María Najle and Juan Gait Family Papers 1886-1950s and 2023-2024

Juan Gait [Hanna Ghayth, Juan Gaith, حنا غيث](1905-1893?) immigrated to Argentina with his parents at the age of 16, in 1921 from Yabroud, Syria. The family, already poor before World War I, presumably left due to post-war hardships and because they had family already in Argentina. In Syria before he immigrated Juan went to Seminary to become a Melkite priest, but he never completed it. While in La Cumbre, Argentina, he was known to attend both of the churches located in town on Sundays. Upon arriving, Gait worked odd jobs until eventually buying property and doing business in real estate. At one time he operated a hotel, and then went to live in Capilla del Monte where he remained for the rest of his life. He never married and had no children, but was close with his nieces and nephews.

María Najle's father, Elias Najle, emigrated from Yabroud, Syria to La Cumbre, Argentina in December 1923. Juan Gait was María's great uncle. María's parents, Elias and Nadime, were close to their uncle, so she saw him often. Gait was an avid reader and writer, and he and María bonded over their love of reading when she was young. After he died his papers and his books were mostly lost, but María was able to retain his immigration diary.

The María Najle and Juan Gait Family Papers include diaries written by María Najle's great uncle, Juan Gait, and by her father, Elias Najle. The diaries date from 1872 to the 1950s. The collection also includes oral histories from María Najle and her niece, Indira Montoya, that include discussions of the family and their emigration.

The first diary covers Gait's emigration from Lebanon to South America and other travel events. Elias Najle's notebooks include records of marriages, births, and baptisms, a list of correspondences, addresses, some accounting information, and a list of monetary transactions with his family.

Materials in this collection are arranged chronologically.

The donor retains full ownership of any copyright and rights currently controlled. Nonexclusive right to authorize uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. Usage of the materials for these purposes must be fully credited with the source. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials.

[Identification of item], María Najle and Juan Gait Family Papers, KC 0066, Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies Archive, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

Gift of Maria Najle, 2023 February-June and 2024 April (Accession Nos. 2023.002, 2023.005, and 2024.003).

Processed by Anna Maria Hester, 2023 March-April. Finding aid created by Laura Lethers, 2023 June. Addition processed by Rachel Beth Acker, 2023 June-July and finding aid updated by Laura Lethers, 2023 September. Finding aid content contributed by Sarah Bernstein, 2024 January. Addition processed by Laura Lethers, 2024 April, and finding aid updated by Laura Lethers, 2024 April.