Armenian Museum of America

65 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472-4400(617) 926-256 www.ArmenianMuseum.org - info@ArmenianMuseum.org

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JOINALMA!

We’re Now the Armenian Museumof America!

The name of the Armenian Library and Museum ofAmerica, Inc. was changed in December to theArmenian Museum of America, Inc. as recognition of

our preeminent function as a museum.“By this change, this institution will be known for its

uniquely distinct role as probably the largest Armenianmuseum outside of Armenia, as we continue to enhance theholdings of our expanding adjunct research library namedfor the late Mesrop Boyajian,” explained Board of DirectorsChairman Haig Der Manuelian.

After considerable discussion, the Executive Committeedecided to retain the diminutive “ALMA” to refer to theArmenian Museum of America, Inc. capitalizing the advan-tage of the significant name-recognition which ALMA car-ries.

Founded in 1971, ALMA moved in 1988 into its spaciousWatertown Center building, which allowed for a rapidexpansion of eclectic holdings in several areas of Armenianculture. Within the past four years alone, ALMA hasacquired the Yousuf Karsh collection of photographic por-traiture, post-Soviet Armenian painting from the famedNorton Dodge Collection, the Berj Garabedian Metal ArtsCollection, the Almasian Family Map Collection, andnumerous other accessions. Currently the Museum has morethan 200,000 artifacts and the library holds over 27,000titles.

From the collections of the Armenian Museum of America

BOOK of PSALMSH: 13cm x W: 10cm x 6.5cm

Copied and bound in Constntinople in 1647304 unpaginated parchment folios

Donated by Lesley Ayvazian from the collection ofRev. A.A. Bedikian

ofThis small prayer book was in the collection of the notedintellectual and writer, Rev. A.A. Bedikian, the grandfather ofNew York actress and playwright, Lesley Ayvazian. It is aprime example of a seventeenth-century Armenian manuscript.It contains the Old Testament Psalms of King David, popularamong Armenians as a source of spiritual inspiration. The book

was used frequently, as evidenced by the worn condition of its binding. The smooth, finished surface of the pagesreflects the influence of print culture in the Ottoman Empire and the survival of the practice of lavish book productionfor the means of personal devotion by wealthy, literate patrons who could afford such an object. The styles of both theartist and scribe were heavily influenced by print technology, as exhibited by the repetition of scenes and the reuse of aset, limited iconographic repertoire. Bridging the gap between manuscript and printed book, this work attempts to elimi-nate the signs of the human hand, imitating the mechanical reproduction of the printed word and image. Eight full-pageminiatures celebrate the piety of King David and possibly serve a narrative function in the conversion of non-Christians.

Professor Hovannisian Receives anEnthusiastic Response

The Armenian Museum of America hosted ProfessorRichard H. Hovannisian as the featured speaker onSaturday evening, June 14th.

Prof Hovannisian presented a talktitled: “The Armenians of Gesaria:From Evkere and Talas to MountArkeos, Chomakhlu and Evereg.”Armenian Museum Chairman HaigDer Manuelian introduce ProfessorHovannisian to the audience, whoresponded enthusiastically to DerManuelian’s appreciation andadmiration for the highly respectedprofessor and published author.Said Der Manuelian of Hovannisian; “No other scholar inthe United States did more for Armenology in America thanRichard. I had the privilege of writing a paean of praise forhim for the English-Armenian newspapers half a century agoand the distinct pleasure of working with him in our variousefforts in different fledging organizations. I know no onemore indefatigable than he. I know no one more prodigious-ly productive than he. Thank you, Richard, for all you’vedone for us.” Hovannisian did not disappoint. Speaking non-stop for two hours, his audience was completely engaged.

Drawing upon personal notes, research and antidotesbased on his extensive travels of the now Turkish regions ofGesaria, Professor Hovannisian provided evidence of thesurvival of the uniquely special Armenian cultures deeplyrooted in past, living through the descendants of Armenianstoday. With images of detailed maps, archival family photo-graphs and images of present day citizens of the regions,Professor Hovannisian established the existence of a strongunbroken lineage, from the unvanquished Armenian peopleof the past, to the culture thriving in the region today. Severalmembers of the audience were able to identify personalfamilial connections through the information and imagesprovided by Professor Hovannisian. The presentation waswell attended and appreciated. After the presentation,Professor Hovannisian fielded questions from the audience.

The Armenian Museum was honored to host

The Mugar Building, home to the Armenian Museum of America, inWatertown, Massachusetts.

NUMBER 66FALL 2014

Armenian Museum of America

NEWSLETTER65 MAIN STREET, WATERTOWN, MA 02472 - www.ArmenianMuseum.org

Prof. Richard H. Hovannisian

Continued on page 4

NEWSLETTER FALL 2014 NEWSLETTER FALL 20142 7

Pari Kalusd Ieva Berberian!

Many of you may have already heard her smiling voice over thephone, or have been greeted by her lovely smile as you come into the museum. Meet our new face of Visitor Services, Ieva

Berberian. Ieva is our new Visitor Services Associate. She is responsiblefor handling the Museum’s front desk and the gift shop during the muse-um’s open hours (Thursday through Sunday 12:00 noon- 6:00 pm). Ievaalso coordinates all matters related to Museum membership sign-ups andrenewals, and has some bookkeeping responsibilities.

Ieva is half Armenian, hence her last name. She grew up in Lithuania andEngland and has been singing and studying music from a very young age.Ieva completed her degree in music and film at Berklee College of Music

in Boston. she says, “I am delighted to be working here because it helps me connect with myArmenian roots.” She enjoys providing a friendly and welcoming environment to our Museumvisitors. Next time you visit, say Parev to Ieva Berberian.

New Exhibitions: The Almasian Cartography Collection

The Museum recently acquired an exceptional collection of over 100maps. The maps demonstrate the changing boundaries of Armenia,as well as the development of cartography. Collected by Museum

Trustee Arakel Almasian over his lifetime, the maps depict Armenia fromthe Garden of Eden to the 1940’s and span 400 years of map-making. Theextensive collection includes “The Americas,” a rare map of North andSouth America printed in Armenian, published by the Mekhitarist Order ofVenice, Italy in 1787. The Almasian Cartographic Collection is on exhibitthrough December 28, 2014 in the Terjenian-Thomas Gallery on theArmenian Museum’s 3rd floor.

Legacy of The Legion

The Museum now offers an ongoing exhibit in the Bilezikian Room on the Armenian Legion,a military unit of the French army, which served in Palestine and Cilicia during and afterWorld War I. “Forgotten Heroes: the Armenian Legion and the Great War” tells the story of

the recruitment, training, service, and ultimate deployment of the 5,000 Armenians who volun-teered to fight for the Allies in the hope of establishing an autonomous Armenian homeland andwere ultimately betrayed by Western Powers and the United States. Visitors to the gallery will beinspired by a list of the names of 1,260 selfless Armenian men who left their homes in America tojoin the cause.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Executive CommitteeChairman

Haig Der Manuelian

Executive Vice PresidentMichele M. Kolligian

Vice PresidentsLaurel Karabian

Barbara J. MerguerianJoan Agajanian Quinn

SecretaryBarbara J. Merguerian

Assistant SecretaryArakel Almassian

TreasurerJames A. Erdekian

Assistant TreasurerRobert P. Khederian

Members-at-LargeDaniel K. Dorian, IV

Jacob PilibosianJohn Yagjian

Board MembersFr. Arakel AljalianKevork AtinizianNishan Atinizian

Bruce H. BagdasarianFr. Antranig Baljian

Robert H. BedoukianCamille BedrosianHapet A. Berberian

Rev. Avedis BoynerianFr. Dajad DavidianHaig K. Deranian

Lucy Der ManuelianArmen Dohanian, Jr.Mary GoudsouzianByron V. Hartunian

Papken JanjigianEdward Keljik, Jr.Elisabeth Kenosian

Fr. Vasken KouzouianJack J. Kouyoumjian

Steven M. MigridichianSandra MissakianCarolyn Mugar

Scott OffenVarujan Ozcan

Robert ProodianJoy Renjilian-Burgy

Fr. Krikor A. SabounjianRichard M. SimonianCaroline Tufenkian

AdvisorsProf. Christina MaranciProf. Simon Payaslian

Become an ALMA Volunteer!

ALMA is always looking for help! Our volunteersrange in age from 15 to 90 and there are many waysto use different talents. Volunteers make major con-tributions by translating manuscripts, assistingwith group tours and receptions, filing, planningevents, cataloguing, mailings and much more.Whether you are Armenian or ABC (Armenian byChoice), we would love to welcome you to our fam-ily of volunteers. For more information on how toget involved with ALMA, please call 617-926-2562

ALMA STAFF - 617 926-2562

Berj Chekijian, Director, ext 7

Gary Lind-Sinanian, Curator, ext 5

Howayda Abu Affan, Asst. Director, ext 8

Theresa Antonellis, Office Manager, ext. 4

Susan Lind-Sinanian, Textile Curator, ext 5

Ieva Berberian, Front Desk, ext 3

MUSEUM HOURS

Thursday through Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m.

15th century Colophon,Cilician Armenia

Abagian, Rose, WI - 1 costumeAjemian, Harry, RI - 1 DVD, 14 photographs, 3 booklets, 31 VHS tapesAlmasian, Arakel, MA - 90 maps, 46 prints, 6 posters, 1 book Apelian, Vahe, OH - 24 books and pamphlets, 24 phonodiscs,

14 costume sewing patterns Armenian Prelacy, NY -2 booksArmenian Studies Program - California State Univ. CA- 1 bookAssadourian, Fred & Anna, NJ – 363 books, 24 pamphlets,

49 periodicals, 72 phonodiscs, 3 postcard sets, folders ofcorrespondence and clippings

Avanian, Alice, MA - 46 books 1 phonodisc 1 CDBaker, Sylvia Boghoassian, NJ - 686 books,249 periodicals, 7 maps, 1

print, set of Encyclopedias, 2 VHS tapes, 1 CD, 2 DVDs, 4 postcard sets, 21 brochures and pamphlets, 7 folders and papers

Berberian, Barbara, MA - 52 booksBonjuklian, Ann, NJ - 27 textile piecesBoyajian, David B., MA - 9 periodicals, 5 brochures, 5 catalogs, 2 cards,

1 book.Chakmakian, Ruben & Shake, RI - 44 booksChengrian, Michael, SC - 1 metal food vessel, 9 booksChesnut, Ellen Sarkisian, CA - 1 framed photograph with backlightChilingirian, Ashot, Armenia - 1 medal awardChomsky, Noam, MA - 1 bookCoyle, Donna, NY - 1 stained glass window, folder of photographs and

correspondence, 1 bag of costume components.Dagdigian, Joseph & Lisa, MA - 1 jacket, 1 scarf,

1 covering, 9 sheets of stamps, 16 booklets and pamphlets,3 notebooks, 1 set of postcards,3 calendars, 5 posters, 6 books, 1 periodical

Der Manuelian, Haig, MA - 2 inscribed oriental rugs, 79 periodicals,11 informational folders

Derderian, George, VA - 17 books, 2 VHS tapes, 1 periodical,1 program booklet, 3 press clippings, 1 museum pamphlet, stamp collection, 6 operational navigation charts,2 aeronautical approach charts

Dulgarian, Stephen, MA - 3508 periodicals, 46 calendars, 4 posters,1 folder, papers and clippings

Essayan, Mari, MA - 38 booksFesjian, Robert, NY - 71 books, 12 periodicals, 1 calendar, 1 folder,

1 booklet, 1 plaqueGanjian, Elizabeth, MA - 1 cotton slipGechijian, Arshag, MA - 1 painting, 2 mapsGideon, Vasant, RI - 3 rugsGiligian, Arden & Amy, CT - 1 bookGorra, Mary, NJ - 1 large needlelace doily, 8 needlelace motifsGregoire, Anne, VA - 2 newspaper articlesHablanian, Ann, MA - 22 periodicals, 1 bookletHacikyan, Talleen, Canada - 2 collagraph printsHagopian, Ashod, MA - 1 set of 10 postcardsHamalian, Max, MA - 39 books, 2 periodicals, 1 map, 3 serialized

chaptersHatzadourian, Martin & Juliette, MA - 31 periodicals, 1 booklet,

2 postersHewsen, Robert H. & Mary Ellen, CA - 1 bookHovnanian, Joseph, MA - 1 large paintingJaffarian, Jeff, MA - 3 booksKachadourian, Maral, RI - 109 books, 95 periodicals, 16 pamphlets,

7 research papers, 1 reproduction of Gontag

Karapetian, Alice, NC - 1 calendarKasbarian/Boyajian family, NJ - 3 Armenian bank notes, 3 Armenian

coins, 1 visa application card, 1 map, 1 article, 2 books,2 periodicals, 1 brochure

Kasbarian, Lucine, MA - 92 newspaper issuesKashmanian, John, RI - 7 books, 1 posterKassabian, Krikor, MA - 3 books, 3 booklets, 1 brochure, 1 periodicalKazanjian, Edward, MA - 13 books, 1 print, 1 booklet, 1 card,

3 periodicals, 1 calendarKenosian, Elisabeth, MA - 1 portable CD player, 1 easelKestigian, Michael, CT - 3 photographsKhoshafian, Setrag, MA - 1 framed set of photograph and letterKovacs, Balint, Germany - 1 bookKurkjian, Samuel, MA - 13 booksLind-Sinanian, Gary & Susan, MA - 1 Kemani & bowMamishian, Michael, MA - 241 phonodiscsManuelian, Kathryn, NY - 32 booksMartinelli, Megan, RI - 1 book with CDMerguerian, Barbara, MA - 10 booksNahabedian, Ardashes, RI - 1 bookNarsasian, Carl K, MA - 31 books and pamphlets, 14 periodicalsNuhibian, John, MA - 68 phonodiscs, 17 booksO'Connor, Dan, MA - 1 DVDOganesyan, Gago, CA - 1 bookletOmartian, George K., MA - 25 phonodiscs, 1 press clippingOmartian, Sara, MA - 28 periodicals, 1 calendar,Omartian, Zoya, MA - 1 bookletOvian, Adrienne, MA - 1 Bible, 1 HymnalOvian, Charles & Sally, VT - 3 books, 3 phonodiscsPatti, Susan, MA - 2 postersPeterson, Marian, ME - 19 booksPetty, Dian Keuhnelian, VA - 12 books, 10 pamphlets, 1 notebook,

1 report cardRothenberg, Ron, MA - 1 bookSafer, Virginia, MA - 1 book of postcardsSamourian, Richard, MA - 2 BiblesSarkisian, Ellen, MA - 2 doiliesSarkisian, Leo, MD - 2 framed needlelace doilies, 1 periodicalSarkisian, Zarouhi, MA - 83 periodicals, 11 flyers and pamphletsSaryan, Levon, WI – 13 folders of correspondenceSerabian, Robert, MA - 23 phonodiscsSetian, Shahkeh, MA - 63 books, 7 periodicals, 12 booklets, 1 rug,

6 framed artworks, 1 keychain, 1 flag, 2 Christmas ornaments, 1 wooden sculpture.

Shengavit Historical and Arch. Culture Preserve, Armenia - 1 book,3 calendars

Shirinian, Dorine, CT - 1 VideotapeSimonian, Victoria, CA - Armenian Displaced Persons List (ANCHA)Takvoryan, Nurhan, TN - 7 books, 17 periodicalsTarjan, Gregor & Flo, NY - 1 bookTashjian, Robin, NY - 22 audiocassettes, 1 CD,

9 books and pamphlets, 38 phonodiscsTeager, Shushan, MA - 1 bookThe Gaslight Motel, MA - 1 priest's undergarmentThe Historical Society of Watertown, MA - 1 DVDTorikian, Gerard, France - 1 bookTourigian, Martin, PA - 1 book, 2 paintingsTucker, Jack, MD - 1 bookTurpanjian Educational Foundation, CA - 1 bookVasbouragan Society, CA - 1 periodicalWiersbeck, Sarah, MN - 1 biographical folder, 4 folders of sheet musicZamanigian, Mary Ann, RI - 7 paintings

ACQUISITIONS (July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013)ALMA is grateful to the many generous individuals and institutionswho have donated items to the library and museum. Such donationsexpand and enhance the collections and these contributions aregreatly appreciated.

Ieva Berberian

New Exhibitions: Legacy of the Legion

NEWSLETTER FALL 2014 NEWSLETTER FALL 20146 3

Congratulations to all the winners!GRAND PRIZE: David Aykanian - Framingham, MASECOND PRIZE: Joy Renjilian-Burgy - Wellesley, MATHIRD PRIZE: Joy Renjilian-Burgy - Wellesley, MAFOURTH PRIZE: Jae Erdekian – Wayland, MAFIFTH PRIZE: Jeannette Keljik - Westwood, MASIXTH PRIZE: Richard Babayan - Weston, MASEVENTH PRIZE: Joan E. Kolligian - Arlington, MA EIGHTH PRIZE: Joyce Davagian - Concord, MANINTH PRIZE: Gerald Ajemian - Dover, MA TENTH PRIZE: Gregory Livanos - Shrewsbury, MA ELEVENTH PRIZE: Rev. K. Sabounjian - Holliston, MA

Sept. 4 One Church, One Nation: Book Launch & Presentation by Hrair Hawk Khatcherian

Sept 15 A 50-Year Retrospective Into Journalism: A Talk by Tom Vartabedian

Sept 22 Norton Dodge Collection: Art from the Post-Soviet Period: Exhibition Opening Reception

Sept 28 Museum Day Live: ALMA participates in the Smithsonian Institute event to offer free admission together with thousands of museums in the United States.

Nov 10 The Art of Madeline and Eunice Kolligian: Exhibition Opening Reception

Jan 21 Emerging Artists: ALMA Contemporary Art Gallery hosts young artists

Feb 16 Orphan Rugs: Handworks of Armenian Orphans & Widows 1896-1930. Lecture by Dr. H. Martin Deranian, author of ‘The Coolidge Orphan Rug’

Mar 16 Journey to Hayastan: Exhibition Opening Reception Mar 23 A Presentation & Piano Interpretations: by Hayg

Boyadjian, presented by The Armenian Museum of America & Friends of Armenian Culture Society

April 6 Arthur T. Gregorian: A Yankee from the Middle EastExhibition & Presentation

April 27 A Joint Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, the Tibetan Genocide and the Genocide in the Democratic Republic of Congo

May 18 The Architecture of Mihran Mesrobian: a gallery talk by Caroline Mesrobian Hickman, PhD.

June 14 The Armenians of Gesaria: From Evkere and Talas to Mount Arkeos, Chomakhlu and Evereg by Dr. Richard G.Hovannisian, UCLA professor

June 22 An Afternoon of Armenian Chamber Music: The Armenian Museum together with The Armenian Composers Union of Yerevan, present with opening remarks by Composer/Conductor Konstantin Petrossian.

July 15 Final Inning Drawing Spring Sports Raffle 2014.

PAST EVENTS: Sept 2013 - July 2014

Sports Raffle Final Inning Reception and Winners (July 15, 2014)Summer Interns

This summer two talented college interns were work-ing at our Museum. Intern Greg Papazian is earninghis BFA at Massachusetts College of Art & Design,

while working as professional tailor. Greg brought hisartistic and textile skills to the Museum while volunteer-ing with the curatorial staff in the library, cataloging thetextile collection. Greg’s internship responsibilitiesincluded the conservation and storage of rugs in theMuseum’s state-of-the-art rug storage system. Greg assist-ed the Curator throughout the installation of the AlmasianCartographic Collection, as well as the Bedoukian StampCollection.

Intern Erin Piñon, a graduate student of Art History atSouthern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, isresearching in ALMA’s Mesrop Boyajian Library for herMaster’s Thesis. Her work focuses on issues of Armeniannational identity and the Christianization legend as toldthrough early modern Armenian manuscripts. She wasassisting in cataloging the Museum’s collection of illumi-nated manuscripts and prayer scrolls. The description ofthis issue’s “Arti-fact,” a 1647 Armenian prayer book, isbased on her research.

Summer Interns

2014 Renovations

Visitors to the Museum’s second floor (mezzanine)now find a very different “look” to the SimourianFamily Gallery, which has become an important

space for changing exhibitions. Recently featured exhibitsinclude Armenian folk costume, selected Armenian paint-ings from the Dodge Collection of Contemporary Art, theGregorian Rug Collection, and 500 Years of ArmenianPrinting. The Museum’s newly renovated mezzanine has acleaner contemporary look. The first event in the newlyremodeled Simourian Family Gallery was the opening ofthe exhibition about Armenian Orphan Rugs. This will befollowed with an exhibit of antique Armenian stamps,which were generously donated by the Bedoukian Family.

The Contemporary Art Gallery on the third floor wasrenovated during July and August. The construction ofnew permanent walls restored the grand sweep of thespace. As the Museum’s main function hall, the third flooris often the center of activity; staging lectures, concerts,meetings and banquets. This gallery is for exhibiting con-temporary artworks. Jennifer Munson of the BostonMuseum of Fine Arts, acting as our Museum’s consultant,designed both the second and third floor renovations.

With the approach of theCentennial anniversary ofthe Armenian Genocide,

public interest in the Orphan Ruggiven to President Calvin Coolidgein 1925 by Near East Relief hasbecome a hot topic. Requests forpublic exhibition of the rug have pit-ted the US State Department and theTurkish government seeking to sup-press exhibition controversy, againstthe Armenian community (includingALMA) and its congressional sup-porters. ALMA wrote letters seekingto display the rug within the contextof our own Museum’s historic andoriginal artifacts to President BarackObama, the First Lady Michelle

Obama, as well as to several Congressmen.The Armenian Museum recently mount-

ed Armenian Orphan Rugs, an exhibit high-lighting rugs and other handworks made bywidows and children after the 1894-96 mas-sacres, and by the later handworks made inorphanages established by Near East Reliefin the 1920s. Dr. H. Martin Deranian,author of the book, President CalvinCoolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug,presented a program about the history of theCoolidge Rug, followed by a gallery talkabout the exhibition curated jointly by Dr.Deranian and Museum Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian. Alma Textile Curator, SusanLind-Sinanian, presented a paper to theArmenian Rug Society at their annual sym-posium in California.

Sports Announcer Bob Lobel together with ALMA Trustees celebrate with winning participants

Letters to the White House: A Home For the Orphan Rug?

The annual Spring Sports Raffle, whose proceedssupport our Museum’s programs and operations,concluded with a lively party and reception for the

participants. The reception included a ballpark feast ofpizza, popcorn and hotdogs. The Armenian Museum waspleased to have sports announcer Bob Lobel host theevent and draw the winning tickets. The ArmenianMuseum of America extends its sincere gratitude toeveryone who bought tickets, to our donors, and every-one who worked to help make the 2014 Sports Raffle ahuge success. The proceeds support the continued mis-sion of the Museum and Library.

ALMA’s Wish List

Graphic Design/Production $5,000Two Display Cases $8,000Staff Development Fund $1,000Wall Projector $2,800

Silk Orphan Rug from the Paul BedoukianCollection, inscribed, “Orphans of Agin-1898”

The Armenian Museum of America was greatly hon-ored to become the recipient of a prestigious grantaward from the Cummings Foundation of Woburn,

Massachusetts. The Cummings Foundation “100K for 100”program recognizes outstanding local non-profits who servethe public in the areas of health, education, social justice andhumanitarian causes. Over 400 applicants underwent a com-petitive and extensive review process. The museum wasultimately one of the 100 non-profit agencies chosen by theCummings Foundation.

The generous grant award, totaling $100,000, will be dis-tributed to the Museum in four annual payments of $25,000each. The grant supports the Armenian Museum in contin-uing its important and timely mission of creating awarenessof the Armenian Genocide and other genocides to the wideraudience and new generations. The granted funds will allowenhancements to programming and scheduled events. Inaddition the grant will allow the Armenian Museum tobroaden media outreach to attract visitors and membership. The awards were announced on June 2, 2014 at the Atriumat 128 Trade Center in Woburn. Executive Board memberDan K. Dorian, IV (who was instrumental in procuring thegrant), together with Chairman Haig Der Manuelian, werein attendance to accept the award personally from BillCummings. The event drew representatives from all theorganizational grant-winners, such as Mass Audubon NatureConservancy and Artists for Humanity. A complete list ofthe 2014 winners may be found at this website:CummingsFoundation.org.

The Armenian Museum of America is grateful to be rec-ognized and appreciated by the Cummings Foundation,whose valuable work helps many nonprofits. Joel Swets,Cummings Foundation’s executive director, said,“Cummings Foundation is very committed to the local com-munities where the staff and clients of the Cummings organ-ization live and work. We are delighted to support very wor-thy nonprofits like Armenian Museum of America that areworking tirelessly for the benefit of the people they serve.”

NEWSLETTER FALL 2014NEWSLETTER FALL 2014 54

Yes, I Want To Experience ALMA As a Member

Membership Information (please print) Membership Categories (please check one)

Name

Address

City State Zip Code

Phone Number Email Address

p Student $15 p Family $50 p Supporting $250p Individual $35 p Sustaining $100 p Contributing $500

c Visa c MasterCard Card Number

Expiration Date

Signature (required)

pCharge to my:

pEnclosed is my check payable to “ALMA”

Join. Support. Experience.Become an ALMA Member

Why Join?As the only independent Armenian museum in the Diaspora funded solely through the contributions of individuals, ALMA’s successdepends on you. Membership signifies that you support the largest Armenian museum in the Diaspora. It means you recognize theimportance of collecting, preserving and presenting the culture, history and art of the Armenian people during the past 3,000 years, fortoday, tomorrow, and for future generations to come. It shows you care.

Membership BenefitsFree Museum admission and private guided tours with curator (tours by appointment)10% off all gift shop purchasesInvitations to exclusive eventsMailings about upcoming eventsDiscounted price for events and classesNew members receive two free guest passes

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The Armenian Museum of America,Inc. Hosts a Joint GenocideCommemoration

The Armenian Museum of America continues its tradi-tion of annually commemorating the anniversary ofthe Armenian Genocide. On Sunday April 27, 2014

the Armenian Museum presented a joint commemoration ofthe Armenian Genocide, the Tibetan Genocide and theGenocide in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Prior com-memorations have included, among others, the Holocaust,Rwanda, the Ukrainian Holodomor, the Great Irish Famine,the Cambodian Genocide, as well as the Genocide in Darfur.With about 120 attendees, this year’s joint commemorationfeatured stirring talks by Tenzin Dorjee, former ExecutiveDirector of Students for a Free Tibet; Anthony Kasongo,Executive Director of Congolese Genocide Awareness, andKhatchig Mouradian, Editor of the Armenian Weekly news-paper. These three Genocides, as do the others we have com-memorated in the past, amazingly share so many commoncharacteristics.

Welcoming remarks by the Museum’s Director, BerjChekijian, and a prayer by Rev. Father Antranig Baljian ofSt. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, opened the com-memoration. There were traditional musical performancesby a Tibetan band led by Tenzin Younden with Tibetaninstruments, by Congolese 8th grader, Baraka Salumu, and amoving Armenian song by Ieva Berberian.

In addition to the permanent Genocide exhibition on theMuseum’s second floor, our Traveling Armenian GenocideExhibit, which explains in more detail the post- Genocidaldenial and desecration, was on display on the third floor.Also on display in the Terjenian-Thomas Gallery were pho-tographic exhibits both of Tibetan scenes by renowned pho-tographer Sonam Zoksang, courtesy of the TibetanAssociation of Boston, and on the Congolese Genocide,courtesy of Congolese Genocide Awareness.

Help Find Venues for ALMA’s Three Major Travel Exhibits

ALMA Vice-President Barbara Merguerian (left) speaking atthe Armenian Legion Exhibit Opening at the French CulturalCenter in Boston on April 4, 2013.

Prestigious Cummings FoundationGrant Bestowed

Hovanissian, continued from page 1Hovannisian, whose accomplishments and awards are toonumerous to mention here. Following is an abbreviated out-take from his bio on the UCLA website. Richard G.Hovannisian is Professor of Armenian and Near EasternHistory at the University of California, Los Angeles. Heserved as the Associate Director of the G.E. von GrunebaumCenter for Near Eastern Studies from 1978 to 1995. A mem-ber of the UCLA faculty since 1962, he has organized theundergraduate and graduate programs in Armenian andCaucasian history. Dr. Hovannisian, a native of Tulare,

California, received his B.A. (1954) and M.A. (1958) degreesfrom the University of California, Berkeley, and his Ph.D.(1966) from UCLA. Richard Hovannisian is a GuggenheimFellow and has received many honors for his scholarship, civicactivities, and advancement of Armenian Studies. His biogra-phical entries are included in Who’s Who in America, Who’sWho in the World, Writers’ Directory, and a number of otherscholarly and literary reference works. Dr. Hovannisian is afounder and six times the president of the Society forArmenian Studies.

Tenzin Dorjee speaks at the Commemoration