The project focuses on cataloging and digitizing two Maghribi manuscripts collections housed in French institutions, which are historically tied to the colonial era. Despite their relative obscurity, these collections are critical sources in Arabic Studies. The first corpus originates from the mobile capital of Emir Abd el-Kader, while the second belongs to Sheikh al-Ḥaddād, the leader of one of Algeria’s largest Sufi brotherhoods.. These collections stand as significant attestations to the vitality of Arabic manuscripts and their medieval origins in the mid-nineteenth century. A notable aspect of both collections is the inclusion of numerous archival materials such as letters and private or official documents, within the manuscripts. These documents provide valuable insights into the function of written materials in rural Algerian islamic communities. The digital publication of these collections will not only highlight their origins, but also facilitate comparative analyses and archival evaluations.
