Maroun Abboud’s Biography:
- In 1886, Maroun Abboud was born on February 9, in Ain Kfaa. His father sent him to the village school, under the oak tree, where he learnt to write and read in three languages: Arabic, Syriac, and French.
- In 1897, he went to Bejjeh School, where he spent one year, and then moved to Saint Sassine School in Fghal where he spent one full year.
- In 1899, he was sent to Mar Youhanna-Maroun school in the Batroun region.
- In 1904, he moved to Sagesse School in Beirut. Here he spent two years, and it was in this school that his literary and poetic talents began, since he got in contact with other students fond of poetry like Rachid Ahmad, Ahmad Taqui Eddine, and the martyr Saiid Akl.
- In 1907, he taught in the College of St. Joseph and in the school of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, and was then appointed an editor-in-chief at “Al Nassir” newspaper, where he dedicated all his time to editing. The newspaper was the first to ask for establishing a financial board for the Maronite religion. When he was harassed because of his bold articles, he gave up editing for “Al Nassir”, and moved to Jbail.
- In July 1909, he was appointed editor for “Al Hikmeh” newspaper, which he founded with Salim Wehbeh. In the same year, he signed a contract with the president of Saint Lourdes’ school, for the Marist, in Jbail, where he taught “the statement” (Al bayan). When World War 1 began, the school was closed and the newspaper went out of print, so he moved to Ain Kfaa, and started to work in agriculture.
- In 1915, he was appointed president for the municipality of Gharzouz.
- In 1923, he moved to Aalay to teach Arabic literature at the National University.
- He died in 1962.
- He received several medals, titles, and degrees from the Lebanese state, as well as from other Arab and western states. Maroun Abboud enriched the Arabic library with 60 books, of which some are still in manuscript form. His works include: Majnoun Layla (Crazy about Layla), Woujouh wa Hikayat (Faces and Stories), Achbah wa Roumouz (Ghosts and symbols), Akzam Jababira (Pygmies Titans). He was a peaceful man, who always called for cooperation between religions. He had a good relationship with Mohamad Al Kerd Ali, a Druze, and they decided to name their first sons after one another. Thus, Maroun Abboud named his first child Mohamad, and Mohamad AlKerd named his Maroun, for reconciliation and approach.
The museum:
Maroun Abboud designed and built his own house according to the Lebanese architecture. He later transformed it into a museum, composed of the following halls, named by Abboud himself:
The Immortal Hall:
Designed in 1928 by the Lebanese monk and painter Brother Nehmet Allah Al Maadi, it contains wall murals representing the first legislators and founders of religions like Jesus Christ, the Prophet Mohammad (salla allah Alayhi wa sallam), and others. Additionally, there are paintings of views and urban centers like the Cedars, Baalbak, the Umayyad Mosque, and others. In the main hall, there is a big painting representing the Lebanese traditions and customs. It also contains the medals of Maroun Abboud and a painting offered to him. Recently, in a tribute to his memory, a half sculpture was installed in the entrance of the house. This sculpture was made by the artist Halim Al Hajj, who personally supervised the bronze casting in Rome.
Diwan Al Arab:
Maroun Abboud’s wished to ensure that his house would contain oil paintings of prominent Arab writers and poets, and he tacked their photographs on the wall of the Diwan. In 1976 the painter Sami Abou Kheir was put in charge of the oil paintings, and with that his wish was realized. These paintings represent 20 writers.