HAYrmE eSnHiaAnR ZAHcOtiOoMn
FA| <AR VOUM 39 Year
California State University, Fresno
Armenian Studies Program
and Armenian Students Organization
5245 N. Backer Ave. M/S PB 4
Fresno, CA 93740-8001
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March 2018 Vol. 39, No. 3 (141) Ethnic Supplement to The Collegian
See Türkyılmaz page 6
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FRESNO, CA
Dr. La Porta and Dr. Vacca Present Research on
Eighth Century Armenian Historian Ghevond
Garabedian Scholarship Fund in Armenian Studies
See Ghevond Page 7
Mayor Brand Updated on Plans
for Saroyan House Museum
Left to right: Avag Simonyan, Fresno Mayor Lee Brand, Mer-oujan
Minassian, and Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian at the
Mayor’s office in City Hall.
See Trio Page 7
Chilingirian-Bagratuni-Hakobyan
Trio Concert at Fresno State
See Saroyan Page 6
Kazan Visiting Professor Dr. Yektan Türkyılmaz
Begins Spring Semester at Fresno State
Left to right: Levon Chilingirian, Karén Hakobyan, and Suren
Bagratuni performing at the March 2 concert.
Photo: Jim Karagozian
Dr. Sergio La Porta and Dr. Alison Vacca
Don Garabedian
Photo: Erik Abrahamyan
Photo: Hourig Attarian
See Garabedian page 2
Photo: Alain Ekmalian
Left to right: Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Dr. Yektan
Türkyılmaz, and Richard Hagopian examining early Arme-nian
records.
Photo: ASP Archive
Michael Retig
Editor
Dr. Yektan Türkyılmaz has
had a busy semester since his
appointment as the 14th Kazan
Visiting Professor at Fresno State
for Spring 2018. In addition to
teaching a course on “Armenian
Urbanism,” and preparing
for three public lectures, Dr.
Türkyılmaz is spending his time in
Fresno preparing his dissertation
for publication as a monograph.
Dr. Türkyılmaz grew up
in a small town east of Sivas.
Although he was never exposed
to Armenian history in school,
Dr. Türkyılmaz grew up with an
awareness of Armenians and their
past. One of his classmates in
elementary school, the daughter
of the local carpenter, was an
Armenian, as well as some of
his parents’ friends. “I grew up
with an awareness that there used
to be more Armenians and that
something happened to them,
so there were eventually less of
them,” Dr. Türkyılmaz recalled.
“We heard the stories from our
grandparents. They spoke of
rivers flowing red with blood.”
Dr. Türkyılmaz’s interest in
the Kurdish issue led him to learn
more about what happened to the
Armenians. Turkey’s treatment
of the Kurds is a “wound that
let another hidden wound
bleed again,” according to Dr.
Türkyılmaz.
When Dr. Türkyılmaz moved
Staff Report
Avag Simonyan, Director of
the Saroyan House Museum,
Meroujan Minassian, Project
architect and founder of the
Storaket Architectural Studio,
and Armenian Studies Program
Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der
Mugrdechian, paid a visit to Fresno
City Hall to meet with Mayor Lee
Brand on Friday, February 23 and
to visit with Fresno City Council
President Esmeralda Soria on
Monday, February 26.
The purpose of the meetings
was to familiarize both the Mayor
and the Council President with
the ongoing plans to convert
Saroyan’s former home into a
House Museum. Mayor Brand
expressed his support for the
Saroyan House and said that he
stood ready to assist the project.
Council President Soria, whose
district includes the site of the
future Saroyan House Museum,
also expressed her support for the
plan.
Katrina Biset
Staff Writer
On Friday, March 2, 2018,
the Chilingirian-Bagratuni-
Hakobyan Trio performed on the
Fresno State campus. The concert
was co-presented by the Philip
Lorenz Memorial Keyboard
Concerts International Chamber
Music Series, Orpheus, and the
Armenian Studies Program.
The featured musicians were
Levon Chilingirian on violin,
Suren Bagratuni on cello, and
Karén Hakobyan on piano. They
performed a set of three pieces;
the first half consisted of Haydn’s
Trio in C Major, Hob. XV:27 and
Piano Trio in F-sharp Minor by
Staff Report
Ghevond, the only contem-porary
historian of eighth century
Armenia, sheds important light
on the early experience of
the Armenians with the Arab
Caliphate.
It was for this reason that Dr.
Sergio La Porta and Dr. Alison
Vacca decided to collaborate
on a new English translation
of Ghevond. They shared
some of their efforts with an
audience at a lecture on “An
Armenian Narrative on Early
Islam: Ghevond’s History,” on
Friday, January 26, as part of
the Armenian Studies Program
Spring Lecture Series, funded by
the Leon S. Peters Foundation.
The presentation was or-ganized
in two parts, with Dr. La
Porta speaking first, discussing
the earliest known manuscript
of Ghevond. He placed the
History in a literary context with
other Armenian histories, and
explaining how Ghevond differed
from them.
The earliest known manuscript
of Ghevond’s History is dated
Staff Report
The Donald Garabedian
Endowed Scholarship in
Armenian Studies was established
in December 2017, with a
generous donation of $26,000
by Mr. Garabedian. Armenian
Studies Program Berberian
Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der
Mugrdechian welcomed the
new scholarship fund, saying
“Donations such as these assist
students in their studies. The
Program is pleased to accept Mr.
Garabedian’s gift, which will
benefit students who demonstrate
an interest in Armenian Studies.”
Don Garabedian was born and
raised in Fresno and attended
Winchell Elementary School,
Longfellow Jr. High School,
Hye Sharzhoom
2
March 2018
Armenian Studies Program
Book/Video/CD Archival Gifts
Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Prof. Sergio La Porta, and the Armenian Studies Program would like to thank the donors, authors, and publishers for the following books, periodicals, videos, and archival gifts, either offered personally, or to the Program.
California State University, Fresno
Armenian Studies Program
Fall 2018 Schedule of Courses
Course Units Time Day Instructor
General Education-Breadth, Humanities, Area C2
•Arm 1A-Elementary Armenian 4 10:00A-11:50A MW B. Der Mugrdechian(Class #72293)
General Education-Breadth, Arts, Area C1
•ArmS 20-Arts of Armenia3 11:00A-12:15P TuTh B. Der Mugrdechian
(Class #73021)
General Education-Breadth, Area D3
•ArmS 10-Intro Arm Studies3 9:00A-9:50A MWF H. Ohanessian
(Class #73477)
General Education-Integration, Area IC
•Arm 148-Mastrpcs Arm Cult3 2:00P-3:15P MW H. Ohanessian
(Class #73583)
•Arm 148-Mastrpcs Arm Cult3 2:00P-3:15P TuTh S. La Porta
(Class #73478)
Upper Division Armenian Studies Course
•ArmS 108A-Arm History II3 9:30A-10:45A TuTh B. Der Mugrdechian
(Class #72294)
•ArmS 120T-Arm Gen Comp3 3:30P-4:45P MW Kazan Visiting Prof.
(Class #76541)
•ArmS 120T-Armenians in Fresno 1 5:00P-9:00P Friday, October 5
(Class #76763) 9:00A-5:00P Saturday, October 6
Get a Minor in Armenian Studies.
For more information call the Armenian Studies Program at 278-2669.
Staff Writers
Katrina Bissett
Suzanna Ekmekchyan
Claire Kasaian
David Safrazian
Sarine Topaldjikian
Editor
Michael Rettig
Layout
Barlow Der Mugrdechian
Photographers
Hourig Attarian
Barlow Der Mugrdechian
HYE SHARZHOOM
FA| <ARVOUM
Advisor
Barlow Der Mugrdechian
barlowd@csufresno.edu
Armenian Studies Program Faculty:
Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Coordinator, Armenian Studies Program and Director of the Center for Armenian Studies, ASO Advisor, Hye Sharzhoom Advisor
(barlowd@csufresno.edu)
Sergio La Porta, Haig and Isabel Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies
Hagop Ohanessian, Lecturer, Armenian Studies Program
Dickran Kouymjian, Berberian Professor Emeritus of Armenian Studies
Yektan Türkyılmaz, Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies
Dr. Boris Adjemian, Nubar Library, Paris, France for a copy of La fanfare du négus: Les Arméniens en Éthiopie (XIXe-XXe siècles) (The Negus Band: The Armenians of Ethiopia) (2013), 351pp., in French. The work is based on Adjemian’s Ph.D. thesis on the Armenians of Ethiopia.
Nigol Aghababyan, Yerevan, Armenia, for a copy of his book Nigol, an illustrated album of his artwork, 119pp., in Armenian and English. Artist Nigol Aghababyan was born in Koghb village, Tavoush region, and is a graduate of the Yerevan Pedagogical Faculty of Art (painting).
Ani Guild of the California Armenian Home, Fresno, for a gift of their 50th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet, 1967-2017, highlighting the history of the Guild.
Armenian Numismatic Society, Pico Rivera, California, for a copy of Armenian Numismatic Studies III, by Y. T. Nercessian (Los Angeles: Armenian Numismatic Society, 2017), special publication number 17, 386pp., in Armenian and English, with 46 illustrated plates. The volume is composed of twenty articles and more than two dozen book reviews, all related to Armenian Numismatics.
Maral Simonian Atarian, Fresno, on behalf of the Simon Simonian family, for a copy of Simon Simonian: The Last Scion of the Mountaineers, her father’s memoir (Simonian Family, 2017), 137pp., in English, translated by Vahe Apelian.
Dr. Hayk Demoyan, Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Yerevan, Armenia, for a copy of Love, Love, Love: Memoirs of the Ottoman Armenian Sportsman by Vahram Papazian (Yerevan: Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, 2014), 231pp., in English.
Susan Paul Pattie, London, United Kingdom, for a copy of her latest book, Who Are the Armenians, with Gagik Stepan-Sarkissian and Maral Kerovpyan, 2nd edition (London: Armenian Institute, 2014), 56pp., in English, with accompanying CD. This is a fascinating guide for both children and adults to learn about the Armenian people. This book is aimed at children aged 5-12 and brings the 3000 year history and culture of the Armenian people to life.
Rubina Sevajian, Tilney All Saints, United Kingdom, for a copy of The Darker Shadow (2017) 215pp., in English. This book is a sequel to Sevajian’s In the Shadow of the Sultan. The Darker Shadow is set during the first ten months of the Armenian Genocide, September 1914 to June 1915. It is the story of twins Bedros and Dzovinar who are confronted by the harsh realities of living under the oppressive regime of the Young Turks. This is a fictional work based on fact.
Larry & Marilyn Shuklian, Los Osos, for a gift of various Armenian books.
Bryan and Selena Srabian (Sacramento) and Eric and Shayla Srabian Pulatian (Montebello) for a large collection of Armenian themed books and journals from the estate of their late parents, Arlene and Robert Srabian.
Dr. Vahé Tachjian, Berlin, Germany, for a copy of Daily Life in the Abyss: Genocide Diaries, 1915-1918 (New York: Bergahn Books, 2017), 208pp., in English, with illustrations. Daily Life in the Abyss shed’s light on the actual experiences of the Genocide through the intertwined stories of two families who endured forced relocation and deprivation in and around modern-day Syria.
Hamo B. Vassilian, Sun Valley, for a donation of four of his books: Church and Religion of Armenians in Iran: A Comprehensive Annotated and Pictorial Bibliography (2016), 59pp., in Armenian, Persian, and English; Cities and Villages of Armenians in Iran (2016), 59pp., in Armenian, Persian, and English; Performing and Visual Arts Among Iranian Armenians (2015), 73pp., in Armenian, Persian, and English; Who is Who Among Iranian Armenians: A Comprehensive Annotated and Pictorial Bibliography (2018), 177pp., in Armenian, Persian, and English.
Kings Canyon Jr. High School, Roosevelt High School, and Fresno City College (one year).
He graduated with a B.S. in Accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, qualifying as a CPA and working for a Big Four CPA firm for ten-plus years. He moved back to the Bay Area in the late 1970s and has worked for several companies as a CFO and tax advisor. He is currently semi-retired but still provides consulting to several technology and Chinese companies.
Garabedian became aware of the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State through his parents, Chester and Armen Garabedian. Armen attended Fresno State for one year in the 1950s. He followed the progress of the Program and its leadership by Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, his first cousin, through the pages of Hye Sharzhoom.
Garabedian is proud of his heritage and knows that his Vanetsi grandparents would be excited that Der Mugrdechian was able to dedicate his academic accomplishments in Armenian Studies.
“My parents and grandparents would be grateful that their children and grandchildren continue to respect our heritage and encourage other Armenian students through this Program,” stated Garabedian.
Garabedian’s motivation for establishing the scholarship came from his uncle, Bob Der Mugrdechian, who had earlier established the Norma and Bob Der Mugrdechian Endowed Scholarship in Armenian Studies at Fresno State. He enjoyed his visits together with his mother and Uncle Bob.
Garabedian expressed his appreciation for the sacrifices made by the first generation, which has helped subsequent generations of the Armenian community in Fresno immensely.
“In retrospect, if I had had the opportunity to attend the Armenian Studies Program when I was in college, my appreciation for Armenian heritage, culture and history would have been greatly enhanced,” said Garabedian. As one grows older it becomes more evident that one should give back to the future generations through various means and Garabedian found this avenue an excellent choice.
“The Armenian Studies Pro-gram provides an important connection to make students aware of the impact of Armenian history, culture, and the community and the impact that a small country has made on the world,” stated Garabedian.
Garabedian hopes to see the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State continue to flourish and is happy to be part of it in a small way through the endowment of a Scholarship Fund.
G
arabedian, From Page 1
Give Your Way
to the Armenian Studies Program
There are many ways to support
the Armenian Studies Program.3
March 2018
Hye Sharzhoom
Babayan Presents Illuminating
Lecture on “Armenian Awards”
Left to right: David Safrazian, Kara Statler, Peter Safrazian, Michael Rettig, Nika Babayan, Prof. Hagop Ohanessian, Marina Chardukian, Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Ashkhen Chamasanyan, and Suzanna Ekmekchyan.
Photo: Hourig Attarian
Prof. Der Mugrdechian Speaks to Sanger Rotary on “Armenians of the San Joaquin Valley” in February
Left to right: Sanger Rotary President Gina-Lynn Cuevas, Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, and Gene Branch.
Photo: Nika Babyan
The Youth Orchestras of Fresno performed Aram Khachaturian’s Spartacus.
Support
Hye Sharzhoom
Photo: Michael Rettig
M
i
chael Retti g
Editor
The Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State has had a profound impact on its students in their efforts to better understand their heritage. The Program similarly strives to represent the Armenian community to the larger public. ASP Coordinator Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian accomplishes this by speaking to public community groups who are interested in learning about Armenian history and culture. On Friday, February 16, the Sanger Rotary Club invited Prof. Der Mugrdechian to lecture on “From Armenia to California: The Odyssey of the San Joaquin Valley Armenians.”
Prof. Der Mugrdechian began his talk by providing a background of the different waves of Armenian immigration to the United States, highlighting their motives for migrating and their early lives in America. He demonstrated that Armenians played a prominent role in Fresno’s growth, from its incorporation as a city in 1885 to the present.
The Seropian brothers were the first Armenians to permanently settle in Fresno in 1881. Four years later, there were approximately 360 Armenians in Fresno County. By 1918, the Armenian population in the Valley was estimated at 10,100 with some 4,000 in the Fresno area. Prof. Der Mugrdechian displayed images of Armenian life in Fresno, such as the Seropian Packing House from 1897, Armenian farmers harvesting grapes, and Armenian women working in a packing house. Prof. Der Mugrdechian then discussed the waves of immigration to the San Joaquin Valley from the Middle East, Iran, and the Republic of Armenia from the 1960s to the present.
Prof. Der Mugrdechian concluded with an overview of the institutions important to Fresno Armenians, such as the Fresno State Armenian Studies Program, the Armenian churches, the Charlie Keyan Armenian Community School, and the political and fraternal organizations.
He similarly stressed the impact Armenians had on the wider community with an overview of some prominent Armenian Fresno natives, such as William Saroyan, Kirk Kerkorian, Debbie Poochigian, and Leon S. Peters. He also highlighted local Armenian landmarks, such as the statue of David of Sassoon, Valley Lahvosh Baking Co., and the Armenian Genocide Monument at Fresno State.
Prof. Der Mugrdechian noted that speaking to community groups about the Central Valley’s Armenians and their history is one of the most enjoyable aspects of his job.
“I always find that groups such as Rotary are interested in who the Armenians are, their history, and their contributions to the San Joaquin Valley.”
These community lectures provide an opportunity for those who live in the San Joaquin Valley to better understand their Armenian neighbors, who they live and work with.
D
avid Safrazian
Staff Writer
Phaleristics, the study of awards, orders, and medals, is a bourgeoning area of research. Guest speaker Nika Babayan gave an in-depth look into this understudied topic in his presentation “Awards of Armenia and the Armenian Church” on Friday, January 19 at Fresno State. His presentation was the first in the Armenian Studies Program Spring Lecture Series.
During his talk, Babayan discussed two books that he has authored on the topic: Awards of Armenia (2011) and Awards of the Armenian Church (2016).
Armenian awards have been given out since the 17th century to those who have made significant contributions to the Church, Armenia, or the Diaspora. These awards can today be divided into three categories: Awards of the Armenian Church (Armenian Apostolic, Armenian Catholic, and Armenian Protestant), Awards of Armenia (The First Republic of Armenia, Soviet Armenia, the Republic of Armenia, and Karabagh), and Awards of the Armenia Diaspora.
One of the first orders Holy Etchmiadzin instituted in 1918 was the “St. Gregory the Illuminator (Lusavorich)” and was given to both clergy and laymen. This order paved the way for an establishment of an elaborate award system. Seventy St. Grigor the Illuminator orders have been awarded since 1918, but only six of these medals are known to be in existence today. General Andranik and Calouste Gulbenkian are among the famous awardees of the order. The Nersess Shnorali award, a division of the St. Gregory medal, has only been given to five individuals since 2011, mainly to artists, scientists, notable authors, and benefactors of Armenia and the Armenian Church.
Babayan’s book, Awards of the Armenian Church, also discusses “Wedding Medals” of Etchmiadzin, made of gold or silver, which were given out in the 19th century. They were modeled after medals first given in Holland to newly married couples. No more than twenty of these medals are known to survive today.
His Holiness Vazgen I became Catholicos of All Armenians in 1955 and by 1978 he had significantly changed the award system of Holy Etchmiadzin, by creating new awards that were more selective. The new Catholicos also banned the awards given out by his predecessor Catholicos George V because His Holiness Vazgen I wanted the awards to be focused on those given out in Etchmiadzin rather than in the Diaspora.
Armenian awards and medals are now considered as collectibles and there is a unique award established in 1991, called the “Badge of the Silver Star of Armenia,” which is today worth more than $80,000.
The awarding system of the First Republic of Armenia (1918-1920), included an award for “Service to Motherland” that was made of gold and precious stones, such as rubies and diamonds, by a British jeweler.
Babayan is a graduate of Yerevan State University and has extensive experience in the cultural and musical fields in the Republic of Armenia. He is currently the general manager of the Cadence Music Center and previously was the general manager of the State Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia.
Babayan, in addition to re-searching the awards, is a collector himself. His work allows one to more fully understand why the awards were developed and who received them.
The audience was intrigued and interested in the many types of awards and their history. Although many individuals work hard for the benefit of the Church and Armenia, they do
St. Gregory the Illuminator (Lusavorich) medal.so expecting nothing in return. When they do receive an award, they know they truly deserve it.
Babayan’s presentation em-
Youth Orchestras of Fresno Annual Concert Features Excerpts from Aram Khachaturian’s Spartacus Ballet
Sarine Topaldjikian
Staff Writer
The Youth Orchestras of Fresno (YOOF) hosted their annual fundraiser concert, “Love Conquers All,” on Sunday, February 11. The concert featured the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (YPO) and Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO) combining to perform the first suite from Aram Khachaturian’s energetic, lively, yet romantic ballet, Spartacus, co-sponsored by the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State. Dr. Thomas Loewenheim, music director of YOOF and conductor of the Youth Philharmonic, led the concert.
Spartacus was first premiered in 1956 by the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia. It was later revised and adapted by Khachaturian in its current form and successfully debuted in Moscow by the Bolshoi Ballet in 1968. The adapted version has become Khachaturian’s most famous ballet as it was grouped into a number of suites for a classical concert setting.
“As someone who has only played with the Youth Orchestras of Fresno for a little over a month, it was welcoming to know that in my first opportunity to perform that I would play Spartacus,” said Ariana Garabedian, a junior at Clovis West High School and violist in the YPO. “As an Armenian, it touched me simply because it shined a light on how incredible the contributions of Armenians are to music, literature, and art. My knowledge of Armenian history and experiencing the Armenian culture helped me to further connect with the work and gave it more of a meaning than simply notes on a page.”
The program opened with Mikhail Glinka’s Overture to the opera, Ruslan and Ludmila.
It also featured guest artist violinist Erika Raum, who performed the beautiful and luscious Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. Raum was also featured one day prior in the 6th Annual Violin and Viola Festival at Fresno State.
The program was well received and Dr. Loewenheim thanked the audience members for their support.phasized how important the medals and awards are for an understanding of Armenian history.
Photo: ASP ArchiveHye Sharzhoom
4
March 2018
Nicole Marschall’s winning design.
Hye Sharzhoom
hyesharzhoom.com
and on Facebook
Thomas A. Kooyumjian Family Foundation Adds $100,000 to Endowed Scholarship Fund
Leon S. Peters
Saroyan Competition Winning Designs Chosen from Students in Fresno State Graphic Art Class
Staff Report
Prof. Rebecca Barne’s Graphic Art 174 class undertook a project in Fall 2017 to design a poster, a mailer and a website, to mark the planned opening of the William Saroyan House Museum on August 31, 2018. Armenian Studies Program Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian presented the project to sixteen students in the course. Der Mugrdechian returned to the class at the end of the semester to listen to the student presentations. After much consideration two student projects, those of Nicole Marschall and Adam Herring, were chosen as the winners of the competition. Their designs will be used in the campaign to raise awareness about the planned Museum.
Nicole Marschall is double majoring in Graphic Design and American Sign Language Interpreting, reflecting her creative interests. Marschall has always been interested in art, taking a graphic design course through the Bullard High School CART program.
“My challenge was in incorporating Saroyan, who had achieved so much, into the design,” said Marschall. “He means a lot to the Armenian community, especially in Fresno, so he was difficult to capture for that reason.”
Marschall wanted to have her design be more than a face. She incorporated many different techniques in her design, taking printed copies of Saroyan’s writing, cutting/burning them and then gluing them in a collage. Marschall experimented with different mediums including glue, water-color, and ink.
Her design purposefully loosely represents the shape of Armenia, incorporating Armenia and Fresno with the Fresno skyline. These two elements represent two things William Saroyan cherished—his American and Armenian culture.
The overall concept that informed Marschall’s work was how Saroyan left his imprint in the Armenian and Fresno community. She was inspired by Saroyan the humanist, who loved nature and art.
Marschall will graduate from Fresno State in 2020 and would like use the skills she learned in both majors in her future career. She plans to focus on packaging and logo design in the graphic art field.
Senior Adam Herring is pursuing a BFA in Graphic Design at Fresno State. Herring, who was born and raised in Hanford, transferred to Fresno State from the College of the Sequoias. The Saroyan House Museum project presented some unique challenges for Herring, as it was his first time working on a design project that featured one person.
“Designing for a company or a product is more about marketing,” stated Herring. “The Saroyan project was more about celebrating the person and his achievements. I had never considered this type of project when deciding my career in graphic design.”
Herring’s first step in the design challenge was to learn more about Saroyan. When reading about Saroyan, Herring focused on those characteristics and qualities that seemed most interesting about the writer. Because Saroyan was so famous, it was difficult to decide which features to emphasize in the design. Herring’s task was to take these results and transform them into an artistic design.
Saroyan’s expressionist paintings were a source of inspiration for Herring, who also incorporated the colors of the Armenian flag into his design.
“For most cultures or nationalities, the flag is the face of their identity, so I wanted to include that in my design,” said Herring. “I learned about Armenians and their successful maintenance of identity in a lecture I attended on intercultural communication.”
For Herring, Saroyan’s face was also a memorable element, so he utilized an image of Saroyan that conveys both intrigue and also a comforting quality. Herring utilized several computer programs to add an expressionistic touch to the Saroyan image, manually using paintbrush in the Photoshop application as well as applying a gradient.
Herring’s interest in art began as a high school student, when he would design logos and posters for fellow student. When he discovered that he could get paid for his work, he decided to pursue his passion. After graduation in Spring of 2019, Herring would like to pursue a career in packaging/identity designing, perhaps for a large commercial firm.
Adam Herring’s winning design.
Nicole Marschall
Adam Herring
Staff Report
Armenian Studies Program Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian announced that the Thomas A. Kooyumjian Family Foundation has made a donation of $100,000 to the Kooyumjian Endowed Scholarship Fund. This is in addition to an initial gift of $50,000 which established the Endowed Scholarship in 2018.
Thomas A. Kooyumjian passed away in 1985 and his Foundation was established in 1987.
The goals of the Foundation are to encourage education, with an emphasis on the appreciation of fine arts. Kooyumjian was an employee and inventor at Belmor Manufacturing and excelled in his field, but also wanted to embrace the finer arts and encourage the same in others.
The current President of the Foundation is Tony Kooyumjian.
Over the past several years the Foundation has supported many projects of the Armenian Studies Program, including co-sponsoring piano concerts in conjunction with the Philip Lorenz Keyboard Concert Series at Fresno State.
They recently supported the Armenian Studies Program organized conference on “A Peoples’ History of the Ottoman Empire: Armenians, Greeks, and Kurds” held September 22-23, 2017 and the Chilingirian-Bagratuni-Hakobyan Trio Concert held March 2.
One of the Foundation’s goals is to encourage all generations to experience and be educated in the effects of fine arts on society as a whole.
The Foundation is also one of the sponsors of the Armenian Genocide Monument on the Fresno State campus.
The Kooyumjian Endowed Scholarship will benefit students within the Armenian Studies Program, in the College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State. Scholarship recipients will be known as the Thomas A. Kooyumjian Scholars in Armenian Studies.
Per the endowment’s conditions, recipients shall have a) a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater; shall be b) enrolled in any course within the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State, and c) recipients shall have submitted a personal statement speaking to the applicant’s financial need.
Staff Report
Armenian Studies Program Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian announced that the Leon S. Peters Foundation has made a generous donation of $30,000 to the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State for 2017.
This continues the tradition of the Peters Foundation in supporting the Armenian Studies Program Annual Lecture Series, as well as a variety of other activities, including scholarships, outreach activities, an Armenia Summer Study Trip, and general support for the Program.
Leon S. Peters was respected as a businessman, civic leader, and philanthropist who lived and worked according to the highest ethical standards. He cherished his community and considered its well-being his personal responsibility.
Leon Peters and his brother, Pete Peters, established Valley Foundry and Machine Works, a world-recognized supplier of agricultural equipment, and it became one of the region’s most successful businesses, allowing them to start the Foundation in 1959.
Since then, the Peters Foundation has become one of the community’s biggest benefactors, giving to higher education, hospitals, and arts organizations.
Leon S. Peters Foundation Supports Armenian Studies With $30,000 Grant
Photo: ASP ArchiveHye Sharzhoom
5
March 2018
ASO members at “Bowling Night Social” at the USU.
Fresno State Students Study Abroad in Yerevan, Armenia
Fresno State students, left to right, Cole Egoian, Stephen Gonzalez, and Yervand Boyajyan, are studying at the American University of Armenia for the Spring 2018 semester.
Van/Vaspurakan Focus of Dr. Türkyılmaz Lecture
Photo: ASP Archive
See Van Page 6
ASO Spring 2018 Activities Include Community Service
Photo: Hourig Attarian
Suzanna Ekmekchyan
Staff Writer
Looking back at all of the events that took place in Fall of 2017, ASO would like to thank all the members and executives who put in so much time and energy in order to organize some amazing events. For 2018, ASO plans to go above and beyond what was achieved last year and would like to make an active effort towards community service.
The Spring 2018 ssemester began with a Bowling Night Social that took place on Friday, February 9. There was a large turnout and everyone had a fun time bowling and creating bonds. To ensure that such events are successful, the ASO encourage its members to make an active effort to participate in future events.
ASO’s second social was at “No Surrender Laser Tag & Adventure Park” on Saturday, February 24. It was a great opportunity for members to get together to participate in a group activity that promotes teamwork and participation.
As part of its commitment to community service the ASO participated in “Kid’s Day,” where hundreds of volunteers go to various intersections across Fresno and Clovis to sell newspapers. All the proceeds from sales go to support Valley Children’s Hospital. This event took place from 5:30AM until 3:00PM on March 7. ASO sold a large number of newspapers and also received many donations over and above the $1 donation for each newspaper.
ASO members have also participated in the various Armenian Studies Program organized lectures that take place at Fresno State. Students are always willing to expand their knowledge of Armenian topics by attending these very interesting events.
ASO members will attend the Armenian Studies Program 30th Annual Banquet on Sunday, March 18. Many of the members who will attend are proud Armenian Studies scholarship recipients.
ASO is also planning on taking a day trip to San Francisco during Spring Break.
If anyone is interested in joining ASO or has any questions, they can contact an ASO Executive Officer or visit our Facebook page @FresnoStateASO.
Left to right: David Safrazian, Matthew King, Kara Statler, Dr. Sergio La Porta, Dr. Yektan Türkyılmaz, Marina Chardukian, and Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian.
M
i
chael Retti g
Editor
The purpose of an education is, in part, to expand the students’ mind by allowing them to experience the views and perspectives of others. There is perhaps no better way to accomplish this than by studying abroad in a foreign country.
Three students from the Armenian Studies Program, Cole Egoian, Stephen Gonzalez, and Yervand Boyajyan, were awarded the Kashian Family Scholarship to spend the Spring 2018 semester in Yerevan. The Edward M. and Jeanne C. Kashian Family Foundation established a scholarship in 2016 to foster an exchange of students between the American University of Armenia (AUA) and Fresno State. The scholarship covers travel, housing, and tuition fees for eligible Fresno State students to spend a semester in Armenia.
Before embarking on their journey, Egoian, Gonzalez, and Boyajyan anticipated the potential for self-development that studying in Armenia would provide. Gonzalez expected that living among and learning about the Armenian people would help him grow both personally and academically. “I will not squander the opportunity to walk amidst the living history of an ancient people and culture.”
Egoian echoed the sentiment that studying abroad would “broaden my horizons and help me grow as a person.” He noted that he was especially eager for this opportunity as a fourth-generation Armenian-American returning to his homeland for the first time. “A large part of understanding who one is as a person is understanding where one’s forbearers came from,” Egoian said. “Taking Armenian Studies courses at Fresno State was an eye-opening experience for me, but living in Armenia will give me an even greater understanding of my culture.”
Boyajyan, who was born in Yerevan, was eager to return to his country of birth after living thirteen years in America. “Not only am I getting a chance to visit my home country, but it is also an opportunity to study at one of the most prestigious universities in Armenia. Education has always played a key role in my life and I have always loved my country. This trip is combining two of my favorite things.”
Egoian, Gonzalez, and Boyajyan have now been in Armenia for three months, and have settled into their daily routines. Boyajyan has enjoyed reconnecting with his friends and family, who have taken him to sites such as Etchmiadzin, St. Gayane, and Zvartnots. He appreciates visiting historical sites that he had learned about first-hand in Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian’s classes.
Egoian similarly credited the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State for his ability to recognize certain buildings and sites, such as the Madenataran, during his walks through Yerevan. One of his most rewarding experiences was walking to the top of the Cascade for a commanding view of Yerevan and Mt. Ararat. “It was definitely a moving experience,” Egoian noted.
Gonzalez has enjoyed exploring the various parks, restaurants, and shops around Yerevan. “Yerevan is a modern and beautiful city with a lot to do and see.” According to Gonzalez, the AUA campus is about the size of the Henry Madden Library at Fresno State, which creates a more intimate environment. All three participants agreed that the educational experience at the AUA is similar to their experience at Fresno State. One of the challenges for Gonzalez and Egoian has been the language barrier, though they are both studying Armenian.
Living in a foreign country is an education in and of itself, and the Kashian Family Scholarship is playing an important role in cultivating the personal and academic development of Fresno State students interested in Armenian culture.
M
i
chael Retti g
Editor
Armenians uniquely remem-ber the region of Van/Vaspurakan in a way that Turks and Kurds do not. Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies Dr. Yektan Türkyılmaz first made this realization during his travels in Armenia, where he noticed that the name of Van permeated the country from printing houses and football teams, to radio stations and more. “It was my first realization that the memory of Van haunted Armenians, while it has never been the focus of Turkish or Kurdish narratives,” explained Dr. Türkyılmaz. “The volume of Armenian literature on Van surpasses that of other peoples.”
Dr. Türkyılmaz realized that studying the social political nexus of Van would be a “challenging but promising endeavor.” On February 6, Dr. Türkyılmaz presented on “Van/Vaspurakan Armenians: from Renaissance to Resistance and Genocide” as a part of the Spring Lecture Series.
Dr. Türkyılmaz noted that the Vaspurakan region transcended national boundaries by straddling the Ottoman, Russian, and Persian empires, thus facilitating a flow of people and information between the three empires. Van attracted Armenian intellectuals and re-volutionaries from Russia and Iran, while foreign missionaries and consuls helped connect Van to Europe and America. The region became economically prosperous in the 19th century due to the leather and furniture industries and a new class of Van elites emerged with Western tastes and intellectual backgrounds.
Van became a notable center for Zartonk, or the Armenian enlightenment. Dr. Türkyılmaz stressed that Van was not merely a recipient of new ideas from Constantinople, Europe, or Tiflis, but that it was “a place that inspired other Armenian cultural locations with new ideas.” He explained that it was Van’s intellectual life and political climate that helped redefine “Armenianness” into a national identity. Van intellectuals, such as Khrimian Hayrik, advocated for the creation of a unified vernacular based on classical Armenian enriched by local dialects. They sought to modernize the language by “turning to the countryside” rather than Western dictionaries.
According to Dr. Türkyılmaz, Van is also noteworthy because the Armenian citizens were not “docile victims, but victims who rejected victimhood.” He argued that historians should reevaluate the history of Vaspurakan to recognize that Armenians were always active agents, “as rebellious clerics, intellectuals, educators, bourgeois politicians, revolutionary fighters, and corrupt officials” and not merely victims. In 1885, Armenian revolutionaries in Van founded the Armenakan party, a nationalist liberal group that advocated for an armed struggle for national liberation.
Dr. Türkyılmaz explained that it was because of the organized efforts of the Armenakan party that Van was one of the few sites of successful resistance against Turkish massacres in 1896.
However, Armenians were deeply divided in 1915. The Dashnak (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) party had allied with the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) in the Revolution of 1908. While this cooperation quickly disintegrated throughout much of the Ottoman Empire, negotiations between the parties remained strong in Van up to the eve of the genocide. The CUP did not have strong Muslim monyan.
Hye Sharzhoom
6
March 2018
Türkyılmaz, From Page 1
Saroyan, From Page 1
Saroyan Museum to Open August 31
V
an, From Page 5
Ara Sarafian, sixth from left, with students and faculty after his talk on Van 1915.
Photo: Hovsep Harutyunyan
Sarafian Introduces English Translation of Van 1915
Photo: Hourig Attarian
Dr. Dickran Kouymjian, Berberian Professor Emeritus of Armenian Studies, and Prof. Der Mugrdechian are Board Members of the Saroyan House Museum Project.
Fresno State students Erik Abrahamyan and Hovsep Haru-tyunyan accompanied the group to City Hall.
The innovative House Mu-seum will focus on bringing to life William Saroyan’s literary legacy. After its opening, the House Museum will become one of the cultural and educational centers of Fresno.
The Museum is scheduled to hold its opening on August 31, 2018, which is the 110th anniversary of William Saroyan’s birthday. The Saroyan House Project is being implemented by the “Renaissance” Cultural and Intellectual Foundation, based in Yerevan, Armenia.
C
laire Kasaian
Staff Writer
London-based Ara Sarafian, director of the Gomidas Institute, introduced his new English translation of Van 1915: The Great Events of Vasbouragan to an audience of students and community members at Fresno State on Friday, February 23.
Van 1915, originally published in Armenian in 1917, was written by Hovhannes Ter Martirosian, a notable personality of the Armenian world, who used the pseudonym “A-Do.”
Sarafian was first introduced to A-Do as a student, when he read an article by A-Do on the Armeno-Tatar clashes of 1905. Sarafian was impressed by the analysis and the depth of A-Do’s work and the meticulous notation of the sources he used. Sarafian later realized the importance of A-Do’s work on Van and thus decided to translate it into English.
At the beginning of World War I, A-Do went to Van to compile a report on what actually happened there, especially the events of April/May 1915. “What A-Do did not realize,” said Sarafian, “was that the fighting and the events were not yet completed. So A-Do found himself to be an eyewitness to what was taking place.”
Sarafian utilized many maps in his presentation which helped in situating the events that he was talking about. He took information from Van 1915 and plotted it on a map so the audience could visually follow the lecture as well.
A-Do provides information about the demography of the region of Van as well. “A-Do provides the names of 458 Armenian villages and settlements in his work,” stated Sarafian. “This information is not found in any other work about the region.”
It is especially important to note that the population in the region of Van was predominantly Armenian and Kurdish. On the eve of World War I, there were about 120,00 Armenian in the region of Van. “In those areas where Armenians were able to defend themselves they often survived,” state Sarafian. “When they did not defend themselves, they were often killed outright.”
A-Do was a witness to what is often called “The Great Exodus of Vasbouragan,” which was the expulsion of the Armenians of the region of Van and Bitlis into the Caucasus in late July through August of 1915. Many Armenians died during the difficult and exhausting journey, but many survived. According to Sarafian as many as one in three residents of Armenia today may be descendants of these refugees.
The Armenians of Van were able to establish a provisional government for a brief period in the summer of 1915, and this is also covered in A-Do’s report.
According to Sarafian A-Do’s work is also significant because it tells of the circumstances of how the Ottoman Empire joined World War I, and of the choice they had to enter or not to enter. The entrance of the Ottoman Empire into World War I would have drastic consequences for the Armenian as they became a targeted population. For example, the Ottoman government drafted the Armenian men into the army, but later disarmed them and in many cased killed them outright.
A-Do’s book focuses on the events surrounding the defense of Van, and pinpoints the beginning of the Turkish attacks on April 16, 1915.
A-Do plays an extremely important role in documenting the history of Van, because he recorded the stories of survivors.
“I believe that A-Do’s work provides evidence of the government’s decision to systematically kill of Armenians was a political decision,” concluded Sarafian.
“The Armenian sources for the period provide an underutilized resource for the study of the Armenian Genocide.”
Dr. Yektan Türkyılmaz
backing in Van, so they relied on the Dashnaks to combat potential Kurdish threats. According to Dr. Türkyılmaz, the Armenian political leadership remained confident of their power in Van despite rumors of threats against Armenians.
Dr. Türkyılmaz called Van the “epicenter of the genocide” because it was where genocidal intent first materialized among the CUP leaders. The Armenians successfully defended Van during the Genocide and formed a short-lived government.
Dr. Türkyılmaz noted that Van was the first Armenian nation-state experience and that many of its leaders later took important posts in the Armenian Republic in 1918.
However, the Armenians were forced to evacuate Van with the Russian army at the end of July 1915, during which thousands of Armenians died.
“The Genocide left behind only losers on all sides, and a dead historic city; a city of enviable beauties, a city of kings and gods, a city of orchards and water springs, a city of a thousand years of labor, a city of a millennia of coexistence that endured Mongolian invasion, that endured the massive earthquake of 1648, that endured the great fire of 1876, that endured the famine of the 1880s, that endured the Hamidian massacres, but could not endure the man-made disaster of the Genocide.” Dr. Türkyılmaz explained.
“That glorious Van has died, only to be revived in the imaginations of the people longing from afar.”
to Istanbul at an early age, he discovered that it was difficult for non-Armenians to learn Armenian in Turkey because they could not legally attend Armenian schools. He found a retired technician, Moushegh Najarian, teaching Armenian to Armenian migrants from the eastern provinces who were interested in connecting with their heritage. Dr. Türkyılmaz became one of his more than 100 students, and after many lessons, was ironically the only student to become fluent in Armenian. His proficiency in Armenian was especially useful while he was researching in the National Archives of Armenia for his dissertation, “Rethinking Genocide: Violence and Victim-hood in Eastern Anatolia, 1913-1915.” His dissertation explores the tension and debates among Armenians on the eve of the Genocide and the state’s decision making process that would eventually mark the Armenians for extermination.
Dr. Türkyılmaz was the first Turkish citizen to conduct research in Armenia. It is his ongoing goal to incorporate many of the neglected Armenian sources into the study of the Genocide. Dr. Türkyılmaz noted that historians in the past have gravitated to more “objective” sources, such as diplomatic records and official archives, but ended up leaving out the voice of the victims themselves.
Dr. Türkyılmaz stressed that his goal in Armenia was not to find “smoking gun” evidence of the Armenian Genocide, but to discover what the Armenians were thinking about their future before the “unexpected storm” that the Ottoman government inflicted on them.
According to Dr. Türkyılmaz, research should not be conducted with the intention of combating denialists. “It was a genocide, period. Any denial of this fact is not about a lack of knowledge or evidence, it is a political position,” explained Dr. Türkyılmaz. “Facts will not convince denialists, it will only change their argument.”
Though he found useful archives in Armenia, Dr. Türkyılmaz noted that his most rewarding experience was interacting with the people. “I am an anthropologist. We don’t just read documents; we read people, communities, and cultures.” Curious descendants of survivors recognized Dr. Türkyılmaz from his local television interviews and stopped him in the street to ask him questions. “People could not believe someone would visit just for research.”
Dr. Türkyılmaz was particularly interested in how trauma continues to affect Armenians throughout the generations. While in Armenia he interviewed Mr. H. Minassian, a genocide survivor from Van, who sparked his interest in the region. “In him I saw this Vanetsi pride. Over 90 years had passed, yet he was sure he would return to those lands,” Dr. Türkyılmaz recollected. The region of Van/Vaspurakan became an important focus of Dr. Türkyılmaz’s dissertation.
After he completed his dissertation at Duke University in 2012, Dr. Türkyılmaz taught at the Sabanci and Bilgi Universities in Turkey. He currently has a post-doctoral fellowship at the Forum Transregionale Studien, a Berlin-based research organization.
Dr. Türkyılmaz did not initially know what to expect when he accepted his position at Fresno State, but he appreciates Fresno’s charm, and the opportunity to escape from Berlin’s many distractions.
In addition to teaching his class, Dr. Türkyılmaz is organizing the Armenian Studies Program’s collection of early records in order to make them available to researchers. Dr. Türkyılmaz’s interest in music and records stretches back to his childhood in Turkey when his father brought home a gramophone. His musical interest expanded at Duke University, where he began to analyze the effect records had on the way people thought about music and society.
Dr. Türkyılmaz also uses early recordings to supplement his classroom lessons. He played Groung for his students when they were analyzing the diasporic experience. “The song says more than 1,000 pages would about longing for one’s homeland,” Dr. Türkyılmaz explained.
Dr. Türkyılmaz has had the opportunity to meet with several local musicians, including a visit with master oudist Richard Hagopian. “All of the Armenians that I had learned about through records, he knew in person,” said Dr. Türkyılmaz. “He has a fantastic memory and a great knowledge of books and records.”
Dr. Türkyılmaz is enjoying his stay in Fresno and has met many wonderful people.
“The Armenians here have a rare and genuine curiosity about their culture and history.”
Photo: Michael RettigHye Sharzhoom
7
March 2018
Thank You Annual Fund Donors
(received as of March 9, 2018)
Left to right: Tiroui Melkonian, Andreas Werz, Karén Hakobyan, Levon Chilingirian, Suren Bagratuni, and Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian.
Trio, From Page 1
Garabedian Foundation Grant of $11,000
G
hevond, From Page 1
Chilingirian-Bagratuni-Hakobyan Trio Moves Audience
Photo: Hourig Attarian
Benefactors
Thomas A. Kooyumjian Family Foundation
Siranouche Krikorian
Patrons
Anonymous
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Friends
Varouj & Lena Altebarmakian
Armenian General Benevolent Union, Greater Fresno Chapter
Armen Aroyan
Eleonore Aslanian
The Vartkess & Rita Balian Family Foundation
in memory of Vartkess Balian
Nerces Leon Dermenjian
Grace Kazarian
Michael & Jackie Matosian
Barbara Vartan
Grace Yeni-Komshian
Sponsors
Anonymous
Dr. Vartan Gregorian
Betty A. Hagopian
in honor of Zar Der Mugrdechian’s retirement as Principal of the Charlie Keyan Armenian Community School
Martin & Christine Krikorian
James L. & Connie Melikian
Lina Melkonian
National Raisin Company,
The Bedrosian Family
Mid Valley Packaging and Supply Company,
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Supporters
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in memory of Berge Bulbulian
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Archpriest Fr. Hovsep Hagopian
Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, Taniel Varoujan Chapter
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Dr. Arsine Oshagan
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Mr. & Mrs. Vram Sarafian
Marianne Sarajian
in memory of Karl Sarajian
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Patty Torosian
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H. Harry & Shushan Vartanian
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Stan & Fran Ziegler
modern Armenian composer Arno Babadjanian. The concert was dominated by the second half, which was entirely devoted to the performance of Beethoven’s Trio in B-flat Major, Op.97, or “Archduke.”
The Thomas A. Kooyumjian Family Foundation was a major supporter of the evening’s performance, together with the Armenian General Benevolent Union, Fresno Chapter, and the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, Taniel Varoujan Chapter.
The opening piece was truly Mr. Hakobyan’s time to shine. Born in Armenia, he trained at the Tchaikovsky Music School in Yerevan and continued his collegiate training in the United States. Mr. Hakobyan’s natural talent and years of dedicated practice were highlighter through the Haydn; there was no hint of the staunch pompousness that often accompanies the performance of the Classical master. Rather, Hakobyan invoked sweet, naturalistic images that hearkened back to the Romantic era–there was no squareness in his playing, only beauty, but with no sacrifice of the technical brilliance that defined the Classical period.
Suren Bagratuni was the best-kept secret of the night. There was no doubt that he was a talented musician, but the Haydn did not seem to be the proper platform to display his abilities. It was only when he played the Babadjanian that the secret was revealed to us all. Bagratuni, an internationally renowned, Armenian-born cellist, brought forth an ancient stirring in the soul from the first note of the Babadjanian. His talent, unlike Hakobyan, was not to paint images, but to pull out the deepest lament of the soul. While the quicker pace of the Allegro is not usually suited to a lament, he brought forth a primordial magic from the audience, moving us all with the deep passion that was evident within his playing.
Babadjanian drew out the best in Levon Chilingirian as well. He was born in Cyprus and emigrated to London and has had a career that has taken him all over the world and led him to teach in some of the most prestigious academies in London. There is no doubt that his accolades are well-earned; his was perhaps the sweetest violin music that I have ever heard. The Andante movement featured a call-and-response between the cello and violin. Chilingirian would return passages within the highest range possible, but with the purest tone. When he played, it was as though the stars were singing.
The Beethoven allowed the trio to shine as an ensemble; they were completely locked in, each player perfectly in sync. They accomplished the daunting task of maintaining energy through the entire piece, roughly 45 minutes. It felt like a great victory had been achieved when they finished –to say it was a night of beauty would be an understatement.
What they did was not just an entertaining thing, not just a beautiful thing, it was a good thing. I, for one, am better for it.
between 1274 and 1311 and is found in the Matenadaran Manuscript Library in Yerevan. The scribe Sarkis copied the manuscript at the monastery of Hovanavank. Dr. La Porta explained that the original colophon (memorial note) of Ghevond and the scribe have been preserved in the manuscript and so it is possible that Sarkis copied his text from the original.
Ghevond composed his History in 788 at the request of Shapuh, a member of the Armenian noble Bagratuni family. Dr. La Porta explained why this was an opportune moment for the author to look back and reevaluate the 150 years of Caliphal rule over Armenia. On the one hand, it was clear by this point that the Islamic Empire was something that was going to last. On the other, the Caliphate itself had just witnessed a revolution in 750. In that revolution the ruling Umayyad dynasty was overthrown by the Abbasid dynasty and this called into question the loyalties and allegiances of the Armenian noble families (nakharars).
Ghevond’s History forms part of the chain of Armenian history that can be traced through a continuous series of Armenian historians, from Agatangelos covering the period of the fourth century up to the eighth century. Ghevond differs from these earlier Armenian historians, however, in that he organized his work according to Caliphal rule and Dr. La Porta stated that Ghevond is the only Armenian historian to have done so. After Ghevond mentions each Caliph, he also provides a brief biographical sketch, a technique shared with Arab and Muslim historiography.
Dr. La Porta concluded by saying that Ghevond’s message was one of patience and caution. Although Ghevond believed that the Armenian situation under the Caliphs, especially toward the end of the eighth century had worsened, he still asserted that the failed eighth century rebellions were not good for Armenia.
Dr. La Porta then introduced Dr. Alison Vacca and related how she had studied classical Armenian with him and then went on to earn her doctorate from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She is currently an assistant professor in the Department of History at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and her dissertation has recently appeared as a book entitled, Non-Muslim Provinces in Early Islam: Islamic Rule and Iranian Legitimacy in Armenia and Caucasian Albania.
Dr. Vacca, in the second part of the presentation, discussed how Ghevond’s work related to early Arab histories of the period. She noted that the regions conquered by the Caliphate in the seventh century remained Christian-majority provinces in the eighth. She emphasized that non-Muslim historical texts are critical for the understanding of Islamic history and should be considered as insider sources, not as external witnesses, to the history of the Caliphate. Dr. Vacca pointed to Ghevond as a good case-in-point.
According to Dr. Vacca, even though contemporary Arabic accounts of the invasion of Armenia probably existed, they only survive in snippets; therefore, “Ghevond is a particularly important witness to what was happening in Armenia.” However, Ghevond’s History presents more than a history of Armenia; its author also writes about significant events outside of Armenian history. For example, his works gives us important information on the Arab civil wars, on the Arab wars with the Khazars, on the Abbasid revolution, and even a failed Arab invasion of China.
Dr. Vacca also spoke to whether Ghevond had access to Arabic histories for his own work. She commented that there is no absolutely certain textual evidence that he did. Nonetheless, she led the audience through two passages in which she argued Ghevond was in conversation with Muslim sources.
The lecture by Dr. La Porta and Dr. Vacca shed new light on this important Armenian source.
Staff Report
Armenian Studies Program Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian announced that the Bertha and John Garabedian Foundation has made a generous donation of $11,000 to the Armenian Studies Program for 2017. This brings the total donations from the Foundation to the Armenian Studies Program to over $110,000.
The gift will be used for a variety of activities, including outreach activities and scholarships.
The Garabedian Foundation has been a long-standing supporter of the Armenian Studies Program. Their grants have supported the development of the Armenian Studies Program website and the online Arts of Armenia.
The Bertha Garabedian Foundation has been a supporter of other programs at Fresno State including Classical Studies, the Humanities Program, the Summer Bridge Program, and the Garabedian Digital Archive of the Petrucci Library.
The Armenian
Series
at Fresno State
General Editor:
Prof. Barlow
Der Mugrdechian
The Press at California State University, Fresno
2380 E. Keats, MB 99
Fresno CA 93740-8024
www.thepressatcsu
fresno.org8
March 2018
Hye Sharzhoom
Armenian Students Organization
April Armenian Genocide
Commemorative Events
Tuesday, April 17-Noon-Information table
Free Speech Area
Monday, April 23 • 6:30PM-Screening
of the documentary “Architects of Denial”
University Business Center, Room 191
Tuesday, April 24-Noon-Commemoration at the
Fresno State Armenian Genocide Monument
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Thank You Donors
The Armenian Studies Program
and CineCulture
present the Fresno film premiere of
“The Other Side of Home”
with director Naré Mkrtchyan
Friday, April 20, 2018
5:30PM
The Leon S. and Pete P. Peters
Educational Center Auditorium
5010 N. Woodrow Ave.
(West end of the SaveMart Center)
Free admission and free parking
Dr. & Mrs. Zaven Adrouny Hillsborough
Lucille Apcar Mariposa
Sam & Annette Apelian Studio City
Richard Asadoorian Bend, OR
David Sarkis Barsamian Pasadena
Kerry Krikorian Bevins San Diego
Hasmig Cingoz El Cerrito
Helen H. Corrigan Troy, MI
Bedros Dakessian Camarillo
Karl DeKlotz Fresno
Jane Gamoian Fresno
Armand J. Gougasian Clovis
Marcia & Haig Jamgotchian Anaheim
Gina Mechigian Melkonian Selma
Diramayr Anna R. Movsesian Sunland
Richelle Noroyan Santa Cruz
Dennis & Mary Papazian San Jose
Leo & Marlene Pilibosian Fresno
Chuck & Debbie Poochigian Fresno
George & Rose Marie Samuelian Fresno
in memory of Virginia Chooljian
in memory of Harry Eritzian
in memory of Barbara Ekizian
Pat Sevoian Fresno
Richard H. Sheklian Dinuba
Barbara Stepanian Fresno
Charles J. Tateosian Walnut Creek
The Alice Vartanian Family Fresno
Alice & Philip Vartanian Fresno
Christine Vartanian Datian & John Datian Las Vegas
in honor of their beautiful new great granddaughter and great niece Grace Vartanian, daughter of Justin and Holly Vartanian of Fresno
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Vartanian Fresno
Alice & Richard Youatt Los Altos
Armenian Genocide Commemorative Events-April 2018
The Armenian Studies Program
presents
“A Farewell to Arms:
Broken Hopes and Total Departure from the Homeland, in The Heroic Battle of Aintab”
by
Dr. Ümit Kurt
Friday, April 6, 2018
7:30PM
University Business Center
Room 191, Auditorium
Fresno State
Free admission and free parking
“(Re)-Evaluating the
Decision-Making Processes
of the Armenian Genocide”
by
Dr. Yektan Türkyılmaz
Tuesday, April 17, 2018 • 7:30PM
University Business Center,
Room 191, Auditorium • Fresno State
Free admission
Armenian Studies Program
fresnostate.edu/
armenianstudies
559.278.2669
