Saniyeh wrote on this photo: At Schmidt College after before the Nakbah, I'm in 7th grade.” Saniyeh Nusseibeh Collection, Khazaen Archive. Used with permission This story, written by Sarah Dajani, was originally published on January 25, 2023, by Khazaen, an independent organization based in Jerusalem that collaboratively builds an Arabic archive documenting daily Arab life. An edited version is republished here with permission. Saniyeh Nusseibeh came into this world in March of 1916, just one year before the fall of Ottoman rule in Palestine. Her birthplace was a magnificent house situated at the doorstep of King Faisal Gate, in close proximity to the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque. Saniyeh was the youngest of seven siblings, including three half-brothers and three full-siblings. Sadly, the family was bereft of their father, Saleh, before she had even reached her second year, leaving her mother to shoulder the responsibility of raising the children alone. In 1925, Saniyeh embarked on her educational journey at Almamonia school in Jerusalem. Among her meticulously preserved papers, was the curriculum for first and second grades, which encompassed the elegant art of Arabic calligraphy, drawing and painting, handmade crafts, and nature. Student Saniya Nusseibeh grades, 1928. From the Palestinian Government, Al-Ma’mouniyyah School. Saniyeh Nusseibeh Collection, Khazaen Archive. Used with permission. She completed her initial educational stages at Almamonia, and later embarked on a new journey at Schmidt College for Girls in western Jerusalem. There, she honed her academic skills and acquired the knowledge necessary to pursue her passion: education. Saniyeh's archives bear testimony to a plethora of job offers that flooded her way towards the end of the 1930s. She eventually began her career at Almalha school in the early forties, where she soon established herself as one of the first teachers before being swiftly promoted to the position of school Principal. She remained in this distinguished capacity until October of 1947, when she reluctantly bid farewell to the school. Saniyeh archives reveal that she had been notified of Widad Alayoby's appointment as the new principal of Al Maliha school, after years of loyal service in education and administration. This heart-wrenching event transpired just nine months before the Nakba, and the fall of the village to the Zionist gangs. A letter from Widad Al-Ayoubi, the principal of Al-Malha Girls’ School, acknowledging that she had received all the books and stationery for the Inspector of Jerusalem Education in 1947. Saniyeh Nusseibeh Collection, Khazaen Archive. Used with permission. Saniyeh's papers include letters and documents that reveal a rich understanding of the village's history. Through her preservation, we can uncover its unique characteristics, noting that today's view of the occupied village is far from usual. Its people have suffered ethnic cleansing and displacement as a result of the establishment of the state of Israel. Invitation to the annual literary party at Malha School for the year 1946. Saniyeh Nusseibeh Collection, Khazaen Archive. Used with permission. One notable item in the collection is a 1946 invitation to a literary party, providing insight into the cultural events once held in the village. Unfortunately, the school's location within the village remains unknown, as the school no longer exists. In November 1947, a mere one month after leaving her previous post, Saniyeh was appointed as the principal of Deir Ghassana School for Girls in Qada Ramallah. Among her papers from that time, an official letter that she sent to the inspector of Jerusalem was discovered. In her letter, Saniyeh expressed her concerns about the challenging situation facing the school, highlighting its remote location from the village center, lack of basic amenities such as bathrooms, and absence of furniture or equipment. She urgently sought assistance from village officials to ensure that the school could be adequately supplied with essential resources. A letter from Saniyeh Nusseibeh to the inspector of Education in Jerusalem. “I began my work along with my sister on November 1, 1947. When I saw the school, which was far from the village center and had no furniture, equipment, or even bathrooms, I was overwhelmed with despair. There was no janitor to clean the school, and the place was in a difficult situation. I implore you to help me by seeking assistance from the village officials. Furthermore, I request that the location of the school be moved to the village or that I be relocated elsewhere, as I cannot carry out my work under these circumstances. Respectfully. Signed by “The school Principal, Saniyeh Nusseibeh.” Saniyeh Nusseibeh Collection, Khazaen Archive.