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This web site has been designed and created to share information on our local chapter for the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE).  Chicago has always been important to the archeological and cultural preservation of Egypt. Due in large part to The University of Chicago's Oriental Institute.

>>ARCE Chicago October Meeting: Date: Saturday, October 2, 2010 Time: Board Meeting at 4:00 P.M. Program at 5:00P.M. Place: The Oriental Institute LaSalle Bank Room 1155 East 58th Street, Chicago, 60637 Speaker: Th. Emil Homerin, University of Rochester Title of Lecture: Emanations of Grace: The Mystical Verse of A’ishah al-Ba’uniyah Abstract or Summary of Presentation: A’ishah al-Ba’uniyah (d. 1517) was one of the greatest women scholars in Islamic history. A mystic and prolific poet and writer, A’ishah composed more works in Arabic than any other woman prior to the 20th century. Often, she expressed her great devotion to God and His prophet Muhammad, and spoke of love and longing on the mystical quest for union. She also alluded to her extensive education and mystical training, and her own particular life experiences that are often reflected in her verse. Though many of her works are lost today, several still exist in manuscript including her poetic collection The Emanation of Grace and the Gathering Union. This is a remarkable autobiographical collection of over 300 poems, which span much of A’ishah’s mystical life, from her days as a novice and student, to her later years as a Sufi master. In this presentation, I will discuss of A’ishah's life and mystical along with a reading of her poems. Speaker Biography: Th. Emil Homerin is Professor of Religion in the Department of Religion & Classics at the University of Rochester, where he teaches courses on Islam, classical Arabic literature, and mysticism. He is an expert of the Sufi movement in Egypt. Among his many publications are From Arab Poet to Muslim Saint (2001), his anthology of translations, Ibn al-Farid: Sufi Verse & Saintly Life (2001), The Wine of Love and Life (, 2005) and several chapters on Islam in the volumes The Religious Foundations of Western Civilization (2006) and Introduction to World Religions (2010).