Before Their Diaspora: A Photographic History of the Palestinians 1876–1948

Before Their Diaspora: A Photographic History of the Palestinians 1876–1948

Step into Palestine before 1948 through nearly 500 historical photographs in Before Their Diaspora: A Photographic History of the Palestinians 1876–1948, the landmark work by Palestinian historian Walid Khalidi.

Spanning more than seven decades, this richly illustrated book offers a remarkable visual record of Palestinian society, culture, communities, cities, villages, landscapes, institutions, and daily life before the Nakba. The photographs, carefully selected from thousands of images held in private and public collections around the world, provide an intimate window into a vibrant Palestinian society before the mass displacement of 1948.

The book is organized into five chapters, each offering a concise overview of the major historical developments of its period, accompanied by a detailed chronology of key events. Informative captions identify the people, places, events, and historical context represented in each photograph, while six maps help readers understand Palestine's geography.

More than a photography book, Before Their Diaspora is an important visual archive of Palestinian history and heritage. It preserves images of Palestinian life and society before 1948, offering readers an opportunity to explore this history through photographs, maps, timelines, and firsthand visual documentation.

For anyone interested in Palestinian history, Palestinian heritage, Palestine before 1948, the Nakba, Palestinian culture, historical photography, and the history of the Middle East, this book is an essential addition to a personal or academic library.

About the Author

Walid Khalidi (1925–2026) was a renowned Palestinian historian, scholar, and co-founder of the Institute for Palestine Studies. Born in Jerusalem, he was educated at the University of London and Oxford University and taught at Oxford, the American University of Beirut, and Harvard.

Throughout his distinguished career, Khalidi dedicated himself to documenting and preserving Palestinian history, society, and heritage, becoming one of the foremost scholars of modern Palestinian history. His extensive body of work, including Before Their Diaspora and All That Remains, helped preserve an invaluable historical record of Palestinian communities and their experiences before and after 1948.

Khalidi passed away on March 8, 2026, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the age of 100. His scholarship and archival work remain an enduring part of the historical record of Palestine.