Founded in 1963, The Institute for Palestine Studies is a non-profit organization that has been devoted to providing the world with the information needed on the occupied country.

Having been first established in Beirut, it is considered the oldest institute in the world whose work is exclusively dedicated to the documentation, research, analysis and publication on Palestinian affairs. The organization has published over 600 books, monographs and documentary collections in three languages, English, Arabic and French.

IPS has released a photographic collection, depicting the daily family life of Palestinians, long before they were forced to flee their homes. Here’s a glimpse at some of the images.

This family in Ramallah posing for a group portrait

This photo was taken before the fall of Ottoman rule and the taking over of the British mandate.

This group of villagers in Bethlehem

This is another Ottoman-era photograph.

An early 1900s Sobh’ieh

These men playing checkers live life simply

This photo was taken during the British mandate, between 1918 and 1935.

Headwear abounds at tea parties

Mayor of Jerusalem Raghib al-Nashashibi (standing center) hosted a tea party in honor of a Moroccan religious leader and scholar, Shaikh Abd al-Hayy al-Kittani.