Near East Relief Historical Society welcomes the passage of a historic Senate resolution recognizing and remembering the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

In the December issue children of Near East Relief orphanages make “Christmas out of nothing” while fighting continues between Greek and Turkish forces, leading to the massacre of Greek villagers near Trebizond. In the aftermath of the Battle of Alexandropol NER workers chose to remain with the orphans and patients in their care and receive thanks President Ohandjanian of Armenia. Thousands of Greek, Assyrian and Armenian refugees overwhelm the Port of Batum. The League of Nations continues to wrestle with the problems in the region and Denmark considers a mandate.

Inside the November issue NNE explores the different religions and sects of the region, tells the story of Miss. Myrtle O. Shane who refused to leave the children behind in Alexandropol and how NER workers in Adana kept the soup kitchen open during months of Turkish bombardment.

On October 29, 2019, an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress approved a resolution to commemorate the Armenian Genocide through recognition and remembrance. The resolution acknowledged the crucial efforts of Ambassador Henry Morgenthau and Near East Relief on behalf of the survivors of the genocide.

Despite the end of World War I in 1917, war and food shortages continued in the Near East as competing powers fought for dominance throughout the region.  Confronted with the challenge of how to feed thousands of refugees, Near East Relief found creative ways to appeal to the American public to support humanitarian work.

The October issue discusses the impact of the Treaty of Sevres and takes an in depth look at education in the Near East.

In the September issue Turkish armistices are made and broken on a daily basis in Aintab, and Dr. Blanche Norton makes progress in the struggle against trachoma in Aleppo.

In the July and August issue more than 100 Near East Relief workers prepare for the Fall Campaign at a conference in New Jersey and learn about the Armenians of Aintab fighting back with ancient cannonballs, homemade bombs and hand made spears. The Boy Scouts offer training in Smyrna and the children of Sivas excel at learning new trades.

In honor of Father’s Day this past weekend in the US on June 16, we celebrate fathers around the world and all the men who take on the role of being a father figure for those who have lost theirs.

The June edition includes an overview of the training programs in several of the orphanages, takes a detailed look at cloth manufacturing, reported on conditions in Urfa and more.

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.

Although the Genocide was marked by years of murder, abuse, forced deportations, and imprisonment at the turn of the 20th century, scholars mark the  April 24^th is the day of remembrance by the Armenians. The day we pause and reflect on the atrocities committed and remember and honor the lives lost and saved during those years. April 24th marks the 103rd anniversary of the Genocide against the Armenians, Assyrians, and Anatolian Greeks.

 

 

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.

A short history of NER giving campaigns that helped change the face of modern philanthropy.

A closer look at the Great Fire of Smyrna

The Near East Relief Historical Society is back!

Thank you for your support over the past two years.

The Near East Relief orphanage at Erivan (now Yerevan, Armenia) has a fascinating story that is all its own.

Five thousand refugees. Six thousand acres of farmland. At last, they had a place to call home. But for how long?

 

 

 

 

Let’s catch up with Near East Relief worker Annie Allen.  This is a continuation of her diary from September 1920.

Have you ever wondered what life was really like for Near East Relief workers? Annie T. Allen kept a diary of her trip into the Turkish interior in September 1920. These entries were published in the April 9, 1921 issue of Near East Relief.

The brave women who worked for Near East Relief were years ahead of their time. This 1922 article showcases just a few of the organization’s pioneering women.

On September 16, 1915, a group of businessmen, educators, and philanthropists met in New York City. Their mission: to save the lives of a suffering people in the Near East. One hundred and one years later, the Near East Foundation celebrates this history with an eye toward the future.

There is enough confusion about this issue that your loyal curator thought it was time for a Dispatch. Let’s demystify the many names of Near East Relief.

Alice Carr was a teacher, a nurse, and a lifelong humanitarian. Carr was a pioneering force behind Near East Relief’s orphanage work in Greece. She was also an accomplished medical specialist who helped transform Near East Relief to the Near East Foundation.

Persia (modern-day Iran) was a key area of Near East Relief’s work with Assyrian Christians — yet this part of the relief effort has been largely overlooked. Let’s rediscover it together.

It was a time of brutal conflict, and countless innocent lives hung in the balance. Near East Relief would have to work quickly to save thousands of orphans — and it did.

How did a massive Ottoman army barracks become a home to 9,000 refugees fleeing military violence?

By 1921, the Queen of Cities was inundated with refugees from Anatolia, the Caucasus, and Russia. Thousands of lives hung in the balance. What could Near East Relief do?

The golden city on the Bosphorus had it all: wealth, beauty, diversity . . . and a burgeoning refugee crisis.

We found so many fantastic pictures of Near East Relief’s work in Athens that one Dispatch just wasn’t enough.

Our collection of historical photographs is second to none. But there is one thing that is usually missing: names.

Not every mystery can be solved.

What goes on behind the scenes at the Near East Relief Historical Society?

On February 16, 1919, a large group of Near East Relief volunteers set out to make history.

Happy Valentine’s Day from NERHS!

How did Near East Relief orphans celebrate Christmas? With tasty treats, small gifts, and sometimes even a visit from Santa Claus himself!

Near East Relief began publishing the New Near East magazine as a way to keep the public engaged. Nearly 100 years later, the issues offer incredible insight into Near East Relief’s work.

In 1921, a charming orphan girl became an international sensation as the star of Near East Relief’s Alice in Hungerland. Today we honor Alice Duryea Kinney, who passed away this week at the age of 103.

The committee that would become Near East Relief met for the first time on September 16, 1915. One hundred years later, the Near East Foundation (NEF) continues Near East Relief’s legacy of helping vulnerable populations through sustainable development programs.

Harold C. Jaquith and Mary Harin Jaquith met through Near East Relief in Constantinople. Their life together was an adventure that spanned countries and decades.

Dr. James L. Barton led this organization for 21 years, from its beginnings as a temporary committee to its emergence as the internationally acclaimed Near East Foundation. Who was the quiet man behind the greatest American international humanitarian campaign of all time?

In 1918, Aurora Mardiganian astonished the American people with her account of the Armenian Genocide. What can we learn from the double tragedy of Aurora Mardiganian’s life story?

Barclay Acheson was active in Near East Relief and Near East Foundation from 1922 to 1957. His early photographs from the field form an integral part of our collection.

A Near East Relief pamphlet from the 1920s asked the question, “Shall the Near East Have Music?” The answer was a resounding “yes.”

Announcing the Nellie Miller Mann Collection, a captivating group of images illustrating one relief worker’s time with Near East Relief. The Collection is now available in our digital archive.

There are several excellent guides available for teaching about the Armenian Genocide, but there has never been a curriculum specific to Near East Relief’s work — until now.

 

Have you had a chance to see They Shall Not Perish: The Story of Near East Relief on display in Los Angeles or Washington, D.C.? Would you like to see the exhibition to your own city?

 

In 2002, a Near East Foundation Board member envisioned a website that would immerse visitors in the history of this organization, from its roots as a small committee responding to a humanitarian crisis to its emergence as a pioneering philanthropic effort.