Mahmoud Othman Atta: A Mosque for Milwaukee

How do you make history?

When Mahmoud Othman Atta was a child, his father made trips from Palestine to the United States to sell goods as a peddler to support his family. When Mahmoud grew older, he came with his father to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and stayed to go to school. He completed school, served in the United States Army, and returned to Palestine to marry. But not long after, war in the Middle East forced Mahmoud and his family to leave Palestine. Seeking a sense of community, Mahmoud and his family made Milwaukee their home, and worked with others to open the first mosque in Milwaukee open to all Muslims.

Meet Mahmoud Othman Atta

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Questions to Consider

When he was sixteen, Mahmoud moved from Al-Bireh, Palestine, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Have you ever made a big move or changed schools? Who helped you in your new community?

Why did Mahmoud and his family need to leave their hometown and make a new home in Milwaukee? What do you already know about refugees?

For Mahmoud, being able to practice his religion with others was important. What actions did this prompt him to take? What happened in Milwaukee as a result of his actions?

Peek Into the Past

Mahmoud Othman Atta

A photograph of Mahmoud Othman Atta as an adult.

Image courtesy the Atta family.

A black and white photograph showing Mahmoud Othman Atta as a boy. He is wearing a dark suit and is standing with his two brothers and two sisters. His mother sits in the center of the photo wearing a dark dress. His uncle is in a grey suit standing to the left.

Young Mahmoud

Young Mahmoud in the dark suit at right with his siblings, mother, and uncle in Palestine.

Image courtesy the Atta family.

A sepia-toned photograph showing a two-level structure made of stone or concrete blocks, with windows on each side.

Atta Family Home

The Atta family home in Al-Bireh, Palestine.

Image courtesy the Atta family.

A black and white photograph of Mahmoud Othman Atta as a young man. He is wearing a patterned suit jacket and tie.

Portrait of Mahmoud

A photograph of Mahmoud as a young man, taken when he was living in Milwaukee.

Image courtesy the Atta family.

A photograph of a large wooden trunk. The trunk is dark brown and looks scuffed in places due to use and age. There are heavy metal clasps and hinges around the top lid of the trunk.

Peddling Trunk

A wooden trunk used by an Arab American peddler in the early 1900s.

From the Collection of the Arab American National Museum, Copy and Reuse Restrictions Apply, 2004.50.01.

A black and white photograph showing Mahmoud Othman Atta and several other soldiers in the US Army. Everyone is wearing a formal Army uniform and cap. Mahmoud is at the center and is smiling and looking at the camera. Behind him another cadet holds a flag at an angle.

Army Medic

A photo of Mahmoud (at center) taken during his military service.

Image courtesy the Atta family.

A black and white photograph of a woman in traditional Palestinian dress. She wears a white veil over her head and a dark dress with ornate decoration on the torso and cuffs of the sleeves.

Intisar Atta

Mahmoud’s wife Intisar wearing traditional Palestinian dress.

Image courtesy the Atta family.

A black and white photograph of Mahmoud and his wife Intisar from their wedding. She is wearing a white wedding dress and holding some flowers. Mahmoud stands slightly behind her and next to her and is wearing a black tuxedo. They both are looking off into the distance.

Mahmoud and Intisar

Mahmoud and Intisar were married in Palestine on October 27, 1961.

Image courtesy the Atta family.

A photograph of the Atta family, with Mahmoud, his wife Intisar, and their four children. The photo is color but sepia-toned due to age. Mahmoud and Intisar sit with their backs to each other and the children are arranged around them.

Family Portrait

Mahmoud and Intisar with their four children: Othman, Janan, Bayan, and Ihsan.

Image courtesy the Atta family.

A photograph of Mahmoud and his wife Intisar from when they are older. Mahmoud wears a dark suit jacket, yellow shirt, and patterned tie. Intisar wears a dark blue shirt and lighter blue head scarf. They are both smiling and looking toward the camera.

Mahmoud and Intisar

A portrait of Mahmoud and his wife Intisar later in life.

Image courtesy the Atta family.

A photograph of an old school building. It is a brick building with some large windows. One wall is entirely brick, without windows, and has a sign that says "Islamic Center."

New Road School

The old school building that was purchased by two Muslim groups in Milwaukee in 1982.

Courtesy Islamic Society of Milwaukee.

A photograph of a large off-white building. The building has two towers topped with golden domes. There are many windows on the building.

ISM Mosque

The mosque of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee today. This building started as the New Road School in 1982 and was expanded over the years.

Courtesy Islamic Society of Milwaukee.

Read On

Get the full story with this biography book. Audio files are available on each page if you’d like to listen along!

Project Credits

Producer
David Boffa

Coordinating Producer
Mia Forslund

Illustration
Hanna Othmal

Animation
Brandon Ribordy

Production Artist
Steve Dorchester

Animation Voice Over
Othman Atta

Voice Over Recording
Beaux Neylon

Animation Sound Design
Kerman Eckes

Animation Director
Philip Ashby

English Audiobook Narration
Othman Atta

Arabic Audiobook Narration
Mustafa Bouanani

Audiobook Post-Production
Kerman Eckes
David Boffa

Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Vicki Way Kipp

Translation Services
Janan Atta Najeeb
Huda Koran
Rawand Yazaw
The Geo Group
University of Wisconsin–Madison Cultural Linguistic Services

Educator Support Materials
Mia Forslund
David Boffa

Web Design
Charles Barrows

Web Development
John Vieth
Ian Glodich
Tim Schneider

Graphic and Motion Design
Charles Barrows
Ian Glodich

Executive Producer
Megan Monday

Chief Curiosity Officer
Alyssa Tsagong

Director of Television
Jon Miskowski

Project Partners
Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition
We Are Many United Against Hate

Special Thanks
Janan Atta Najeeb
Othman Atta
Bayan Salous
Ihsan Atta
Masood Akhtar
Charles Cohen
Kelly Saran
Mouna Algahaithi

Educator Cohort

Maria Ahmad
Madison, WI

Kaitlyn Beguhl
Section Elementary School
Mukwonago, WI

Mary Pat Erdmann
Woodside Elementary School
Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Megan Geddes
Highland Community School
Milwaukee, WI

Kristine Harrison
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI

Erin McCarthy
Greendale Middle School
Greendale, WI

Mallory Umar
Racine Unified School District
Racine, WI

Kate Van Haren
Pittsville Elementary School
Pittsville, WI

Funding provided by

Doris Duke Foundation

Timothy William Trout Education Fund
a gift of Monroe and Sandra Trout

Focus Fund for Education

Friends of PBS Wisconsin