The Rada and Mutaz Sawwaf Initiative is at the American University of Beirut (AUB). One can reach it going down Jeanne D’arc Street from Hamra in Beirut.

Entering AUB, one needs to have an identity card and an appointment by sending an email to the archivist with this address:asc@aub.edu.lb

Go straight to the Initiative’s archives, at the Jafet Library. It is right in front of you, as your enter the Main Gate.

The main librarian will tell you it is on the left and that you have to take the stairs down.

If you see this sign, then you are there.

The research starts with a meeting with Dr. Chebaro so that she can identify your needs and see what is available in the archive.

Entering the archive is very impressive. The books are kept in a huge space with steel archiving shelves.

The shelves are filling up with the Arab comics archive: Magazines, graphic novels, and lots of compiled volumes.

There are also contemporary graphic novels like Cette Histoire se passe by Mazen Kerbaj; Metro by Al Shafei; and Willis from Tunis, and also collective books like Tok Tok, Samandal and Skefkef.

There are rare historical titles of early juvenile press from the 20s, 30s and 40s, like al-Awlad, al-Nunu, Baba Sharo, al-Katkut, and al-Musaqbal.

Also, there are key titles of the Arab comics from the 50s, 60s and 70s, like Samir, Sindibad, Majallati, and Majed.

Last but not least, the archive also contains amazing old political cartoons.