Archives

Jackie Coogan

Jackie Coogan the child film star, sitting on the back of a chair.

Jackie Coogan, Film Coupon

A coupon at the Brooklyn Daily, inviting parents to bring the coupon and a piece of garment and let their children admitted to Jackie Coogan film.

Aurora In A Poster

A poster represents Aurora Mardiganian to raise 30 million dollars to support other Armenians in the Middle East.

Earning In America To Give In Armenia

An article with illustrations from the New Near East magazine. The text and the illustrations encourage Americans in different ways to raise money to support Armenians.

Alice In Hungerland, Near East Relief

An article about The Near East Relief in the Pacific and the story of ” Alice In Wonderland”, how it was used in a different way as ” Alice In HungerLand”

Hollywood Stars, Golden Rule

The Golden Rule is the biblical rule of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” On international Golden Rule Sunday, the Near East Relief reminds people to support refugees and orphans in the religious occasion. Some of the Hollywood stars helped the Near East Relief in fundraising.

Save The Survivors

A poster published by the Near East Relief to encourage people to participate in supporting refugees and orphans. The poster consists of the words “Save The Survivors” a campaign to collect donations.

Don’t Let Go

A poster published by the Near East Relief to encourage people to participate in supporting refugees and orphans. In the poster a boy climbing the mountain with the help of a person who has an American flag on his sleeves.

Mother & Two Children, Poster

A poster published by the Near East Relief to encourage people to participate in supporting refugees and orphans. In the poster, there is a mother with her two children with no shelter or food.

Sponsorship Form: Heracles Savvas

Near East Relief sponsorship form for an orphan boy named Heracles Savvas. The form is not dated. Based on the information provided, it is from the mid- to late 1920s. This is the only form of its kind in the Near East Foundation archives. Sponsors received periodic reports on their child’s health and academic progress.

“America We Thank You”

Children at Seversky Post orphanage in Alexandropol spell out a message for their American benefactors. This iconic photograph was used in thank-you letters, brochures, and publications like The New Near East.

Jackie Coogan with Miss Jessie Way

In 1923, Jackie Coogan produced a real circus for local children on the film set of Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with the Circus. The April 1923 issue of the New Near East magazine praised relief worker Miss Jessie Way, newly returned from Smyrna and Constantinople, as Jackie’s “chief and most willing assistant.” The circus was attended by 7,500 people who contributed $3,500 in clothing and condensed milk.

Advertisement featuring Aurora Mardiganian

The Brooklyn Eagle published many advertisements for <em>Ravished Armenia</em>. In this advertisement, Aurora Mardiganian is featured alongside prominent silent film stars of the day, an indication of her prominence at the time.

International Golden Rule Sunday poster

Golden Rule Sunday encouraged Americans to eat an orphanage-style meal and donate what they would have spent on a normal Sunday dinner for hunger relief.

“10,000 Orphans Greet You”

Postcard of Near East Relief orphans in Constantinople. A group of Near East Relief boys in Boy Scout uniforms greet the first large group of American tourists to visit Constantinople since World War I began. Despite the ongoing political situation, the Near East maintained a thriving tourism trade. Visitors from America purchased orphan-made souvenirs and postcards like this one to benefit Near East Relief’s work.

Girl in winter coat

Girl in winter clothes standing in front of truck with Near East Relief insignia on the door.

The Life of a Child appeal booklet

Booklet with coupons for child sponsorship. Each one-dollar coupon in the book supported a child for one week. This booklet was designed by George Silloway, secretary of the Pennsylvania Near East Relief chapter.

“Redeem the Children”

Flyer featuring a small boy named Dikran. Individual children were often used to put a human face on relief work.

The Story of Little Zadi

A profile of Zadi and Mrs. Gannaway used by Near East Relief as part of a fundraising campaign.

Portrait of Aurora Mardiganian in America

Aurora’s adult life was marked by extreme isolation. Although she married and had a child, she became estranged from her family. Aurora Mardiganian died in Los Angeles in 1994 at the age of 93. Her remains were buried in an unmarked grave.

“Auction of Souls” poster

Ravished Armenia was vital to the Committee’s efforts to raise $30 million for direct relief. Moviegoers paid as much as $10 per ticket for screenings in the U.S. and abroad.

Still from “Ravished Armenia”

The book was made into a full-length Hollywood film in 1919. Incredibly, Aurora Mardiganian played herself. She relived the traumatic events of her young life alongside prominent Hollywood actors. Aurora sustained physical and emotional injury during filming. Aurora is second from the right in this still from Ravished Armenia.

Aurora Mardiganian in traditional Armenian dress

Arshaluys (Aurora) Mardiganian was born in Chmshgatsak in 1901. When she was only 14, her father and brother were killed by the Turkish army. Aurora was sold into slavery and her mother and siblings were killed in front of her. Aurora escaped from the harem and made her way to Russian-controlled Erzurum, and eventually to New York City.

Ravished Armenia book cover

Aurora shared her story with the American Committee for Relief in the Near East (later known as Near East Relief). Ravished Armenia: The story of Aurora Mardiganian, the Christian Girl who survived the great massacres was published in 1918.

 

 

Jackie Coogan in Times Square

The campaign was a massive success. New York State Lieutenant Governor George R. Lunn greeted Jackie in Times Square and wished him well on his journey to the Near East.

New Near East, April 1924: Jackie Coogan

Jackie Coogan found fame playing a lovable urchin in Charlie Chaplin’s 1921 film The Kid. In 1924 Near East Relief enlisted nine-year-old Jackie to launch a groundbreaking million-dollar Children’s Crusade.

“You Won’t Let Me Starve, Will You?” Poster

Photographs of individual children made the campaign more personal. Donors could “adopt” a child for $60 per year. Treasurer Cleveland H. Dodge personally covered the Committee’s operating expenses. All donations went directly to relief work.

Child At Your Door Poster

The Committee’s campaign for $30,000,000 was astonishingly ambitious. This poster highlights the fact that the U.S. government was not sending money to the Near East – it was up to private citizens to save orphans and refugees. Artist unknown.

Film Star Charles Ray on Bundle Day

“The popular film star Charles Ray delivers his bundle of discarded clothing to be sent to the destitute of the Near East.” Charles Ray was one of many silent film stars to take an interest in Near East Relief’s work.

Jackie Coogan Campaign Advertisement

An advertisement for Jackie Coogan campaign sponsored by Borden’s Eagle Brand Condensed Milk. Borden donated many cases of condensed milk to Near East Relief.

“Near East Relief on Main Street”

Young girls in Hornell, NY raise funds for Near East Relief by selling roses and popcorn. The girls were written up in the September 1922 issue of the New Near East magazine as an example of children helping children.

Amelia B. Horton

A tribute to Amelia B. Horton, a member of the Near East Relief office staff in New York City. Mrs. Horton worked for Near East Relief for ten years until her untimely death in 1927. During her final illness she requested that her colleagues remember her by sending money to help the orphans.

“Lest They Perish” poster by W.B. King

Images of mothers and children were especially meaningful. The photograph that inspired this poster appeared in the New Near East magazine (March 1921). The caption read ‘This sad Armenian mother, her baby the progeny of an enemy race, is depending, as are others, on us.’ Poster by W. B. King. At the time the organization was known as the American Committee for Relief in the Near East.

“They Shall Not Perish” poster by Douglas Volk

Patriotic posters appealed to Americans’ appreciation of their own freedom. This image of a fierce protectoress – part soldier and part guardian angel – pays homage to the Statue of Liberty. Poster designed by Douglas Volk, 1918. At the time the organization was known as the American Committee for Relief in the Near East.

Ravished Armenia newspaper advertisement

The success of the film came at a cost. Aurora’s physical and emotional health declined rapidly. She turned down film offers out of a profound fear that her former captors would find her in America.

Children dancing

Alice meets happy and healthy children at a Near East Relief orphanage. She also meets children that have been turned away for lack of resources. Still image from ‘Alice in Hungerland’ showing orphans performing traditional dances for Alice.

Bundle Day collection

Knights of Columbus of Rochester, NY, gathered seven carloads of clothes for their 1923 Bundle Day.

Jackie Coogan

Jackie was no stranger to Near East Relief. He had participated in Bundle Day campaigns and condensed milk drives in the past.