Forgotten Heroes of the Armenian Legion

The Armenian Legion was the first volunteer military unit comprised of all Armenian soldiers that fought in WWI in 1916. The unit was trained and led by French army commanders of the Légion d'Orient (The Eastern Legion). In this video, Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian presents from our Bilezikian Room that serves as a tribute in memory of Beatrice and Krikor Bilezikian and to the Armenian soldiers that have served and reminds us of those that paid the ultimate sacrifice in a time of war.

Armenian Ceramic Eggs

Churches are filled with beautiful art that come from rich traditions. In Armenia, ceramic eggs decorated with crosses and seraphim (angels) adorn the lamps suspended from the ceiling. They are lovely to behold, but are they just there to please worshippers or honor God? Why eggs and not some other shape? Listen as Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian discusses the origin of the symbolism and use of these eggs.

Founder's Research

Haig Der Manuelian was a lawyer by training but also a passionate historian of Armenian history and protector of Armenian culture. He was the founding Chairman of the Armenian Museum of America who fostered relationships with the illustrious donors of some of our most significant objects in the collection, steered the Museum in its continued growth and success, and was a fixture in the Armenian community. Sadly, Mr. Der Manuelian passed away in 2016, but he left behind a lasting legacy.

Included in that legacy is a number of his personal research materials that he gifted to the Museum. A voracious reader and researcher, we have been fortunate to accept a large portion of his library, but also some of his notes which attest to his dedication and perseverance as a guardian of Armenian heritage. Watch as Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian discuss the kinds of dedicated work Mr. Der Manuelian performed to ensure the story of Armenians and their sacrifices are recorded and remembered for generations to come.

Founder's Research

Haig Der Manuelian was a lawyer by training but also a passionate historian of Armenian history and protector of Armenian culture. He was the founding Chairman of the Armenian Museum of America who fostered relationships with the illustrious donors of some of our most significant objects in the collection, steered the Museum in its continued growth and success, and was a fixture in the Armenian community. Sadly, Mr. Der Manuelian passed away in 2016, but he left behind a lasting legacy.

Included in that legacy is a number of his personal research materials that he gifted to the Museum. A voracious reader and researcher, we have been fortunate to accept a large portion of his library, but also some of his notes which attest to his dedication and perseverance as a guardian of Armenian heritage. Watch as Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian discuss the kinds of dedicated work Mr. Der Manuelian performed to ensure the story of Armenians and their sacrifices are recorded and remembered for generations to come.

Armenian Alphabet Chart

Have you ever wondered how languages and their use spread and change? Trade, travel, religion, scholarship, and war are some of the ways we see the dissemination and influence of language and other aspects of culture reach out from their origin communities. It is different for all languages and there is no one path, but in this week’s video, Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian shows us one of the many means by which Europeans of the 18th century were exposed to the Armenian alphabet and language, including a unique use for Armenian letters.

Orphan Rug from Agin

While the Genocide of 1915-1923 is relatively well-known to the public today given its place in on the world stage of World War I, it was not the first time the Ottoman Empire had tried to eradicate the Armenian population from their ancestral lands. Between 1894 and 1896 an estimated 100,000 to 300,000 Armenians were murdered in what became known as the Hamidian Massacres. As in the Armenian Genocide, many children were left orphaned by this tragedy and orphanages had to find a means by which to raise money to care for the influx of children. Like the orphanages in the early 20th century, these institutions taught the children a skill and had them produce wares sold to the public. This rug from an Agin orphanage is one of these items but particularly interesting because it is not made of wool like most rugs – it is made of silk and has an inscription from the Bible in English that reads: "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the my brethren then these least ye did it unto me" (Matthew 25:40). Click on the image to hear Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian tell the fascinating tale of why this rug came to be and how it came to the Museum.

Tooth Rug

Many rugs were made by Armenian orphans of the Genocide, but this “tooth rug” is a remarkably unique rug made in the Near East Relief orphanages in Lebanon. While this object has been in the care of the Armenian Museum for many years, it is in fact on loan to the Museum from the American Dental Association. Why is it called the “tooth rug,” why was it made, and how did it end up with the ADA? Click on the image to find out! The Armenian Museum is proud to have featured this rug in many past exhibitions. Many who saw the rug were stunned to find out that they had seen it at their dentist’s office in Beirut, Lebanon growing up! WATCH THIS VIDEO to see Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian show this “tooth rug” and tell its story—and make sure you brush your teeth twice a day! On loan from the American Dental Association.

An Armenian Pinwheel

Pinwheels are as American as apple pie and have been used as toys for children and decorating lawns across America for generations. Did you know that they have a direct connection with Armenians and even the Armenian Museum of America? Watch the video to see Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian show a 1920s pinwheel from our collection, hear the story of the development of the modern pinwheel, and learn about the familial ties the Museum has with its creation. And, we have another Armenian educational toy featured as well!

Pinwheels are a type of whirligig, an object that spins or whirls and is powered by wind, hand, friction, or motors. Pinwheels have large cupped surface areas to capture the wind, enabling them to reach their maximum velocity quickly. Conceptual and direct use of whirligigs have existed for millennia, dating back to the ancient Babylonian, Chinese, Greek, and Persian worlds, in large and small variations.

A Story of Survival and Daggers of the Collection

In 1914, this knife was used in the attempted murder of Georges Bezdjian’s father. How did his father escape, and how did Georges come to own this knife? Watch the video to hear Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian tell this incredible story of survival, and learn about two other daggers in the Museum’s collection.

Georges Bezdjian and his wife Elisa Bezdjian donated an extensive collection of Armenian jewelry to the Armenian Museum of America. These objects were on display from 2003-2011 in the exhibition, Silver, Saints & Stone. Historical pieces, primarily from the 18th and 19th centuries, contemporary pieces made in Soviet Armenia and the Diaspora, and works made by Bezdjian himself were featured in this extensive and elaborate presentation of Armenian craftsmanship.

Georges was born in Homs, Syria, and his family escaped the Genocide and migrated to Beirut, Lebanon. During Georges’ life, he opened jewelry businesses in Beirut, Lebanon, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Boston, Massachusetts. He was a noted jeweler in Boston, opening his business in 1966, and he was also an associate of the Armenian Museum. While studying objects, Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian would sometimes request Georges’ assistance in analyzing jewelry and metalware including the ‘samovar’ that was featured in last week’s “Object Show and Tell.” Donated by Georges G. and Elisa Bezdjian

Nansen Passports

Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian is here to teach you about the Nansen Passport, which was vital for many Armenian immigrants and refugees after the Genocide. The Nansen Passport featured belonged to Rouben Ter-Arutunian, who went on to become a designer on Broadway and won the 1959 Tony Award for Best Costume Design.

In the chaotic conditions following World War I, many refugees lacked passports or other legal documents and became “stateless persons.” As a result, they were unable to resettle anywhere without documents to verify identity and citizenship. In response, Dr. Fridtjof Nansen of Norway—an explorer, scientist, and diplomat—was appointed the High Commissioner for Refugees by the League of Nations, and created the “Nansen Passport” in 1922, a legal document that would help refugees to immigrate. In 1924, by the request of the League of Nations, Fridtjof Nansen started to study the repatriation issues of the Armenian refugees.

In June 1925, Nansen visited Soviet Armenia and he succeeded in organizing the repatriation of nearly 7,000 Armenian refugees. Approximately 450,000 Nansen passports were issued and honored in 52 countries. In 1938, the Nansen International Office for Refugees was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts.

Behind the Scenes! Preserving and Digitizing our Musical Recordings Collection

While vinyl is making a come-back in the recording industry, the Museum’s collection dates back over 100 years in some instances, and we would hate to lose these songs to time and degradation. Audio digitization specialist and museum volunteer Jesse Kenas Collins gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how the Armenian Museum preserves and digitizes our rare musical recordings collection.

We are also excited to share a wonderful piece of our collection with you! This video features an original vinyl recording of soprano Zabelle Panosian singing “Groong” or “Krunk” from 1917 in a powerful and striking rendition, differing from the more well-known Komitas version. Panosian was in her 20s when she recorded this performance for Columbia Records. After numerous pressings, Columbia Records stopped selling Armenian-language material in 1931.

From 1908-1920, Panosian lived in Brookline, Massachusetts and helped raise funds for the Near East Relief, which provided aid and support to victims of the Armenian Genocide. She died in 1986, with her work largely forgotten, but as part of our mission to preserve and promote, the Museum is thrilled to share her work with you today in her newly digitized fashion.

Investigating the Hidden Secrets of a Merchant’s Desk

Do you think you can find all the hidden compartments in this merchant’s desk? There are more than you might imagine! Join Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian as he explores this secretive object to uncover its mysteries. Gary discusses the significance and history of this merchant’s desk, its ownership, and his initial difficulties finding all the hidden drawers when the object was donated.

Throughout the centuries, Armenian merchants were known and respected in Asia and Europe, building businesses and networks that spanned both continents along the Silk Road. Their connection to both East and West through culture and language enabled them to become cross-cultural intermediaries. At times, they used their economic clout to influence political decisions for the betterment of other Armenians.

Slave Collar as a Weapon of War

During the Armenian Genocide, Edward Hovanesian witnessed the slaughter of his family. He was captured and endured physical pain that became a part of his tragic past. A spiked metal dog collar worn by Anatolian sheep dogs was fastened to his neck by his Turkish captors. After World War I he escaped, and the collar was brought to the United States in 1921 when he immigrated to join his brother in New England. In this video, Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian shows one of the objects in our collection that illustrate the inhumanity of the Genocide.

Artifacts Relating to Genocide and Genocide Remembrance

The Armenian Genocide is one of the most widely-discussed topics in Armenian History, in part because it was relatively recent, it took place during global conflict, and because today we find many connections between current events and the events of 1915-1923. As part of this discussion, the global Armenian community recognizes April 24th as a commemorative day to honor and remember the tragedy of the Armenian Genocide. However, it wasn’t until 50 years after the first days of the Genocide that this date was established to officially recognize the atrocities.

Printed materials are some of the most concrete representations of moments in history. Join Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian as he presents several pieces of Genocide and Genocide recognition printed materials from the collection, and discusses how they reflect the way in which the public was aware of the Genocide throughout the 20th century.