate from the Ottomans, to the British and the subsequent Jordanian and Israeli control and governance. Moreover, the documents and land deeds are almost always signed by a selection of historically relevant people from the Bi’r Al-Sab’ area. Those people seem to have served as intermediaries between Mr. Mahrous and the public of Bi’r Al-Sab’ and their testimonial signatures reflect the socio-economic power position of Mr. Mahrous vis-à-vis the signatories and the Bi’r Al-Sab’ public. Prominent of which are Sheikhs of large tribes of the Negev desert and various other businesspeople of the Bi’r Al-Sab’ region. Mr. Mahrous and his family remained in Bi’r Al-Sab’ until he was forced out of his estate by Israeli forces in 1948 leaving everything he owned behind. Bi’r Al-Sab’ was renamed to its current colonial name of Beersheba at this time.
Our Purpose
Bi’r Al-Sab’ - 1948
As we move forward, the site will reflect the current colonial name Beersheba
This is merely an introduction of how this family archive can be approached. Many students of history, politics, linguistics, human rights advocates, among many others could benefit from this archive that is now being presented to the world in an astonishing state of preservation. This archive is in the possession of Mr. Mahrous’s grandson, Mr. Adel Bseiso, and within its folds the memory of Mr. Mahrous and this deeply rooted Palestinian family history is maintained.
Mr. Adel Bseiso continues his grandfather’s and family tradition of leadership and humanitarianism in presenting this archive to the world at large. Mr. Adel Bseiso has spared no expenses in preserving and presenting this archive with the collaboration of world-class specialists. Mr. Adel Bseiso has taken exceptional care of this priceless part of history; not because it is his story but because it is now our story that these documents tell.