Born: 1904, United States (assumed)
Died: 1997
Country most active: United States
Also known as: NA
The following is republished with permission from the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail.
When the Arab American community moved from South Cove to the South End, the women also moved the headquarters of the Lebanese-Syrian Ladies’ Aid Society to 44 West Newton Street. According to its historian, Evelyn Shakir (1928-2010), it served as a “benevolent matriarchy” for the young women who worked in the shops or attended nearby Girls’ High School.
Among the Arab American women who were the first to teach in the Boston Public Schools were art teacher Labeebee Hanna Saquet (1904–97) and media specialist Evelyn Abdallah Menconi (1919–2003). Both women served as bridges between Arab Americans and the general public, beginning in 1930 when Saquet directed Arabian Nights, a Boston Syrian Tercentenary celebration presented at Symphony Hall.