November 6, 2024

Click here to view a PDF of the press release.

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The Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA — The UCLA Promise Armenian Institute hosted its second annual Kerr Family Endowed Lecture, titled “‘The Very Limit of Our Endurance': Rev. Hovhannes Eskijian and his network of resisters during the Armenian Genocide.”

The Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA — The UCLA Promise Armenian Institute hosted its second annual Kerr Family Endowed Lecture, titled “‘The Very Limit of Our Endurance': Rev. Hovhannes Eskijian and his network of resisters during the Armenian Genocide.”

This lecture was delivered by Dr. Khatchig Mouradian of Columbia University and the US Library of Congress, with pre-recorded introductory remarks by Dr. Antranik Dakessian of Haigazian University, on the evening of Friday, October 18, 2024.

The Kerr Family Endowed Lectureship is designed to amplify the stories of heroes and heroines who dedicated themselves to saving and supporting victims and survivors of violence and mass atrocities in times of crisis.

Dr. Mouradian's lecture explored the role of an Armenian evangelical pastor, Rev. Hovhannes Eskijian, and his associates in creating an underground network of humanitarians, missionaries, and diplomats who were able to coordinate in resisting the destruction of the Armenian people during the Armenian Genocide and World War I. Dr. Dakessian's introductory comments provided the historical context for the efforts of these dedicated individuals.

Focusing on the history of Genocide and resistance in Ottoman Syria, Mouradian's talk demonstrated that Armenians were not simply helpless victims of violence and receivers of Western humanitarianism but were, in many cases, active agents of resistance to the efforts at the extermination of the Armenians by the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire. Over time, an impressive and well-coordinated effort evolved which was primarily conducted by Armenians to rescue fellow Armenians, despite the violent and systematic mechanisms of control and destruction.

Following Dr. Mouradian's lecture, the grandchildren of Rev. Hovhannes Eskijian, Mr. Martin Eskijian and Pastor Nancy Eskijian, offered comments on their grandparents' dedication to serving God through their selfless efforts to save as many lives as possible. Both noted that numerous survivors of the Genocide who escaped to the U.S. would tell their family members of Rev. Eskijian's heroic efforts and those of his wife, Gulenia, in carrying out her late husband's mission.

Mrs. Maggie Mangassarian Goschin, the director of the Ararat Eskijian Museum, which was established by and named after the Eskijian family, offered remarks as well on the inspiring dedication of Rev. and Mrs. Eskijian. Mrs. Goschin, who has been a dedicated partner of the UCLA Promise Armenian Institute since its inception, was honored by the Institute for her tireless work and commitment to Armenian Studies and the preservation of Armenian heritage and artifacts.

His Eminence, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, also offered praise and gratitude to the Eskijians, to Mrs. Goschin, and to all those who, at the very limit of their endurance, "turn their lives into miracles."

The event was attended by UCLA students, faculty and staff, members of the Eskijian family, and members of the larger Southern California Armenian-American community.

This event was co-sponsored by the Ararat-Eskijian Museum (AEM), the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), the Haigazian University, and the UCLA Center for Near Eastern Studies.

Recording of the lecture is now available for post-event viewing on the Promise Armenian Institute YouTube Channel.

February 19, 2024

Click here to view a PDF of the press release.

The Ararat-Eskijian Museum Research Center (AEMRC) and the Armenian Genocide Research Program (AGRP) within The Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA are proud to announce the launch of the Vahakn N. Dadrian Archive Project.

Professor Vahakn N. Dadrian (1926–2019) was a preeminent scholar of the Armenian Genocide and instrumental in establishing the larger field of genocide studies. He lectured and published widely in the field, leading to greater international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. His unique collection of archival materials and books is of extraordinary value to those researching the origins of the Armenian Genocide, the Genocide itself and its aftermath.

Throughout his long career, Professor Dadrian accumulated a wealth of material on the Armenian Genocide throughout the different archives in the world, American, British, German, French Armenian and Ottoman among them. His archive has also numerous unpublished manuscripts and newspapers from various languages. Before his death, he transferred these materials to the AEMRC. The Vahakn Dadrian Armenian Genocide Book Collection is now housed in The Edward L. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library located at the University of Southern California.

After a gradual process of herculean efforts and numerous trips across the nation transporting Professor Dadrian’s archives, the AEMRC initiated a project in 2009 to digitize his personal notes and archives of historical documents and make them available for future generations of researchers interested in furthering their knowledge of Armenian Genocide Studies and general genocide studies.

A total of 28,000 pages out of a total of 110,000 pages were digitized and indexed by 2018. It took two years of efforts to appropriately preserve the entire archive collection into special folders and boxes. This full archive has been available to scholars and researchers by in-person appointment only at the AEMRC. Due to a large grant recipient in 2023, we will be resuming the continuation of digitization and indexing of the remaining 80,000 pages.

We are also in the important process of facilitating the accessibility of the digitized collection, particularly to make it searchable through keywords for researchers. Dr. Anna Aleksanyan, a post-graduate student from Clark University, has been involved in these efforts. Dr. Aleksanyan is also currently on fellowship with the AGRP.

The Vahakn N. Dadrian Archive Project is led under the direction of Professor Taner Akçam, the inaugural Director of the AGRP. This project is anticipated to be completed by December 2025. Upon completion, the entire collection will be available online.

The AGRP will host a webinar this spring to offer additional insight into the project. Details to follow on the AGRP’s website.

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The Ararat-Eskijian Museum was founded in June 1985 by Genocide survivor, Mr. Luther Eskijian, and includes a unique collection of Armenian artifacts as well as books and materials about the Armenian Genocide. The museum is also a cultural and educational center where scholars, artists, writers, and community leaders can present current and historical subjects related to the Armenian people, as well as Genocide education.

The Armenian Genocide Research Program (AGRP) was established within The Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA in early 2022. Led by Taner Akçam, Ph.D., the AGRP engages in research and scholarly activities pertaining to the study of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire during the early 20th century.