1994_12 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper December 1994

              Decemberl994
Hye Sharzhoom
a&e—5
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ASO Corner
Librarian keeps active at age 88
Mkrtich Pogosian
The best way to start this article,
is probably to introduce myself.
My name is Mkrtich Pogosian and
I am the new President of the Armenian Students Organization.
Being President has been demanding yet rewarding the past semester. With the help of the other executive officers, we have made this
semester a successful one. The other
executive officers are Tina
Attashian, Vice-President; Marine
Pogosian, Secretary; and Harry
Zekian, Treasurer.
The executive officers have been
very helpful and without them I
would not have been able to handle
the pressure that is part of being
President.
Some of the things that we have
done this semester, besides having
ur regular meetings, are go bowl
ing, have two successful bake-sales,
dinner meetings at Round Table
Pizza, and a dance.
The problem we as an executive faced this semester was not in
planning events, it was trying to get
other Armenians to attend the vents.
Hopefully next semester we will
discuss some ofthe events that we
have planned.
Some of the things that we will
discuss at the meeting, which will
take place are a barbecue, a trip to
Magic Mountain, and events for
April 24.
We are hoping that more members attend our meetings and functions next semester.
Finally I would like to thank
everyone who helped with events
that we have heldv-the members
who showed up at the meetings,
and my executive team.
See you next semester!
Karen Karabian
Spring 1995 Courses
Armenian Studies Program
Arm. St. 10- Introduction to Armenian Studies
(2 sections)
Arm. 108B- Armenian History II
Arm. 14S-Masterpieces of Armenian Literature
Arm. Sr. 121-Armenian Painting
Gifts and Books
Hye Sharzhoom
Under a knitted blanket, sporting large-frame glasses and pink
slippers, lies Anne Avakian, a recent arrival at the California Armenian Home.
"Fresno, California—born
1906, the year of the earthquake.
I'm 88 years old," abruptly states
Anne.
Most will be surprised to know
at the age of 88, Anne wrote an
"Armenian Folklore Bibliography"
that was published by the University of California Press. This is
only one of the many publications
she undertook after retirement
As a child, Anne knew only
farm life. She grew up around
orchards and fields. "What more
can you say about picking peaches
and grapes?" said Anne.
She graduated from Fresno
High School with California Scholarship Federation Honors and enrolled in the teacher's program at
Fresno State University. In search
of a BA degree, Anne left for
Pomona College where her ambition and tenacity were rewarded
with Phi Beta Kappa and Magna
cum laude awards.
After Library school at UC
Berkeley, she spent 36 years as a
librarian working for the United
States Department of Agriculture
at its Western Regional Research
Lab in Albany, California. Anne
was active in the CaliforniaLibrary
Association, Golden State Chapter
and the Special Library Association, San Francisco Chapter.
"I especially like the works of
the Russian writer, Chekhov. I enjoy his style and selected subject
matter," admits Anne. William
Saroyan has made an impact on
Anne also, in that he introduced to
America a side of the Armenians
The Armenian Studies Program and its Sahatdjian Library
and Avedian Archives would like to thank the following individuals for the generous donations to the
Armenian Studies Library Collection.
Alice Gureghian, retired librarian of Fresno, for ten boxes of English and Armenian languagebooks
and periodicals.
Anna Tookoian of Redondo
Beach, California for a collection
of books and papers by the late
Dertad Tookoian and his surviving wife, Siroun Tookoian.
Ben Amirkhanian of the Willian
Saroyan Festival Committee,
Fresno, for acollection of five video
tapes including an interview with
William Saroyan.
Betty Basmajian of Fresno for a
box of English and Armenia books
given in the memory of Mr. &
Mrs. Vart Basmajian.
Dr. Arra Avakian of Fresno for
a collection of eight maps and two
posters relating to Armenia.
Elizabeth Nahabedian of
Kingsburg for a small collection of
Armenian and English books including M. Ormanian's The Armenian Church.
_ Gary Conklin, filmmaker from
Los Angeles, for a video copy of
his film "Notes from Under the
Volcano" (1984) a documentary
on the making of the film "Under
the Volcano" directed by John
Huston.
Karnig Mahakian of Palm
Springs for a splendidalbum-scrap-
book devoted to William Saroyan,
including old clippings and pamphlets, and a large collection of
miscellaneous clippings,pamphlets
and memorabilia related to Armenia and the Armenians.
Louise and Ralph Ayvazian for
a copy of the video film
"Karabagh'sWounds"byTzvetana
Paskaleva.
Lynn B. Ross of Alameda, California for a photograph, biography,
and other material'about John M.
Shotigian.
Martin M. Tourigian of Drexel
Hill, Pennsylvania for a large collection of the original scores of
classical and modern Armenian
songs composed by him.
Michael Sohigian of Fresno for
a miscellaneous collection of Armenian newspapers and periodicals.
Philip E. Tavlian of Fresno for
a collection of four books including Gourgen Yanikian, The Triumph of Judas Iscariot (1950).
Ralph and Anahid Shamshoian
ofFresno for several boxes of books
and periodicals about Armenia.
Rose Nvart Fox of Dayton, Ohio
forafinecollectionof 38 hardbound
and 28 paperbound books given in
memory of her father, Haroutune
Krikor Tashjian, by his widow
Nazeline A. Tashjian.
Roxanne Bezjian, filmmaker
from San Francisco, for a video
copy of her film "Charles Garry:
Street Fighter in the Courtroom"
(1992).
Books and Articles
Received:
Professor Dickran Kouymjian
and the Armenian Studies
Program would like to thank the
authors and publishers for the
following books and periodicals.
Ad jemian, Hrant, Armenia and
Au Revoir, Erevan, courtesy of
Edmond Azadian, Director of the
AGBU Alex Manoogian Cultural
Fund.
See BOOKS, Page 6
Anne Avakian
not presented before.
"I lived in an atmosphere which
was prejudiced towards the Armenians," said Anne. Saroyan wrote
about the character of Armenians
that differed from public opinion.
Anne never married by choice.
She was devoted to her studies and
travels. "It's not even safe to marry
these days, youdon'tknow if someone has a disease or worse," said
Anne. Between knitting quilts Anne
has visited Russia, Afghanistan,
Paris, Rome, the Orient, Japan,
England (a summer at Oxford),
Philippines, Hong Kong, and
Alastca. —
Anne had a personal library
which housed over 1200 books, the
source of most of her reference
work. After the age of 65, her other
publications include: "The Avakian
Family" (1986) and "Armenia and
the Armenians in Academic Dissertation: A Bibliography" (1974
and supplement in 1987). In addition, she wrote 300 book reviews
and articles for the California Courier.
Parts of her personal library
containing numerous books on history, literature, and folklore were
donated to Fresno State's Henry
Madden Library this year.
Anne is an established scholar
among the community. A statement to which Anne replies, "I am
no one famous." Fanfare is one
thing that she does not seek in her
life. Her sharp mentality and re
freshing intellect are powerful
weapons thatremain in such afrag-
ile body.
One of Anne's remarkable and
unique collections was 300 volumes of pig stories which she gave
to the Mills College Library. These
books were accompanied by hundreds of pig objects, now in the
possession of a cousin who has
displayed them beautifully.
Anne has recently gone from a
place of independence in her own
apartment to a new home where
she is constantly cared for. "I've
been thrown into an extremely different environment than I'm used
to. I'm adapting to living here.
They do the best they can—we
don't starve," said Ann.
"Fm in the Armenian Home
now, but I'm near my family the
last years of my life."
"Fresno is my hometown and
in the younger days I was always
surrounded by Armenian neighbors, the church, and community. I
wish we had retained the old traditions and values. I don'tknow how
we'll ever get back to family life
and a peaceful world."
"Life has been good to me. I
did what I liked to do and enjoyed
my friendships. I may not have the
energy to travel, but I'm doing the
best I can in my own circle."
In closing, Anne said, "I'm
just an ordinary person." Her niece
replied, "I think you are pretty extraordinary."
Anne Avakian celebrates her
89th birthday in 1995 on January 6,
Armenian Christmas, a day all Armenians hold dear to their hearts,
and the day Anne Avakian's life
began. A life that brought hope, joy
and the remembrance of the true
Armenian spirit.
California State University, Fresno
ARMENIAN STUDIES
SCHOLARSHIPS
for 1995-1996 Academic Year
For students who demonstrate an interest in
Armenian culture
Pick up your applications and supplemental
forms at the
Scholarship Office in Joyal Administration
Last year, thirty-two students were awarded
scholarships. This year, you too can apply for a
scholarship. The scholarships are for eligible
students who enroll in Armenian Studies
courses at California State University, Fresno
FILING DEADLINE:
FEBRUARY 1,1995