Archives

Miss Myrtle Shane

An article about Miss Myrtle who was the last American woman who remained in Alexandropol after other women fled the area seeking safety from the red armies.

Girls Education & Shelter

The ” Food Shelter Education” cover is to educate donors about how to help the refugees. In the cover, there are two girls standing together looking at a house with a door.

Near East Relief feeding station, Teheran

Near East Relief ran orphanages and refugee feeding centers in six districts of Persia. The organization often provided food in exchange for labor in larger cities. Most of the refugees in Persia were Assyrian or Armenian Christians. This photo appeared in the January 1920 issue of The New Near East magazine.

Persian refugees traveling from Hamadan to Baghdad

Persian refugees traveled on foot and by donkey as they fled violence in the Urumia region. While Ottoman Christian families had been separated under the Tehcir Law, families in Persia had been permitted to stay together. An estimated 80,000 Persian Christians fled Urumia in 1917-1918. 

Boys’ Orphanage in Tabriz, Persia

The Near East Relief orphanage for boys in Tabriz, Persia. Tabriz was the site of Near East Relief’s administration for all of Persia. The orphanage housed an estimated 1,000 boys at its height. This was the last Near East Relief orphanage in Persia; it closed in 1927 when the final children were outplaced.

Near East Relief headquarters, Urumia

The main building at the American College of Urumia served as Near East Relief headquarters for the region. This building was one of the few important structures left standing after the devastating siege of Urumia.

Relief station in Teheran, Persia

Near East Relief provides bread to Christian refugees in Teheran, Persia at a relief station. Very early in the organization’s history, Near East Relief joined forces with the existing Persian relief committee in America. Most of the refugees in Persia were Assyrian, Nestorian, Syriac, and Chaldean Christians rather than Armenians. By 1920 there was also a large community of internally displaced Persian Muslims in the Urumia region.

Children with camel

Children with a camel. The original photograph is labeled “Caucasus region,” but camels are not found in that area. It is more likely Turkey or Syria. Near East Relief used camels to transport supplies over rough terrain.

Winter exercises at Alexandropol

Near East Relief workers believed that fresh air and exercise were the best medicine. Winter exercises also helped the children to keep warm.

E.A. Yarrow with Near East Relief train

E.A. Yarrow, NER’s director in the Caucasus region, with a Near East Relief train car. Yarrow traveled frequently from his office in Tiflis to relief stations throughout the region. He was very fond of his dog, who appears in many pictures.

Orphans at the Alexandropol parade grounds

The original caption reads: “There are 17,000 orphans in the N.E.R. orphanage at Alexandropol.  They are housed in what used to be the barracks of the Czar’s most famous army post.  All of these buildings and several thousands of acres of surrounding land are given to the N.E.R. rent free.”

Refugee caravan community

A refugee community. The refugees are traveling by wagon with a few large animals. Location unknown.

Man with a black hat shaving children’s heads

A man in a distinctive round black hat and white coat, and another adult in a similar outfit clip the hair of young children. The adults hold shears. There are tufts of hair visible on the ground. New arrivals at orphanages usually had their heads shaved to prevent the spread of lice (which carried typhus) and the contagious scalp disease favus. Probably Tiflis, c. 1920.

Children and soldiers at a Transcaucasian Railway stop

Children raising their hands to soldiers in uniform on a railway car. Children often begged at railway stops. The small child at left has bare feet and extremely ragged clothes. The writing and seal show that this was a Transcaucasian Railway car. H.C. Jaquith’s notes identify this as either Batoum or Tiflis, 1920. Both cities were stops on the railway.

New Near East, October 1920: Near East Relief School

New Near East magazine cover showing children entering a building marked “Near East Relief School.” Unfortunately, the magazine does not give a location of the school. Given the time of publication, it is most likely a photograph from Turkey. University of Chicago, digitized by Google.

New Near East, January 1920: “The Closed Door”

New Near East magazine cover featuring children awaiting entry to a Near East Relief orphanage. The publication reminded readers that although thousands of children had been helped by Near East Relief, still more had been turned away for lack of resources. Cornell University, digitized by Google.

Men leading a camel

Photograph of two men leading a camel. Although camels are not indigenous to Turkey, they were widely used as draft animals in the Ottoman empire. Near East Relief sometimes used camels to distribute supplies in harsh terrain where cars, trucks, and trains were unable to travel. Although the location of this photograph is unknown, it was most likely taken somewhere in Turkey.

Close-up view of the church at Kazachi Post, Alexandropol

View of the church at Alexandropol (now Gyumri), Armenia. St. Arsenije Church was built circa 1910 to provide Russian Orthodox services to the soldiers stationed at Kazachi, Polygon, and Seversky Posts. When Near East Relief established the world’s largest orphanage at the abandoned army posts, it became known as the Kazachi Post church. The orphans attended Armenian Protestant services at the church until the Soviet government forbade religious education. The structure was heavily damaged by several earthquakes and the church was ultimately decommissioned. The ruins of the church still stand.

Men and children in a horse drawn sleigh in the winter

Men and children in a horse drawn sleigh in the winter. The harsh winter conditions in the Caucasus region made automobile travel difficult and impractical. The individuals are unidentified, but they may be relief workers with their own children rather than orphans.

Men with carts on a rural road in Armenia

Men with carts on a rural road in Armenia. These men might be refugees transporting food or supplies. Near East Relief hired adult refugees to help with construction, orphanage operations, and education.

Woman with orphans in white dresses

Photograph of woman with orphans in white dresses on the grounds of Alexandropol orphanage. The children wear garments sewn by older girls at the Alexandropol workshop as part of their vocational training in dressmaking. The photograph shows heavy wear and scratches.

Dr. Mabel Elliott with a patient

Dr. Mabel Elliott with an emaciated young patient. Many children arrived at the orphanages suffering from severe malnutrition.

Ernest Yarrow distributing supplies

Near East Relief worker Ernest Yarrow distributes supplies to widows and children in the Caucasus, where he was the Director of relief operations.

Refugee child in rags carrying a bundle

Refugee child with close-cropped hair dress in rags. A smaller version of this photograph appeared in the January 1920 issue of the New Near East magazine.

Refugee boy in rags

Refugee boy dressed in rags in front of a tree. A smaller version of this photograph appeared in the January 1920 issue of the New Near East.

Yarrow with Armenian and American relief workers

Ernest Yarrow (second from right) standing with a large group of American and Armenian relief workers at the orphanage in Kars prior to the forced evacuation from that area. Yarrow was the director of Near East Relief in the Caucasus region.

Children forming a shape

Children forming a shape for a photograph to be used in Near East Relief publications. The children of Alexandropol formed maps, flowers, messages, and Bible verses for photographs.

Refugee tents in front of brick wall

Refugee tent community with woman standing at center. In addition to running orphanages, Near East Relief provided food and medical care to refugee communities.

“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.

Barclay Acheson in train car

Barclay Acheson in Near East Relief train car. The sign reads “Executive Director American Committee” in Russian.

Girl in winter coat

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

Azadouhi as an infant

Azadouhi as an infant with Dr. Gannaway. Zadi was emaciated and ill when Near East Relief workers in Marash, Turkey took her in.

Children in receiving hospital beds

Children often slept four to a bed in the orphanage receiving hospitals. When they were healthy enough, they joined the other children in the dormitories. Caucasus region, c. 1920.

Girls with bandaged feet

Girls receive medical care for foot injuries after traveling on foot to a Near East Relief orphanage. Many children arrived with severe sunburn and frostbite, having nothing but scavenged rags to protect them from the elements.

View of Kazachi Post Orphanage

The Kazachi Post Orphanage at Alexandropol was a former Russian army base. At its peak the complex  housed more than 20,000 orphans.

Bread line

Bread line at a Near East Relief center

Alexandropol dormitories

This photograph appeared in a Near East Relief booklet. The original caption reads: “The countries of the Near East, in appreciation of the service of Near East Relief, funish much of the shelter free of rent.” The Russian government provided the old imperial army bases at Alexandropol. The barracks became dormitories.

Refugees lying on the pavement

Refugees lying under blankets on the pavement, location unknown (probably Greece). This photograph was included in Dr. James L. Barton’s book, The Story of Near East Relief.