Armenian American Collections
Profile | Monographs | Newspapers | Serials
Profile
This collection consists almost entirely of published materials. Included are approximately 200 books and pamphlets covering a wide range of subject matter pertaining to this group, The collection's primary strength is in the area of Armenian American literature, including novels, short stories, poetry, and plays. Among the numerous authors and playwrights represented are William Saroyan, David Kherdian, A.A. Bedikian, Mihran Azhderian, Haig Baronian, Gabriel Soundoukian, and Krikor Keljik (a.k.a. K. Devrish). Along with individual volumes by such writers, the IHRC holds the collected works Armenian-North American Literature: A Critical Introduction; Genocide, Diaspora, and Symbols (1990) and Armenian-American Poets: A Bilingual Anthology (1976). Important titles are also available in the areas of religion, Armenian culture and history, and autobiographical accounts. General studies include Armenian-Americans: From Being to Feeling Armenian by Army P. Bakalian (1993) and Torn Between Two Lands: Armenians in America, 1890 to World War I by Robert Mirak (l 983). The IHRC holds over 30 newspaper and serial titles published by Armenians in the U.S. Among those with extensive files are The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, Balkar (Struggle) , Lraper (The Armenian Herald), and Ararat.
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Monographs
Little in the way of scholarly monograph-length research exists for this immigrant group. The IHRC holds the important study authored by Robert Mirak, Torn Between Two Lands: Armenians in America, 1890 to World War I (1983), an adaptation of his PhD dissertation written in 1965. Also included are earlier works by M. Vartan Malcolm (The Armenians in America, 1919) and James Tashijian (The Armenians of the United States and Canada; A Brief Study, 1970). In addition, the collection includes the recent overview Armenians in America: Celebrating the First Century, published by the Armenian Assembly of America (1987). These general histories are supplemented by a small number of regional studies, chiefly dealing with Armenians in Massachusetts and California, areas heavily settled by this ethnic group. Among these are The Armenians in Massachusetts, by the Federal Writers' Project, Massachusetts (1937); Charles Mahakian's History of the Armenians in California (1974); and Aram Serkis Yeretzian's A History of Armenian Immigration to America with Special Reference to Conditions in Los Angeles (1974; reprint of 1923 thesis). A helpful source of general information on Armenian American institutions and activities is the Armenian American Almanac, edited by Hamo Yassilian (1985) and found in the IHRC's reference section.
Armenian American literature and poetry are represented in the works of several authors. The IHRC holds a good sampling of the writings of William Saroyan, including My Name Is Aram (1940), Not Dying (1963), and Human Comedy (1943). Others included are A. A. Bedikian, Mihran Azhderian, David Kherdian, and playwrights Haig Baronian and Gabriel Soundoukian. In addition, the collection contains anthologies of Armenian poetry and short stories, including Armenian-American Poets: A Bilingual Anthology, compiled and translated by Garig Basmadjian (1976) and Arveste II: An Anthology of Short Stories (1962).
Several works relating to the history and culture of Armenia furnish useful information on the forces of migration within the homeland and on the value system brought to America by Armenian immigrants. Among these are Hagop Andonian's Modern Armenian (1966); Vahan M. Kurkjian's A History of Armenia (1959); and Tales from the Armenian: Antranig Antreassian, Vahe Haig, Sooren Manuelian, Peniamin Noorigian, translated by Jack Antreassian (1955). Also included are commentaries on Armenian-Turkish adversarial relations, such as Turkey, Author of Genocide: The Centenary Record of Turkey, 1822-1922 by James Tashjian (1965) and Martyrdom and Rebirth: Fateful Events in the Recent History of the Armenian People, published by the Armenian Church in America (1965).
Publications on religion relate almost exclusively to the Armenian Apostolic Church, the dominant church for this immigrant group. Many of these deal with the history and practices of the church generally, though some are focused on its development in the United States. Some key examples of this material include Rev. Oshagan Minassian's A Brief History of the Armenian Church (1961); the Armenian National Apostolic Church of America's Crisis in the Armenian Church: Text of a Memorandum to the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America (1958); Archbishop Khoren Narbey's A Catechism of Christian Instruction, According to the Doctrine of the Armenian Church (1955); and Commemorative Album; Issued on the Occasion of the Holy Consecration of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Greater Boston, October 19-20, 1957.
The goals and activities of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the major fraternal organization for Armenian Americans, are substantially reflected in its published bylaws and reports as well as in historical studies. Among these are Bedros Norehad's The Armenian General Benevolent Union; Its History and Purpose (1966?); Campaign Report of the Emergency Relief Fund of the Armenian General Benevolent Union and a List of Contributors (1943-1944); and Treasured Armenian Recipes (1973 edition, copyright 1949). Other organizations represented to a lesser degree include the Armenian National Union of America, the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research, and the Armenian Students' Association of America.
The collection includes several autobiographies of Armenian immigrants; most of these were published during the past three decades. Examples of these are George M. Mardikian's Song of America (1956); Avedis Nakashian's A Man Who Found a Country (1940); James K. Sutherland's The Adventures of an Armenian Boy (1964); Ralph G. Darian's My Safaris via Inferno: Life and Thoughts of an Armenian-American Lawyer (1959); and Peter Najarian's Voyages (1971). The monograph collection as a whole contains mainly English language materials, though for earlier years there are several works written in Armenian, such as K'ristap'or Mik'ayelian by A. Ayaronian (1926) and P'arlament'akan kanonner ev zhoghovavarowt'iwn (Parliamentary Regulations and Democracy) by Hakob G. Derdzakian (1912).
Newspapers
The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, Watertown, MA. Weekly: 1960-1961, 1963-date. English.
The Armenian Reporter, Flushing, NY. Weekly: 1967-1968, 1970-1980. English.
Armenian Weekly, Boston, MA. Weekly: 1970-1976, 1978-1981. English.
Asbarez (Arena), Glendale, CA. Daily: 1983-date. Includes English.
Asbarez (Arena; English edition), Glendale, CA. Daily: 1983-date. English.
Baikar (Struggle), Watertown, MA. Daily: 1956, 1961, 1963, 1965-1967, 1969-date.
Hairenik (Fatherland), Boston, MA. Daily: 1963-1965, 1969, 1971-1976.
Lraper (The Armenian Herald), Los Angeles, CA (previously published in New York, NY). Weekly (semi-weekly): 1965-date. Includes English.
Massis Weekly, Pasadena, CA. Weekly: 1983-1987.
Nor Ashkar (The New World), New York, NY. Weekly: 1964-1966, 1968-1969, 1971-1972. Includes English.
Nor Or (New Day), Los Angeles, CA. Semi-weekly: 1972.
Serials
Amerika-Hay Hanragitak Taregirk' (American Armenian Encyclopedic Almanac), Boston, MA. Annual: 1925-1926.
ANCA Washington Report (Armenian National Committee of America), Washington, DC. Monthly: 1985-date. English.
Ararat, New York, NY. Quarterly: 1960-date. English.
Armenian Affairs, New York, NY. Quarterly: 1949-1950. English.
Armenian Assembly Journal (previously titled Armenian Assembly of America Newsletter), Washington, DC. Quarterly: 1974-1982, 1984-date. English.
The Armenian Church (English version of Hayastanyaitz Yegeghetzy), New York, NY. Monthly (except July and August): 1970-1971, 1976. English.
Armenian Cultural Organization of Minnesota Newsletter, Minneapolis, MN. Monthly: 1980-date. English.
The Armenian Guardian, New York, NY. Monthly: 1958-1968. English.
The Armenian Horizon, Los Angeles, CA. Bi-annual: 1980-1983. English.
Armenian National Council of America Teghekatow, New York, NY. Monthly (?): 1949-1950.
The Armenian Review, Boston, MA. Quarterly: 1981-1982. English.
Giligia (Cilicia; periodical of the prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America), New York, NY. Quarterly: 1966. Includes English.
The Gotchnag, New York, NY. Monthly: 1965-1968.
Hairenik Monthly, Boston, MA. Monthly: 1936-1937, 1939-1941.
Hakhtanag (Victory; Holy Martyrs Ferrahian Armenian High School), Encino, CA. 1968. Includes English.
Hayastanyaitz Yegeghetzy (The Armenian Church), New York, NY. Quarterly (previously published monthly, except July and August): 1948, 1951, 1962-1970, 1974, 1976.
Hoosharar (The Prompter), New York, NY. Semi-monthly (except July and August): 1956, 1962-1971, 1974. Includes English.
Nor Serowndin: Patkerazard Tarets'oyts'e (New Generation: Illustrated Almanac), Boston, MA. Annual: 1916.
Nshooyl (Ray of Light; St. Paul's Armenian Apostolic Church), Syracuse, NY. Quarterly: 1974-1976. Includes English.
