Archives

Families Escaping War

Armenian and Greek Families, men, women, and children leaving Turkey after the genocide. People are holding sacs and bags with their personal belongings. People are waiting for the aid of the Near East Relief.

Refugee girl making lace

Refugee girl making lace. Armenian refugees preserved their long tradition of making beautiful textiles, even while living in adverse conditions.

Five child refugees

Five young people walking from Turkey to safety in Syria. A version of this photograph also appeared on the cover of the New Near East magazine in April 1923

Postcard of Syra Orphanage

Postcard featuring the orphanage complex on the island of Syra (Syros). The complex, which housed and educated 3,000 children, was built by orphans and refugees.

Five child refugees

Five young people walking from Turkey to safety in Syria. A version of this photograph also appeared on the cover of the New Near East magazine in April 1923.

“Armenia Thanks America”

Postcard showing an orphanage band serenading passengers at the train station in Jerusalem. The boys hold banners reading “Bon Voyage” and “Armenia Thanks America”

“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.

Zappeion Orphanage

The Zappeion in Athens, Greece, was a repurposed exhibition hall owned by the government. It housed 2500 children that were evacuated from Turkey after the Smyrna disaster.