The late Ms. Hind al-Husseini first used the mansion as a place to create the “Center of Islamic Researches“. The Center was inaugurated in 1986 in the attendance of the late Dr. Isaac Musa al-Husseini (He passed away in 1990). The Center was directed by Dr. Hasan al-Silwadi, under the umbrella of the Girls‘ Literature Faculty. Dr. Isaac quickly established a specialized library in it, with his own library as its core basis. Later on, libraries (or part of libraries) of several famous intellectuals in Jerusalem, like Aref al-Aref, Naser Eddine al-Nashashini, Fawzi Yusuf, Mohammed Younes al-Husseini, Isaac Darwich, Farid Musa Kazem al-Husseini and Zainan Jawad al-Husseini, were added to Dar Isaaf al-Nashashibi library.

Furthermore, Dr. Ahmad Sa’ed Eddine al-Alami, donated his large library that contained major Arabic books to be added to Dar Isaaf al-Nashashibi library.

 

Al-Dar also contains a collection of manuscripts that were collected by the late Dr. Isaac from Jerusalemite families. There are about 480 manuscripts that include some novelties and rare scripts, some were verified as part of Masters thesis. Moreover, these manuscripts were photographed and delivered to the University of Jordan and other institutions. The Center also published several publications about heritage and languages.

 

In 1991, a new academic project entailed the creation of an Institute for Archeology and Islamic Civilization that offers a Masters degree in archaeology. It focuses on Islamic monuments in Jerusalem and Palestine in general, under the name “The Supreme Institute for Archeology and Islamic Civilization”. The Institute was inaugurated in the ground floor of Dar Isaaf al-Nashashibi in 1992, under the direction of Dr. Yasmine Zahran. The Institute continued its program under the sponsorship of the Organization until it was annexed to Al-Quds University, along with the Girls Literature Faculty, in 1994. All the faculties of the university were unified in 1995.

 

In 1999, a decision was taken to develop al-Dar’s activities. It was re-opened under the name “Dar Isaaf al-Nashashibi for Culture, Arts and Literature”, with the aim of contributing to the revival of cultural and intellectual activities in Jerusalem. Soon after its opening, al-Dar began conducting various cultural activities, such as forums, exhibitions and workshops.

 

Following the earthquake that took place in 2004, the organization had to close al-Dar due to the tremendous damage caused to the building by the earthquake. The latter went through an overall restoration work that was competed in 2010. Al-Dar’s cultural activity was resumed completely at the end of 2012, within a joint project for the development of Dar Isaaf al-Nashashibi and the Museum of Palestinian Heritage, both part of Dar al-Tifel al-Arabi Organization.