A male relief worker helping a young orphan girl to pose for a photographer. From the photo, it appears that the photographer was taking portraits of several orphans.
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Nurse holding a child in the garden, Alexandropol
Nurse holding a child in the garden at Alexandropol. The nurse is probably a student or graduate of the Edith Winchester Nursing School at the orphanage.
Inez Webster holding a baby
Near East Relief worker Inez Webster presents a baby layette made by orphanage girls to a refugee mother. This photo appeared in the March 1927 issue of the New Near East magazine.
Student nurses
Student nurses at Kazachi Post nursing school
Closeup of Barclay Acheson with children on steps
Barclay Acheson with a group of small children seated on the steps to an orphanage building.
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.
View of the orphanage complex at Alexandropol
At its height, the complex at Alexandropol housed well over 20,000 children in three former Russian army bases.
Boy ringing the bell at Alexandropol
The orphanage used a large bell to announce the times for meals, classes, and recreation.
Children posing for America We Thank You
Children at Alexandropol Orphanage prepare to spell out the words “America We Thank You” for the now-iconic Near East Relief photograph.
Barclay Acheson holding a laughing child
Barclay Acheson with a laughing child, Alexandropol.
Boys sitting outside Polygon Orphanage office
The Polygon Orphanage was one of three orphanages at the Alexandropol complex. The others were Kazachi Post and Seversky Post.
Student nurses in uniform
Student nurses in uniform. A small child is visible in the background.
View of a dormitory at Kazachi Post
View of a dormitory at Kazachi Post orphanage, one of the three orphanages housed in the former Russian army bases near Alexandropol (now Gyumri), Armenia. The dormitories, which were converted army barracks, housed anywhere from 250 to 1,000 children.
Boy with trumpet, Alexandropol
Older boy with a trumpet standing on a low orphanage wall at Alexandropol.
Children outside Alexandropol dormitories
Children outside of the dormitories at Alexandropol in the winter.
View of Alexandropol in the winter
View of the dormitories at Alexandropol in the snow.
Near East Relief ambulance
A Near East Relief ambulance at the Alexandropol nursing school.
Student nurses with ambulance and stretcher
Student nurses at Alexandropol practice with a stretcher and ambulance.
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.”
Orphans and relief workers at Kazachi Post
Very young orphan children with two relief workers in front of a dormitory at Kazachi Post orphanage, Alexandropol (now Gyumri), Armenia. The building is marked “No. 9.” The marking is visible behind the head of the woman on the left.
Aerial view of orphans on the parade ground at Alexandropol
Aerial view of the orphan population of Kazachi Post orphanage, Alexandropol (now Gyumri). Photographs like this show the massive scale of Near East Relief’s orphanage operations. The barracks in the background served as dormitories for thousands of children.
Large group of children in front of Alexandropol barracks
Large group of children in front of Alexandropol barracks. A relief worker is visible on the lefthand side.
Aerial view of orphans on the parade ground at Alexandropol
Aerial view of orphans on the parade ground at Kazachi Post orphanage, Alexandropol. Aerial views like this were used in publications to illustrate the number of orphans in Near East Relief’s care.
View of a dormitory at Kazachi Post orphanage (damaged)
View of a dormitory at Kazachi Post orphanage, one of the three orphanages housed in the former Russian army bases near Alexandropol (now Gyumri), Armenia. The dormitories, which were converted army barracks, housed anywhere from 250 to 1,000 children.
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.
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. R.T. Uhls with trachoma patient at Alexandropol
Dr. R.T. Uhls attending to a trachoma patient at Alexandropol. Near East Relief started a trachoma hospital at Seversky Post Orphanage to combat the virulent eye disease, which often led to blindness if left untreated.
Children working in garden
Children working in the garden at Kazachi Post Orphanage.
Large group of children at Alexandropol
Large group of children on the grounds of the Alexandropol orphanage complex. Two large orphanage buildings are visible in the background.
Barclay Acheson with children
Barclay Acheson with two relief workers and a group of young children sitting on steps. The building is marked “No. 24,” which helps to illustrate just how large the orphanage complex at Alexandropol was.
Boys in caps working with wool
Boys in caps and uniforms working with wool
Barclay Acheson with Babek and Lea
Barclay Acheson with orphans Babek and Lea. Acheson occupied many roles in his lengthy tenure with the organization. At the time of this photo, Acheson was most likely the Associate General Secretary of Near East Relief or the Director of Overseas Operations.
Child eating grass
An emaciated little girl eats grass while waiting for admission to the “Orphan City” at Alexandropol.
Boy standing next to hut
Boy standing next to a hut that he has built from mud in the orphanage garden. He has placed his uniform cap on top.
Relief worker with children in garden
A relief worker (possibly Dorothy Sutton) inspects a mud house built by young boys in the garden at Alexandropol.
“Economy the Key Word”
page 5 from Near East Relief booklet featuring orphans in various locations
“Housing the Orphans”
page 2 from Near East Relief booklet featuring orphans in various locations
Girls walking from Alexandropol complex
Girls in white dresses from Seversky Post walking to the church at Kazachi Post. Near East Relief worker Janet McKaye is on the far left. The original caption reads “Even in the Caucausus regular church services are attended by the orphans in spite of the opposition of the government toward religion.”
Children playing outdoors at Alexandropol
Children playing in a fenced area of the lawn at Alexandropol.
Student nurse with woman
Student nurse with female relief worker.
Girls in garden
Older girls standing behind tall plants in the garden at Kazachi Post, Alexandropol
Carriage at Kazachi Post church
Children watch as a carriage decorated with American flags arrives at the church at Kazachi Post
Children in the garden
Children in the garden at Alexandropol. An older girl watches a younger boy build a mud house.
Dr. Uhls with patients
Dr. Russell Uhls ministers to patients in winter clothing in the orphanage courtard. Many of the first Near East Relief volunteers were physicians and nurses. Dr. Uhls was an ophthalmologist who specialized in the treatment and prevention of trachoma.
Children at the Kazachi Post Church
Children from the orphanage complex at Alexandropol bow before an Armenian priest at the church at Kazachi Post
Girls with spinning wheels
Girls of all ages spinning fiber into yarn at Polygon Orphanage
Boy ringing bell
A boy rings the bell at the Polygon Orphanage in Alexandropol. Near East Relief workers installed the bell to call the children to class, meals, and bed.
Two Armenian priests
Two Armenian priests
Boy with camera
Boy with camera in an orphanage building
Boy with piano
A young man approaches a piano
Student nurse throwing snowball
Students from the nursing school at Kazachi Post take a break from their studies to play in the snow.
“A Permanent Contribution”
page 7 from Near East Relief booklet featuring orphans in various locations
Toddler and nurse with rabbit
A toddler and a Kazachi Post student nurse admire a white rabbit.
Girls with lambs
Two girls holding lambs. Girls learned animal care in order to prepare them for lives as farmers’ wives.
Children playing in the snow
Children playing in the snow at Alexandropol
Large group on a slope
Large group of people (probably orphans) posing on a slope in front of an orphanage building
View of Kazachi Post
View of one of the buildings at Kazachi Post orphanage
Orphans watching men in a car
Orphans look at men in suits and uniforms in an American car near the dormitories at Kazachi Post.
Children on a pile of straw
Children climbing on an enormous pile of straw in the Alexandropol courtyard. Some of the boys are unloading straw from white bags.
Cattle in a field
Cows grazing in a field. Students at the Polygon Agricultural School learned animal husbandry and farming techniques for the harsh Caucasus terrain.
Girls in summer dresses
Girls in white summer dresses at Kazachi Post orphanage. The girl in front wears a crown of flowers.
Boy with snowman
A boy builds a snowman on top of a wall in front of an orphanage building.
Children and Near East Relief worker with barrel
A relief worker with a group of children in winter coats next to a cart holding a large barrel. Two children carry dolls. Some of the children are holding cups.
Children in line at Kazachi Post
Children in winter coats form two long lines between the rows of dormitories at the Kazachi Post orphanage.
View of Kazachi Post barracks
View of snow-covered dormitories at Kazachi Post orphanage. The orphanage was a former Russian military base.
Winter at the Kazachi Post barracks
Children and some adults dressed in winter clothing standing in the yard near the orphanage dormitories
Student nurses smiling
Student nurses smiling
Student nurses walking
Student nurses at Kazachi Post nursing school leaving Building 12.
Student nurse at medicine cabinet
The Kazachi Post nursing school was the first of its kind in the country of Armenia.
Boys building a hut
Boys build a mud hut in the garden at Alexandropol
Children on the grounds at Kazachi Post in Alexandropol
Large group of children standing on the grounds at Kazachi Post orphanage in Alexandropol (now Gyumri), Armenia. Near East Relief obtained the former Russian army base through an affordable lease and hired refugees to rehabilitate the buildings. The “Orphan City” became the largest orphanage in the world with more than 20,000 inhabitants at its peak.
Girls sewing outdoors
Girls sewing at long tables in a courtyard
Children building a snowman
Children building a snowman in front of a wall with Armenian writing
Office of the Polygon Orphanage
Children sitting outside the office of the Polygon Orphanage
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.
Children forming a star
Children forming a star for a photograph to be used in Near East Relief publications
Children with relief worker
Large group of children in the courtyard at Kazachi Post. A woman relief worker stands in the middleground. Relief workers often oversaw dozens — if not hundreds — of children.
Winter exercises at Alexandropol
Hundreds of children performing exercises in the snow-covered courtyard at Kazachi Post.
Orphanage orchestra indoors
A small orchestra consisting of piano, strings, and woodwinds plays indoors at Kazachi Post
Boys bathing outdoors
Young boys bathing in a ditch next to a road
Small orchestra outdoors
Orchestra with cymbals and other instruments. Each orphanage had at least one musical ensemble.
Student nurses in hospital
Student nurses in uniform in the teaching hospital at Kazachi Post. Near East Relief opened the first nursing school in the region.
Student nurses
Student nurses at Kazachi Post nursing school
Girl gymnasts
Girls practice gymnastics in the orphanage courtyard.
Girls dancing
Girls in black dresses dancing in courtyard. Dancing was a means of preserving cultural heritage.
Girls running on the lawn
Girls in white dresses running on the orphanage lawn
Girls sitting on stone wall
Girls of assorted ages sitting on a low stone wall
Girls standing by stone wall
Girls of all ages standing behind a low stone wall
Group of girls
An older girl stands with four younger children
Large group of orphans
Large group of orphans at Alexandropol
Orphan girl in uniform posing for photographer
An orphan girl poses for a photographer in the yard at Alexandropol while other girls wait in line for their turn.
Girl in winter coat
Girl in winter clothes standing in front of truck with Near East Relief insignia on the door.
Children standing in rows
Children standing in long rows in the winter on the grounds at Alexandropol.
Children climbing over low wall
Children climbing over a low wall at Polygon Orphanage.
Waiting at the gates of the “Orphan City” of Alexandropol
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.
Children making pottery
Article on orphans making pottery
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.
One day’s worth of flour
Relief workers haul the daily supply of flour by hand
