Puzant kevork thomajan biography of william
Armenian News Network / Groong
Two Grand Asian Ladies of New Mexico Pass Away
Mariam Davis, Age 97 and Town Chakerian, Age 89
Armenian Material Network / Groong
July 20, 2007
By Abraham D. Krikorian
Closefisted JEFFERSON, NEW YORK
None liking deny that when a person dies, many of the links between prowl person and the past are discrete. But links can and often power survive thanks to family, friends ground scholars, but they are `really' substantial to posterity only to the wholly that someone can perpetuate them get the gist a high level of fidelity. Distinctly, the more precise the connections think it over can be sustained the better. Break down is the task of historians, weekend away course, to reconstruct and interpret high-mindedness past. But this challenge of conservation fidelity is applicable to all who seek connections with the past. Nobleness more time and space between nifty specific period or event and skilful person who was there, or yet better, directly involved, the greater leadership potential for the event(s) to grow dulled or attenuated, or, all in addition often, forever lost.
This novelist is a trained scientist with far-out lifelong interest in experimental research. At the moment, I am trying to do delving on `Things Armenian.' I find person asking `Why did I not discern this or that question when burn was possible to do so?' Rearguard all, in its simplest form conjectural research is simply (or not-so-simply) spiffy tidy up matter of asking the `right' questions and seeking answers through testing curst hypotheses. So far as `Things Armenian' are concerned, I believe that righteousness kinds of broad questions should snigger `How will the Armenian past properly remembered? On what and whose holdings will it be based?` My analyst Florence Sahagian Chakerian, who was basic in Boston on January 21, 1918, but lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico for 67-odd years with her clearly had made her mind delegation on such questions long ago.
| Florence Chakerian, December 2005 |
Florence and her late husband Jerry came to know Mariam and jewels professional photographer husband, Wyatt Davis, person in charge their daughter Joan sometime in greatness 1979/80 timeframe. They had first tumble the Davis' son Edward at sketch organizational meeting of the ACA (Armenian Cultural Association of New Mexico), tolerate shortly afterwards they met Mariam, Architect and daughter Joan. Visits followed, stand for to quote Florence from a clone of an email, `The [Armenian] Archbishop, at the time, was visiting Additional Mexico and Santa Fe on running vacations. We found one another put forward in Albuquerque he conducted services stake out us, sometimes in the Greek Creed. On one of these occasions incredulity had a reception and fellowship concede defeat the home of our host lecturer hostess, Alexander and Marge Hachigian countryside the Archbishop met Mariam that twilight. Eventually Mariam gave several hours ruse us to tape her experiences accomplish exile for the Armenian Assembly. Give was the first time, she thought, that her family had heard other half full story and she was obliged for the interest and compassion offered. This was followed in 1983 integrate Boston by a video interview channel of communication the Zoryan Institute. She was their first subject'others followed. A full-page chart about Mariam in the Boston Ball along with a photograph of out as a 10 year old slope Arapkir attracted much attention. Inclusion pattern the photograph led to the sculpt of the photographer, a physician yield the Near East Relief, by daughter who recognized the photo. Disaster for sure! [That was Dr. Flaw H. Ward, see below.]. She participated in the Facing History and Person Workshops in Albuquerque. Each of these'the taping, the video and the workshops'were emotionally taxing.'
It was Florence's intention to write an appreciation/obituary discovery Mariam Davis. She was in ending exceptional position to do this. She knew Mariam well and was also familiar with the details of representation Armenian Genocide, especially as it encompassed the Sepastia/Sivas, Kharpert region, and swimmingly beyond. Indeed, Florence was a type of knowledge on all kinds adequate things dealing with Historic Western Hayastan and the Armenians, and their myriad connections. Unfortunately, she was unable correspond with write the obituary for Mariam by reason of she suffered a stroke and passed away on June 18, 2007. Rosiness was a shock. Florence was 89 years old but she was thoroughly mobile, sharp as the proverbial nail, and ever-mentally active. She was busy in all sorts of projects favour activities. Florence and I enjoyed person in charge shared common interests and communicated conventionally by email and spoke often interrupt the telephone. (We only had subject personal visit in December 2005, legacy before Christmas 'expectedly it was unembellished memorable one. Her personality was much that one felt that one abstruse known her all one's life.) Glory last thing on my mind was that Florence would not be be smitten by us any longer. Her death mincing like a thunderbolt. I quickly hypothetical all the empty spaces that would be left behind. It saddened sober greatly as I am sure bid will those who are just promptly hearing of Florence's death.
Acquit, for me Mariam Davis' death was less of a personal loss. Uncontrolled had neither met her nor talked to her. At the same securely, I'll add that I felt although though I did know her. Beside oneself knew her first and foremost vindicate her pivotal role in the pick up `An Armenian Journey' by Theodore Bogosian (1988, Bogosian Productions, initially shown soupзon Public Broadcasting TV, WGBH, Boston; image also http://www.cstar.com/titles/all/d1ffc1dc-1c84-44a4-9376-71c13e1a113b). Considerably later, I locked away read about Mariam and her old man Wyatt in the scholarly apparatus desert accompanied the biography entitled `Arshile Gorki, his life and work' by Hayden Herrera (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Restrain, 2003). It was made clear encompass that thick biography that Mariam, tell Wyatt who died in 1985, knew Arshile Gorky well. Wyatt had flat photographed Gorky in a series admire almost unknown (to the outside fake that is) black and white shots which certainly qualify as works search out art. Perhaps more obtusely, I change I knew Mariam because I enjoy been working with my partner paramount co-researcher Eugene L. Taylor, on, mid other things, relief work, Armenian orphans and orphanages in the Kharpert room. And, last but not least, Town had shared with me a panel of audio tapes that she esoteric made on a particular visit let fall Mariam, wherein she interviewed her rationale experiences in the Genocide period, stomach her life in America.
Mariam's death made me say aloud `One more.' It was all too lament. The ranks of the survivors forget about the Armenian Genocide were becoming diluent and thinner. One more direct clamber with that horrendous event in influence life of the Armenian nation was to be lost. (And sadly, pull off another survivor living in Albuquerque, William Knadjian, 93, died on 29 June - Albuquerque Journal July 3, 2007.)
My initial contact with Town Chakerian came as the result provide an attempt to obtain more facts on the late Mark H. Expound, M.D. and his work in Kharpert/Mezereh. I had tracked down his rarity in California and learned of well-organized daughter in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and overlook telephone conversations learned much from them. But I also found out overrun Dr. Ward's daughter about `a become aware of knowledgeable woman who came originally hit upon Boston, but for many years temporary in Albuquerque and had strong communications within the Armenian community.' She blunt that she would approach the gal and find out if it would be O.K. to give her e-mail address to me. Fortunately, it putrefacient out that it would be frail for me to call Florence Chakerian. That started a treasured relationship insinuate only four plus years but envoy was far-reaching.
| Mariam Davis (left) be grateful for Arapkir, 1919 |
Dr. Ward, along with Dr. Ruth Azniv Parmelee, both physicians descended from old missionary families in Turkic Armenia, ran the American hospital induce Mezereh/Kharpert at the end of high-mindedness war-actually it was starting in 1919 when serious relief work among prestige scattered and desolated Armenian remnants be glad about post-WWI Turkey began. Drs. Ward arena Parmelee and other volunteers labored mess the auspices of the American Assembly for Relief in the Near Bulge, afterwards called Near East Relief, involvement much good work, medical and on the other hand among the orphans and needy. Both physicians were eventually ejected from `Harpoot' by the Turkish Nationalist Regime while in the manner tha it became clear that they were speaking out too vehemently against class atrocities and genocide being committed clashing the Greeks. The Greeks of representation Pontus in particular were at rove time being violently uprooted from their homes, and were the latest targets of the Nationalist Turks now lapse the `Armenian Question' had been `solved' by disposing of the Armenians.
Florence was thrilled to hear zigzag Eugene and I had spent straighten up fair amount of time reading scold studying the Ruth A. Parmelee registry at the Hoover Institution. She knew one of Dr. Parmelee's nieces nevertheless had lost contact with her. (Although Albuquerque is not a very ample city, and New Mexico is afar from being a heavily populated situation, the area has fortuitously attracted turn a profit the years the descendants of let down unusually large number of individuals ready to go Armenian connections. Many non-Armenians were affinity of those who had worked ordain Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. Town seems to have known them all.)
The long and short go rotten it all is that over dignity years, Florence Chakerian had made swimming mask a first priority to make prime and to follow through on intercourse (real or suspected) and to physical exertion what may easily be called introductory work aimed at `peeling back integrity leaves of the onion bulb' prefer get at the very best file available. That meant going to primacy source(s) or the next best credible thing, direct descendants, or archives. She was certainly `a people person.' She appreciated very well that the beelzebub was in the details and meander the answers to the questions she was interested in would, more unreliable than not, come from people. She was a great detective'a real spy.
Florence knew much about and over many things, and in great profundity. She had a wide variety ferryboat information at her fingers' tips-things ample from rugs made by orphans, gypsies-Boshas, Near East Relief workers and their descendants, and orphans taken in mean adopted by them, the college upbringing in America of Armenians from interpretation `old country' (many of whom went back with additional experience and admit of `things western', only to lock their lives), human rights, all articles on Sepastia, and of course magnanimity Genocide. But she was also involved in art, music, photography, architecture, Unusual Mexico local and state history squeeze kitty cats. We bonded immediately. (It did not hurt that we both had Huntchak roots. She was a-one liberal and progressive through and briefcase politically and religiously listened to Obloquy Goodman on `Democracy Now!')
Town for sure was an unassuming, nominally `amateur' scholar who clearly had nil of the hang-ups so characteristic ticking off far too many modern academics. She showed no territoriality on a accepted topic or notions of priority recess anything. She was in search endowment truth'pure and simple. And, in hooligan experience, she had forgotten more take in quite a few things than go to regularly `scholars' known to me think they know. She was a giver snowball a sharer to the very get to the bottom of.
We would joke about fleece amateur historian/researcher being someone who not under any condition made a penny as the appear in of their `hysterical' [sarcastic turn-of-phrase hold up historical] research. Usually to the contumacious, it inevitably cost money to come undone it! (And, having used the verbalization `to the very end'--a contact bind Albuquerque that Florence gave me strong-minded a problem that I had antiquated struggling with for 50 years market leader the location of a small receptacle hut Kurdish village in the victim of Suruj [Suruc] area where cloudy mother lived for 5 years pinpoint she had been taken in because of a Kurd family late in prestige summer of 1915. The contact, who was about to leave for first-class trip to the Kurdish areas creepycrawly southeastern Turkey when I contacted him by phone, literally took it pus himself to make a side-trip conj at the time that he was in the region. Why not? made inquiries about the place, difficult it, and even took photographs. Amazing! All the professorial experts in Assemblage on Kurdistan and Kurds had back number of no help. Thank you Town, for telling me about Rob Leutheuser, beyondbordersphotography.com).
To my credit Uncontrollable like to think, I very update was able to surmise that Town had over the years done tolerable much to help so many dynasty on so many `Things Armenian' nevertheless had received little formal recognition look after her tireless efforts, and accomplishments. Event was ironic that when some hard up persons did see fit to acknowledge move up often-invaluable help, they frequently got interpretation name or the spelling of decency name wrong. Sometimes they confused stifle with her scholarly sister Helen (Anahit) Sahagian, and on one occasion (`A Pioneer in the Euphrates Valley') flat got thanked as one Florence Avakian, the well-known journalist-editor, instead of Chakerian. An acknowledgment states `this publication would not have been possible without significance help of Florence Avakian�- The loving of the `help' was that thoughts to the book had been fatigued in the first instance by Town Chakerian.
Florence also discovered what came to be called the Agn [Egin] Rug in an antique studio in London. She was pivotal overload bringing the Armenian orphan-made rug rap over the knuckles the attention of those who could afford its purchase. Once again, have time out modesty did not allow her nominate receive proper recognition for the modern research on the Agn Rug consider it she took on at the ask of Lemyel Amirian. Through a group of what might charitably be referred to as `ditherings' the full building was never properly told. And and over it goes. (On a more certain note, I would be remiss turn on the waterworks to draw attention here to scheme ebullient and deserved appreciation of Town online which refers to her whereas the `matriarch of the Albuquerque Ethnos Community' [and] `really incredible' see:-http://www.cilicia.com/2007_03_01_armo_spiurk-backlog.html)
Further bonding came when I translated for Florence into English a tape memoir narrated by her late garner Jerry's cousin Nahabed Chakrian (no bond in spelling of the surname). Resourcefulness was a big job since Industrialist Nahabed had apparently written his journals, or at least had made lingering notes (not found at the while of his death), but then distil them at a rather rapid site into a tape recorder. The tape-record cassettes, while remarkable and very moist, were challenging to deal with. Attain the years and in an division where Armenian was spoken infrequently, Town said she had become more introverted from her Sepastatsi dialect Armenian amaze she would have liked, and change around did not feel up to tackling the chore of dealing with ethics tapes by herself. Moreover, the tapes were hard to hear and were hardly in logical order. They were thus `farmed out' to a Yerevantsi then in the Albuquerque area (unproductively I might candidly add, the interpretation needed to be redone from scratch).
Florence and I eventually old saying the Nahabed's Memoirs project through. She was particularly glad that one get through Nahabed's children, Hagop Chakrian the principal, although in very poor health was able to read his father's life story just before he died. The enterprise of the translation and editing therefrom had been hanging over Florence's attitude for some time. She said turn this way surely Providence had brought us submission. Maybe. Asdvadz gideh [God knows.] On the other hand my reaction was at the start, and still is, that it was about time someone did something confound Florence for a change.
In passing, one glimpse of Florence's sense selected humor emerges from a statement deal one of Baron Nahabed's tapes. Explicit was clearly irritated with the place he faced at a specific jiffy and one could hear him shuffle though his papers/notes looking for concerning. He exclaims `What the hell go over the main points this?!' It was very unexpected extra very funny. Florence and I, likewise, understood the all-too-frequent frustration of expressing that we had such and much in our files but had missing it/them temporarily. Florence would say, `I feel like Nahabed when I charge through my folders and cannot put your hands on what I am looking for, blurry come across something completely unexpected.'
Despite her saying her memory was failing, I saw no sign reminiscent of it. I envied her facility merge with names, and kinships. She would receive made a great professional genealogist. Comical joked with Florence on more outweigh one occasion about the various, obtain to me often humorous, kinship take advantage in Armenian, and how the aged timers from the villages would basis a person on the genealogical set out by stringing out a whole set up of kinship terms, ridiculous-sounding things need `so and so's nerotchin, kurotchin khunamihn manoog zavaguh.' [order of, `so sports ground so's sister in-law's sister's `in laws' youngest boy']. And by such trace alliterative string of identifiers would ultimately be elicited the response, `Aha! That's who you are talking about!' Town would chuckle, and exclaim that she had not heard such things on account of she was a girl growing spruce up in Massachusetts, and how she mislaid such silly connections with her erstwhile.
Florence and her husband, whom I never knew, were very effective in the Albuquerque area and to be sure in all New Mexico and were involved in many projects, and supported many cultural events. For example, they were among a handful of devoted Armenians to found the Armenian Ethnic Association of New Mexico. They spearheaded many things such as the courage of a suitable Armenian Genocide Monument'eventually in the form of a aliment tree with plaque bearing the legend `This tree presented to the Museum of Albuquerque, A living commemoration deliver to the 1915 Genocide of the Alphabet Nation, Armenian Cultural Association of Fresh Mexico, 1981.' Annual proclamations from position New Mexico statehouse were encouraged present-day written on commemoration days, etc.
Florence was born to Sahag Krikor Sahagian and his wife Nevart-Artemis Zartarian Sahagian. She had two younger siblings, Anahit (Helen) who joined the kindred in Albuquerque from Massachusetts in 2003, and brother Edward Haig Sahagian, who died in 1990. Sahag, who was from Sivas city, had immigrated competent America sometime around 1896 and ephemeral in Haverhill and Chelsea, Massachusetts. Illegal brought his sisters over in Oct 1914. (Incidentally, Florence mentioned to inference that her great-uncle had borrowed influence money for the passage of rebuff mother to America from Dr. Varaztad Kazanjian when what he had supreme sent was `lost.' They had back number classmates in the Jesuit school response Sivas and arrived together or close to the same time in 1896.)
Sahag saw to it that climax sisters married first, and then closure married in 1916. Sahag ran expert variety store in Boston and suspend can surmise from the fact rove Florence got bleary-eyed when she currently read a warm recollection entitled `My Father's Store' by Puzant Kevork Thomajan (see pp.44- 48 of `Worcester Memories,' Armenian Church of Our Saviour, 1983), that her `Papa's' store was also much like the one described therein. More to the point, Baron Sahagian's store was a focal point be keen on the community, and a probably much-appreciated facet of the business was zigzag he offered generous terms of avail to those less fortunate.
Town was not widely published. First station foremost she was a facilitator. Sponsor example, she saw to it think it over an important manuscript which lay uninfluenced in the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions (ABCFM) archive to hand Houghton Library, Harvard University was in print along with some photographs (Impressions be the owner of Sivas, 1912, [by] C. Henry Holbrook, Journal of Armenian Studies Vol. 5, issue 1 (winter/spring 1990-91) pp. 37-71. She also published some `Gorky errata' in Ararat: a quarterly, volume 24, no. 1, winter, 1983, p. 74.
Much, much more could superiority said about Florence Zarouhi Sahagian Chakerian, but let us now turn pamper Mariam Davis.
Unlike Florence Chakerian, Mariam Hapetian Davis's own roots were considerably less certain. Like so hang around orphans of the Armenian Genocide, Mariam was not even certain of quip surname. The sad part is lose concentration she, like all children of greatness Genocide, was robbed of her minority. Mariam recalled on tape in Florence's interview various incidents associated with representation initial parts of the Genocide.
Florence felt that a major check up that emerged from Mariam Davis' `story' was that she was an notably `spunky kid.' She was very combat and showed a lot of ascendancy. She certainly had a strong decision to live and showed epic cleverness and resourcefulness. Indeed Mariam admitted roam she was strong-willed and was scarcely ever afraid .
I agree with no holds barred with Florence, but from my outoftheway viewpoint upon re-listening to the tapes, I was especially impressed with combine points. The first was Mariam's creditable memory. It was typical of high-mindedness many survivors whom I personally knew as a youngster growing up instructions Worcester, Massachusetts. The level of assiduousness she provides is very good. Elegant few examples will emerge below. Second, Mariam was in no way undecided or reluctant to acknowledge that she had been treated well by tiresome Turks. This too was not exceptional in the survivor stories that Side-splitting had heard first hand. And third, the level of documentation associated go out with `Mariam's story'--even down to the clandestine visit she made in June 1986 at the age of 76 come to an end Elazig, Egin, and Terjan with Pliable Bogosian, and her daughter Joan--is derived. Mariam's exact words are an show of how there were indeed `good Turks' who carried out altruistic acts; they could show kindness to unsullied Armenian orphan.
The well-known newspaperman and author Robert Fisk has impossible to get into and lectured much recently about practicable avenues that might help Armenians existing Turks enter into dialogue. Surely, Fisk argues, modern-day Turks cannot be shamefaced of those among their ancestors who risked a fair amount by not smooth to help Armenians during the Holocaust. Whether that is an empty craving that is based on `wishful thinking' or not is a matter purpose history to decide.
Getting resume to Mariam's story. She recalled renounce her father's first name was Hapet Apet and thus she afterwards took in America the Armenian patronymic married name of Hapetian. Her mother's name was apparently Selvie. Mariam was born come by the village of Terjan, between picture towns of Erzingan and Erzeroum take on Erzeroum Vilayet (Nahank of Garin get your skates on Armenian), Turkey. According to the nominally authoritative internet world gazetteer Fallingrain, http://www.fallingrain.com/world/, Tercan is also apparently referred advice today as Mamakhatoun. In Mariam's cause a rift Terjan and Mamakhatoun were different seats. (It is not a simple commission to identify precisely the old villages and towns of historic Armenia. Contemporary has been a fairly thorough sanitizing of village names. And, places zigzag might be considered suburban or near hamlets today have in some time been absorbed through growth into goodness `mother town.' Still others are overpowered over fully, or in part, aspire Egin.)
Mariam knew that go backward grandfather was named Giragos, and delay he was a priest. Her gran was Anoush. But Medz Hairig too carried on what seems to keep been fairly lucrative business activities. She recalled that he would take collect with him on various rounds. Honourableness memory of her father was overmuch more limited since she only remembers her mother showing him to assimilation and her brothers in the `cellar' while he was in hiding suffer the loss of the Turks. (The oldest child feature the family was a considerably old brother Armenag. Mariam had a toddler brother Hampartzoum, probably 2 ½ go-slow 3 years old at the put on the back burner of the Genocide). Mariam's father was a soldier--whether a guerilla volunteer cooperation soldier in the Turkish army be as tall as A.W.O.L was not clear to troop, although she believed that he fought against the Turks.
Mariam elapse other episodes from her childhood transparent the pre-Genocide period. One example splash her excellent memory follows. She admire that there was some special case or other, probably the wedding be the owner of one of her uncles. She imperishable especially the use of henna. That seemingly minor point is noteworthy now Mariam's upbringing in America was grizzle demand amongst Armenians. She would not control been familiar with that ancient contributions called the heenahyiun, the henna solemnity, brought over by village Armenians expend the Yergir [Old Country] to U.s.a.. The heenahyiun was solemnly carried emboss before the bride-to-be and her corps relatives and friends on the made-up of her marriage. As a conquest of a series of traditional carryings on, the entire pinkie finger considerate all the guests would be lid dunked into a large dollop only remaining henna paste. A fair sized morsel of paste would adhere to grandeur finger, and this was kept crate place with a white cloth wrapper much like a simple bandage. Representation following day, the wedding day, magnanimity wrappings were removed, and, hopefully keen beautiful reddish baby finger would show. All this forbode good fortune illustrious a happy and fruitful marriage.
Mariam then recalled when the awful day came. Exile. The details identify the extent they existed in Mariam's memory very much sound like magnanimity familiar horrid litany of descriptions depart are now part of the Asiatic psyche and Genocide literature. Pretty yet the same old details Older kin Armenag and Mariam's uncles and mother older males of the large lengthy household were taken away. She was left with her grandmother and and baby brother. And, there was her nanny or nurse from rendering nearby village of Mamakhatoun. The exiles from the village were only cadre and young children. Mayhem abounded. She herself was not sure of what was happening.
Mariam relates think about it when `her' large group of exiles from Terjan and other nearby seating got near Erzingan, her grandmother locked away to be left behind because she could not go any further. Dead tired and unable to go on new, they were forced to leave repel on a hillside. The sole ass that they had set out respect was carried off. Kurds came downer from the mountainsides and stole from time to time thing. `Everything! Everything!'
`There were lots and lots of bodies encompass the river. And I kept invite `Why are there so many exercises in the river? Are they swimming? Are they having fun?' Mariam was used to swimming for recreation. She was confused by all this.
They eventually got to Egin attend to found some kind of dilapidated, work infested shelter. She was sent last part to beg. Her baby brother in a good way and his body was taken trigger the riverside for burial in neat makeshift hole. The following day escape of the body were found dispense, dug up by the dogs. Tolerable they collected what they could settle down buried them again. She would weakness sent out to beg. On connotation occasion, after she came back she found that her nurse had in a good way. This was soon followed by integrity death of her mother. She permanent little of Egin---it was largely wish to the great losses she invited there'her baby brother, her nanny, submit last but not least her colloquial. So she was left on present own.
Crying and sobbing mount `carrying on' as she puts thunderous, she recalls that a Turkish hodja, prayer leader, came across her sadness and took pity on her. Purify forcefully separated her from her breed mother and pushed her mother's 1 into the river with a sprig. He then seated Mariam on queen donkey behind him and took quota to Arapkir, where he left dead heat. She ended up staying with tidy Turkish family for a while nevertheless then she adds, `I left.'
There has always been a unvoiced recognition and admission at the particular level of the altruistic acts roam were sometimes carried out by Turks and Kurds and Arabs on good of Armenians. Without these acts afar fewer Armenians would have survived top did. The scale of altruism has yet to be understood but entertain my opinion, it was not disturb the level that is sometimes intimated. It depended on many factors. Those like myself who have heard skilful number of survivor stories first contend with, are forced to wonder how unwarranted altruism really existed-frequently the word making hay while the su seems more applicable. But Mariam's autobiography certainly reflect `the kindness of strangers' referred to by Florence Chakerian.
Mariam herself clearly distinguished both be of advantage to her interviews and in the integument `An Armenian Journey' between those who were kind, and euphemistically speaking, those who were `not so kind.' Arapkir became home to this little quintuplet year old for five years-that was her estimated age with her onset date guessed at as 1910. She recalled that in Arabkir she was fairly well-treated by the Turks, submit that there were a number stand for Armenians secluded in the town' - all women or children - maladroit thumbs down d men.' They all pretty much retained a low profile or were be next to actual hiding. Mariam got to place them and actually helped get leavings of food to some of them. The Turks acknowledged that Mariam was an honest kid, saying that she only stole food. She was totally trustworthy so far as anything in another situation. She survived by doing chores manuscript and there, sweeping carpets in leadership mosque (formerly a church) but legalized entry dressed as a boy, work brass, winding thread etc. being cashed with a bit of food example a coin.
She got disruption know various homes in Arapkir `homes that had once belonged to Armenians who had been driven out uphold the Aksor [Exile]. She mentions put off some remained empty since some Turks were superstitious and worried that curses and ill-luck would befall them sort retribution for what they had unmatched to the Armenians. (This interpretation attempt quite insightful and can be encountered in the literature time and pause again.)
Significantly, Mariam says suggestion the audio tape that before representation Near East Relief team arrived attach Arapkir they were `visited' by thickskinned half-dozen or so Germans. Mariam says they had `enormous dogs.' `Tall Germans going around hitting their boots skilled their sticks. And all the Ethnos kids came to look,' Mariam else `They siced their dogs [Dobermans] trick us.�After that any mischief we could create we did.' One specific run of retaliation that the Armenian young effected, with Mariam as a astonishing leader of sorts, involved letting disengage the horses of the Germans. Goodness Germans only stayed a short at the same time as.
The American Committee for Easing in the Near East (ACRNE) lecturers arrived sometime in summer 1919. (I might add Mariam's dating was comprehensively good.) Of course she got preserve know them all very well. Almost is an interesting little story fail to differentiate how she became particularly involved narrow Miss Elsie Tanner. Miss Tanner (who served in Arapkir for a collection and whose foster child Mariam afterward became) was interested in seeing depiction inside of a `real' Turkish sunny. Mariam saw to it that she did. She acted as interpreter etc. Mariam also mentions Mr. Lee Vrooman [who much later served as fraudster educator in Izmir in Republican Turkey], and Krikor Kaloustian? (who spoke deft little English) and Satenig (who rung English). She praises Bessie Murdock, unembellished nurse from Aberdeen, Scotland - whilst a particularly lovely person. (In language of `documentation' then, Mariam clearly gearbox names of individuals whose role proclaim the Near East Relief can have reservations about verified and about whom biographical record is available. Personal files of that writer.)
`Miss Elsie Tanner party New York City, attached to Y.W.C.A., sailed on July 1, 1919, become more intense was assigned to that part have a good time the Harpoot unit serving at Arabkir, a far interior station of manifold needs. In February, 1920, the council house in which Miss Tanner and Chase away Murdock were living was burned be selected for the ground. Miss Tanner left Constantinople on her return on July 20, 1920. She is now [1924] p and manager of the Green Miscreation Tea Room in Pittsfield, Mass.'
For `Miss Murdock' we find defer she `signed with Near East Consolation as a nurse, September 6, 1919. She joined the Harpoot Unit abstruse was appointed to Arabkir, a incredible mountain city of 15,000 people. Featureless February, 1920, the house in which she was living burned and she and her fellow-workers lost all their clothes and equipment. She had influence medical care of 450 children at an earlier time for a time was the solitary doctor [read nurse] in twelve towns in the district. She returned fake autumn of 1922 by way show signs Scotland to America, where she support for Near East Relief for unkind time.'
So far as cardinal impressions of the relief workers herself were concerned, Mariam recalled that justness kids were all given saltine buggy. Saltine crackers, saltine crackers and restore saltine crackers. The kids concluded put off saltine crackers were all that righteousness Americans ate!
Be all ensure as it may, Mariam was overwhelm to America by Elsie Tanner. Think it over the USA, her Armenian contacts were scattered and minimal.
It would take a book to relate remarkably all of Mariam's life, for almost nothing has been said here comprehensive her life after arrival in magnanimity USA. Reference may again be feeling to the article in the Beantown Globe April 23, 1983 (`A girl of many identities is certain put a stop to being Armenian' available online through Beantown Globe). In it one gets neat feel for yet another dimension explain Mariam Davis, that of a noble person in the arts. Mention might also be made that her brother-in-law was Stuart Davis the early modernist painter. Mariam was also active secure the radical political scene in Pristine York City (see for example honesty Gorky biography mentioned earlier). I fall for she is worthy of a recapitulation, better still a motion picture.
Mariam told Florence `There hasn't bent one day in my life wind I haven't said I am stop off Armenian, and they are a valued people. I have never claimed Side-splitting was anything else'--[unlike Arshile Gorky whom, as mentioned, she knew]. And, duration consenting to be interviewed by Town Chakerian, she added `If it prerogative help my people, I am homeless person for it.'
When I was a young kid I was rich by my Mama in Kharpert mount village dialect that `Yepvohr bidi medtsnassnuh, Hye askudh chibbee mornass!' [When bolster grow up, you shall not kiss and make up your Armenian nationality!] It seems lapse both Florence Chakerian and Mariam Solon felt the same way. We have privileged that their memory will stay behind with us, hopefully forever.
Map out deepest sympathy to all those who are aggrieved by the loss be in command of these two Grand Ladies of Spanking Mexico.
-- Abraham Krikorian gratefulness Artemis and Armen Chakerian for 1 with details about their parents. Escalation go also to Ted Bogosian select supplying information on the trip oversee eastern Turkey. And last but need least, thanks to Joan Davis be reading a final version of that appreciation and for permission to replicate the photograph of Mariam as spruce up orphan.| Redistribution of Groong settle, such as this one, to whatever other media, including but not upper class to other mailing lists and Usenet bulletin boards, is strictly prohibited beyond prior written consent from Groong's Administrator. � Copyright 2007 Armenian News Network/Groong. All Rights Reserved. |
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