Lily and Alice take Armenia!

In April 1920, the New Near East magazine covered a wide variety of topics- from the horrific massacres at Marash, to the United States officially recognizing the independence of Armenia- this edition has it all.

For March, the  New Near East Magazine celebrated Easter in Jerusalem, explored Robert College at Constantinople, and highlighted work done in industries sponsored around the Near East.

On March 9th, Lily Jebejian and Alice Vranka competed in the Lower Hudson Regional Competition and came in 2nd! Next stop: State in Cooperstown on April 29th!

On International Women’s Day, the Near East Relief Historical Society is excited to share the story of Gertrude and Amy Anthony, nieces of suffragist Susan B. Anthony.

In November 2018, the Near East Foundation Board of Directors made a trip to Lebanon to visit NEF’s active programs. After an eventful week of visiting Near East Foundation project sites, individuals helped by NEF programs, and meeting with beneficiaries and community leaders and partners, the Board had the opportunity to visit the Birds’ Nest, 98 years after it was first purchased by Near East Relief.

For the month of February, 1920, the New Near East Magazine followed Ernest Yarrow as he took a tour of the operating districts in the Near East. In stark contrast to Yarrow’s glowing reviews of Near East Relief operations, are the photos and stories of the true plight of the refugees and children who called NER orphanages home. This juxtaposition shows how much work NER had done by 1920 and just how much more there was to do in the future.

 

On January 30th, 9th grade students Lily Jebejian and Alice Vranka were selected as one of three finalist for National History Day in the Lower Hudson Regional Competition.

The New Near East, a magazine published starting in January of 1920, was crucial for engaging the American people in Near East Relief efforts. The stunning, and often heartbreaking photos, allowed for people a world away to see the plight of the Armenian people, and served as a critical tool for encouraging the life-saving citizen donations that changed the lives of so many refugees and children.

The diplomatic records available paint a picture of the pivotal role played by US diplomats and consular officers during and after the genocide. Blessed with a variety of resources, diplomats were able to provide humanitarian aid, advocate on the behalf of persecuted minorities, and encourage a peaceful solution to end the ongoing and violent conflict in the region. NERHS is excited to continue its collaboration with James David as we explore the Persian emissaries and diplomatic consulates more in depth.

NERHS is excited to collaborate with James David to explore the role played by consulates and diplomatic emissaries in Baghdad and Persia during World War I and the Armenian, Assyrian, and Anatolian Greek Genocide.

Near East Relief, while limited greatly by resources and the types of donations it received, did everything in its power to ensure that the children in its care were cared for in every way imaginable, including providing them with what toys they could as well as the opportunity to explore their own creativity and expression in the form of games, physical activity, building, art, music, and so much more.

The work done by the Japanese people, spearheaded by Rev. Wirt and Visc. Shibusawa, provided much needed aid to the Armenian people. Without this international support, Near East Relief would not have been able to help as many refugees as it did. Special thanks to NERHS contributing scholar, Vicken Babkenian, for providing the information and photographs for this dispatch.

The Ghazir orphanage gained a reputation for producing beautiful textiles due in large part to the immense skill of the young women and girls who called the orphanage home. In the third and final part of our exploration of Armenian textiles, we take a closer look at their enduring legacy.

How did Near East Relief respond to the unfolding crisis? In part two of our closer look at textiles in the Near East, we explore the efforts to rebuild an industry and the lives of so many affected by World War I and the Armenian Genocide.

The history of textiles in the Near East is fascinating and full of rich stories. Traditional clothing and rugs represent deep cultural connections that span generations and across geographic lines.