A first generation American, Julia Makarem was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. In 1961, she met Sami Makarem at the American Druze Society Annual Convention in Flint, Michigan. At this Convention, Julia was elected National President of the American Druze Society. In 1962, she and Sami Makarem were married in Detroit, Michigan, and they moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where Sami was a graduate student completing a PhD. Julia presided at the Annual Convention in Chicago, Illinois shortly after their marriage. The following year, 1963, Sami received his PhD., their first child, Sahar, was born, and they left for Lebanon where they settled and made their home. They both taught at the American University of Beirut. They have four children, Sahar Nabil Kadi, Rand Nabil Kaidbay, and twins Nassib and Samir. Nassib is married to Raya Munif Naaman, and Samir is married to Lama Fawzi Abed. They have ten grandchildren: Bassel and Rayyan Kadi; Ranil, Lea, Rae, and Daniel Kaidbay; Jad and Rany Samir Makarem, and Lynn and Lea Nassib Makarem. The family now lives in the United States.

    In 1998, Julia was again elected National President of the American Druze Society of North America, the only female to hold the position, and she has held it twice. She presently teaches at Baker College. Now, Julia is involved in Druze works, and she has a collection of Druze history dating back to 1908. These items and writings are found in the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan for research. You may contribute Druze historical items to the Collection. The"Julia Makarem Collection" is also listed in the Center for Arab American Studies (CAAS) at the University of Michigan Dearborn. The website is http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=bhlead&idno=umich-bhl-0258.

    The Arab American and Chaldean Archive Project will collect and preserve the documents and records of Arab Americans and Chaldean organizations, families and individuals. These will be kept in a safe environment, protected from fire, weather, loss and other hazards. They will be permanently available to scholars and community members. Unlike a library, they are not available for loan, only in-house use, so there is minimal chance of loss. The web site lists the famous "Abdeen Jabara Collection;" Abdeen Jabara is the noted civil rights attorney who defended Sirhan Sirhan who assasinated Robert F. Kennedy. Another prominent donation came from noted scholar and past President of the Middles East Studies Association, Barbara Aswad.