We Survived: We Are Alive, Well and Undaunted by Turkish Terror. BUT We Will Never Forget. Armenian Immigrants Rebuilding their Lives in America

A Scroll Photograph Taken on 16 August 1931 by K.S. Melikian at a Picnic for Körpetsis and Friends Shows Armenians Who Have Gotten on with their Lives

Armenian News Network / Groong

April 25, 2016

Special to Groong by Abraham D. Krikorian and Eugene L. Taylor

LONG ISLAND, NY

We have made a point of emphasizing the great value of the K.S. Melikian Collection recently deposited in the Library of Congress Prints and Photograph Division. While many photographs go back as far as the Old Country in Eastern Asia Minor, others deal with the recovery of the Armenian communities that had been so devastated in the “Erghir” (the Land, the Earth) in Turkey as a result of the Turkish genocide against the Armenians. By actual count, some 85% of the Körpetsis, people from Körpe village, lost their lives (see Badmuhtiuhnuh Keorpe Kiughuh - The History of Keorpe Village [1]

The decision was made in 1931 to have a gathering to celebrate what amounted to their resurgence as a people. Panoramic photography, also known as circuit photography or yards long photography, began gaining popularity in the early 1900's. Using a camera loaded with a large format film, it allowed the photographer to take pictures up to 20 feet long and at a 360 degree point of view. The flexibility offered by this photographic procedure made it the ideal way to take photographs of rather large groups. Mr. Melikian took some of these.

The ‘Scroll” picture here derives from a copy given to ADK by a cousin residing in Lowell, Queena Boyajian. It was ironed as flat as could be sandwiched between sheets of high quality Paris Bleed Proof art paper. It turned out that the scroll could be sectioned into ten parts for scanning on a flat bed scanner. These had sufficient overlap so that no one was cropped out. Some crops were made so as to allow family groups to remain in close proximity as the photograph allowed.

Efforts were made to number those in the photograph. A spread sheet was generated and circulated along with prints of the sections to several people who agreed to attempt identifications. This was done at a time when nearly all the adults in the photograph had passed away. Some of those who were kids in the photograph, now mature and long grown-up, did their best to affix names to the numbers. In some cases, by no means complete, in the “Married to” column the names of children may be given. (There are opportunities for others to make connections. It will be easy, and should present no real challenge. Those claiming interest in genealogy can do this little bit.) It needs to be stated that the men in this photograph were for the most part, already in America when the genocide began. Some had come over as bachelors. Others had left a wife and often a child, with the intention of working and saving enough money to bring them over. A few even thought they would earn some money and be able to go back ‘home’ and re-start a life. There are exceptions to these generalizations. One was ADK father’s first cousin Mesrop Keri (no. 100). He was taken into the Turkish army, experienced much and eventually ended up in America. His story is both typical and atypical. We have a great photograph of him in uniform.

Unfortunately, not all the people who came from the village of Körpe are in this photograph. A few examples follow. ADK’s parents are not in it since son Garabed (ADK’s brother Charlie, who passed away May 28, 2013) had an earache and they stayed home in Holden, Massachusetts. Daughters Armenouhie and Anahid, ADK’s older sisters, now 91 and 89, were taken by Hagop Keri [‘Uncle Cousin’] Tashjian and his wife, Nourkhan Kergin [‘Uncle Cousin’s wife’] along with their kids to the gathering (see nos. 143, 144; nos. 136-142). ADK’s Mother’s Mother’s brother, i.e. Mariam Babajanian Tashjian’s brother Kapriel, her Uncle Kapriel Babajanian of Binghamton, New York who had lost his entire family in the Genocide and never remarried, is not in the photograph. ADK’s father, and Mesrop Karee no. 100 and Gunkahayr (Godfather) Nigoghos Boghosian (no. 118) and Krikor Pilibosian (no. 187) from the village of Hogheh close to Körpe, and Kapriel Babajanian of Binghamton (and others not in the photo because they lived in Philadelphia etc.) had volunteered for service in the French Légion d’Orient, as were gamavohrs (volunteers). Baron [Mr.] Sarkis Kazarian (no. 26) and Hagop Karee (no. 143) served in the US Army. Baron Sarkis had been gassed in France. Hagop Karee did not see action.

Baron [Mr.] Haroutune Shabouian and his family were not present either. He was to write the only available history of the village. Detailed notes for another one was written but tragically lost through carelessness and stupidity.

Mr. Melikian labeled the scroll and dated it as August 16, 1931 and pointed out that it was a gathering of Worcester [Ousdoor’ee] and Lowell [Lovel] people originally from Keorpe village in Kharpert “ungeroo’tuyan” [fellowship; kegha’tsis or fellow villagers, first started in Worcester in 1904]. The exact location where the photo was taken in Lowell is not known. A picture of the partially opened scroll can be seen below followed by 10 cuts from the scroll starting on the left. The height of the print is 8 ½ inches and the length is, as the name implies, a yard long.

Listing of Individuals Appearing in Lowell August 16, 1931 Scroll Picture
Sorted by Number (name in bold indicates Worcester area residence)

Number	Last Name	First Name	Armenian Name	Nickname	Married To

1	Krikorian	Paul	Boghos
2	Krikorian	Elizabeth	Yeghsapert		?? Scirpo
3	Kazarian	Elizabeth	Yeghsapert	Lizzie / Liz	Roy Wheeler; died in 2000; Lizzie died 22 Oct. 2015
4	Aslanian	Elizabeth	Yeghsapert	Lizzie / Liz	Peter Koutouzis, divorced
5	Unidentified
6	Arslanian	Zakar	Zakar	Zeke
7	Arslanian	Charles	Garabed		Charlie died in 2007
8	Aslanian (Takvorian)	Ardash	Ardash	Artie
9	Krikorian	Hyqouhie			Bedros, no. 25; mother of Paul and Olga
10	Krikorian	Olga	Oghda
11	Kazarian	Gerald	Jirair	Jerry	Pamela Smith; Jerry is deceased
12	Aslanian	John	Hovhannes
13	Aslanian	Oscar	Asadoor		Lucy Teixeira
14	Payelian	John	Hovhannes
15	Payelian	Richard	Dikran?
16	Unidentified
17	Unidentified
18	Aslanian	Sarah	Sara		Bedros, no. 32
19	Aslanian	Arpineh	Arpineh	Arpy
20	Aslanian	Roxy	Araxie
21	Aslanian	Helen	Khatchkhatoon
22	Krikorian	Sharkey	Shake
23	Kazarian	Rose	Varter		Sarkis, no. 26
24	Aslanian	Serpouhi			Avak, no.29; father of Paul no. 1 & Olga no. 10
25	Krikorian	Peter	Bedros		Hygouhie, no. 9
26	Kazarian	Sarkis	Sarkis		Varter, no. 23; father to Liz no.3 & Jerry no. 11
27	Krikorian	Gregory	Krikor		Margaret
28	Kevorkian	Mgrudich	Mugerditch	Muggur	Yeghsa-divorced; 2nd wife Marta Merzigian no. 53
29	Aslanian	Avak	Avak		Serpouhie, no. 24
30	Payelian	Manoog
31	Payelian	Avak
32	Aslanian	Bedros J.			Sara Tarkizian, no. 18
33	Aslanian	Mary	Mariam		Fred Habib
34	Aslanian	Ovan			Zarouhi, not in photo
35	Aslanian	Ashken			Margos, no. 36; second husband;1st surnamed Takvorian
36	Aslanian	Margos			Ashkhen, no. 35; she was his second wife
37	Aslanian	Agnes	Azniv		Harry "Mickey" [Mesak] Sagerian
38	Aslanian	George			Susie Derderian, sister to Mary, wife of K. Merzigian no. 50
39	Aslanian Takvorian	Pearl	Kuvar??		Hanna Harootunian, no. 106
40	Kirkorian	Charles	Garabed		Dirif, no. 41
41	Kirkorian	Dirif			Garabed. No. 40
42	Unidentified
43	Payelian
44	Unidentified	Isaiah [Isayeel]
45	Kirkorian	Mary	Mariam		Sister to Elizabeth no. 49; Harry Kalajian
46	Astorian	Lucy			Karnig Alexandrian
47	Alexandrian	Marion			William Hovannesian
48	Unidentified
49	Kirkorian	Elizabeth	Yeghsapert	Betty	Sister to Mary no. 45
50	Merzigian	Kizer	Khazar		Mary Derderian, sister to Susie, wife of George Aslanian no. 3
51	Merzigian	Mary	Mariam	Myram Kergin; ‘Na’	Khatchadour, no. 57
52	Unidentified
53	Merzigian	Martha	Marta		3rd hsbd was M. no.28; 4th was M.K. no. 92; mom to 50, 54 to 56
54	Merzigian	Jacob	Hagop	Jake	Varti Davidian; Jake died December 8, 2015
55	Merzigian	Anna			George Krikorian, no. 182; George and Anna are deceased
56	Merzigian	John	Hovhannes	Johnny	Lisa Gorgorglione (deceased); Jean Malone
57	Merzigian	Kachador	Khatchadoor	Amoo	Mariam, no.51 (no children)
58	Hoogasian	Hoogas		Gussie	In this 'yards long' or 'circuit' photograph photo twice
59	Hovanesian	Mooshegh			Veron, no. 64; Mother of nos. 61 to 63
60	Alexandrian	Anna	Mannig	Granny	Mother of Mooshegh and others; refer to Ashvuntsi picture
61	Hovanesian	Elizabeth	Yaghsapet	Elsie	Aram Arvanigian,both Aram and Elsie are deceased
62	Hovanesian	Eunice	Yepradouhi		Nicholas Improta, Eunice is deceased
63	Hovanesian	Ann	Anna	Anno	Edward Wrinn
64	Hovanesian	Veronica	Veron		Mooshegh, no. 59
65	Hoogasian	Mary	Maree		Zaven, no.66
66	Hoogasian	Zaven			Maree, no. 65
67	Hoogasian	Katharine	Khatchkhatoun	Kay	James Sarkisian Katherine is deceased
68	Kirkorian	Tamam			Mardiros, no. 69
69	Krikorian	Martin	Mardiros	Mardo	Tamam, no.68; original family name Babajanian
70	Krikorian	Michael	Mikahel
71	Krikorian	John	Hovhaness
72	Ouzounian	Eliza
73	Aslanian	John	Hovhaness		Azniv Bekarian
74	Sarkissian	Barooyr	Barooyr	Buddy	Buddy is deceased
75	dog-not numbered
76	Sarkissian	Acabe			Mikahel Sarkissian aka Nortratsian, No. 77
77	Sarkissian Nortratsian	Mikahel			Acabe, no. 76
78	Sarkissian	Michael	Haig
79	Michaelian	Harry	Haroutoun		Nazley, no. 80
80	Michaelian	Nazley			Haroutoun, no. 79
81	Michaelian	Ann	Anahid
82	Michaelian	Zaven
83	Aslanian	Rose	Dzarghgazart	Dzarig or Dzahgo	Sarkis, no. 84 (no children)
84	Aslanian	Sarkis			Dzaghazart, no. 83
85	Aslanian	Martha	Marta		Sarkis' daughter, no. 84; Noubar? Zorabedian
86	Kochoian	Kazar	Khazar		Zabel, No. 88
87	Kochoian	Violet	Manushag
88	Kochoian	Zabel			Khazar, no. 86
89	Kochoian	Rose	Vartanoush /Vartoosh	Rosie
90	DerMichaelian	Katchadoor
91	Kazarian	Tervez			Maljan, no. 92; his second wife was Martha Kevorkian no. 53
92	Kazarian	Maljan			Tarvez Aslanian, no. 91; second wife no. 53 Marta
93	Kazarian	Helen			Nishan Nishanian, he is deceased
94	Kazarian	Mary			Serop Goshgarian, Mary is deceased
95	Kazarian	Sadie	Satenig		Takvor Takvorian, both Tak and Sadie are deceased
96	Boyajian	Mary	Mariam		Gaspar, no. 97
97	Boyajian	Kasper	Gaspar		Mariam Anteblian, no. 96
98	Boyajian	Queena	Takouhie	Queenie
99	Boyajian	Charles	Garabed	Charlie	Charles is deceased
100	Boyajian	Mesrop		"Sam" to co-workers	Widower from Genocide; never remarried
101	Aharonian	Rose	Vartouhi		Paul B. Hagopian, Rose died in 2012
102	Aharonian	Porapion			Merger, no. 103
103	Aharonian	Mergerios		Merger	Porapion, no. 102
104	Harootunian	Sarah	Sarah		Khatchadour, no. 105
105	Harootunian	Khatchadour		Khatcho; K'yegan	Sarah Perch, no. 104
106	Harutunian	Vahan	Vahan	Hanna	Pearl Takvorian, no. 39; Hanna is deceased
107	Aharonian	Aharon	Aharon Girayr	Gerry	Marion D. maiden name ? Aharonian
108	Aharonian	Stella			James Parechanian, Stella died in 2011
109	Haruntunian	John	Hovhaness	Governor'	Katcho & Sarah's son; note spelling; he is deceased
110	Arakelian	Alice			John Lacey
111	Arakelian	Anna	Anna Berberian		No. 114, Kirkor Arakelian
112	Arakelian	Gregory
113	Der Krikorian	Menas		Menas Keri	Widower from Genocide
114	Arakelian	Kirkor	Gregory		Anna no. 111
115	Arakelian	George		Cookie	Pearl Palulian
116	Arakelian	Charlotte		Cookie's sister	Robert Ghiz
117	Boghosian	Oghda			Nigoghos, no. 118; to Fowler CA in March 1938
118	Boghosian	Nigoghos			Oghda, no. 117
119	Boghosian	Peter	Bedros
120	Boghosian	Irene	Zaroohie		Irene Choboian is deceased
121	Boghosian	Paul	Boghos		Paul is deceased; his wife Arman is alive
122	Khachadoorian	Mgrdch
123	Askashian	Sam	Senekerim		Goldie
124	Sohigian	Alexander		Alex	Berjouhie Sohigian
125	Ouzounian	Manoog
126	Manoogian	John	Hovhaness		Almas, no. 127
127	Manoogian	Almas			Hovaness, no. 126
128	Manoogian	George	Kirkor
129	Manoogian	John	Hovhaness
130	Unidentified
131	Unidentified
132	Minassian	Melkon		Melkon Amoo	Widower from Genocide
133	Manoogian	Lucy	Lucine
134	Tashjian	Menas		Beansie	Menas, also spelled Menes, is deceased
135	Tashjian	Zakar
136	Unidentified
137	Tashjian	Archie	Khatchadour	Archie	[Nancy L. Hopkins]; Archie is deceased
138	Tashjian	Rose	Khatchkhatoun	Rosie /Arpenig
139	Krikorian	Alice	Armenouhie	Alice	Michael Gulbankian
140	Tashjian	Nancy	Haigouhie	Hikewee	Clarence Barton; both Nancy and Clarence are deceased
141	Tashjian	Richard	Diran	Dickie
142	Krikorian	Anna	Anahid	Annie	Marino DeMango
143	Tashjian	Hagop	Hagopos Menas		Nurkhan, no. 144; father to nos. 137-141; Keri to 139 & 140
144	Tashjian	Nurkhan			Hagop, no. 143; mother to nos. 137 to 141; Kergin to 139 & 140
145	Kaprielian	Nevart
146	Unidentified
147	Unidentified
148	Megedichian	Neshan			Nazley, no. 149
149	Megedichian	Nazley			Neshan , no. 148
150	DerGarabedian	Kohar			Marderos, no 151
151	DerGarabedian	Marderos			Kohar, no 150
152	DerGarabedian	Rose	Vartanoush		Kirk Krikorian
153	DerGarabedian	George
154	Aprahamian	Aghavnie			Garbed. Mp 155
155	Aprahamian	Garabed			Aghavnie, no. 154
156	Aprahamian	Albert	Apraham	Albie
157	Azoian	Manoog
158	Aslanian	Abraham	Apraham	Apamoo	Genocide widower
159	Harootian	Sam	Sam		Araxie Malkasian
160	Kazarian	Marsoob			Zarouhie Jardarian
161	DerTorosian	Garabed
162	Harootian	Elizabeth		Lizzie / Liz	Louis Mikitarian
163	Bournazian	George			?. No 167
164	Bournazian	David			Older brother to George
165	Bournazian	possibly Dorothy?			If Liz so, married to Louis Mikitarian
166	Mouradian	Charles	Garabed		Susie Piligian
167	Bournazian				???, no. 167
168	Mouradian	Mary			Armen
169	Mouradian	Armen			Mary
170	Mouradian	Bert	Berge
171	Mouradian	George	Krikor		Helen Kerkorian
172	Kazarian	Kazar	Khazar	Ki	Elizabeth Nordigian
173	Davidian	Khachadoor		Khach Amoo
174	Kazarian	Sarah	Sarah		David, no. 175; mother of nos.172, 176 and 177
175	Kazarian	David	Davit		Sarah, no. 174
176	Kazarian	Rose			Van Yayalian
177	Kazarian	Julia	Juvahr		Henry Kiremitjian; Julie is deceased
178	Cholakian	Giragos
179	Sarkisian	Serpouhie		later Sophie	husband Garabed not in picture
180	Sarkisian	George	Kirkor	Koko	Beatrice
181	Sarkisian	Margaret	Makrouhie/Markrid	Mako
182	Krikorian	George	Kirkor	Kiki	Anna Merzigian, no. 55, both George and Anna are deceased
183	Krikorian	Altoon	Voskitel	Altoon	Bedros DerKrikorian; mom to 182, 184-5; 2nd husband no.199
184	Krikorian	Pearl	Kuvar		Oliver S. McBride; Ollie/ "Mac" is deceased
185	Krikorian	Paul	Boghos		Gladys Benneyan; Paul died Dec. 21, 2015
186	Hoyen	George
187	Pilibosian	Krikor			Haiganoosh Grigorian; father to nos.188 and 189
188	Pilibosian	Elizabeth	Yeghsapert	Lizzie or ‘Betty’	Ralph Sheehan; Lizzie and Ralph are deceased
189	Pilibosian	George	Krikor
190	Hoyen
191	Simonian	Yathazar	Yeghazar	Yeghamoo	Noonia Yenokian[her father's 1st name]-Krikorian, no. 192
192	Simonian	Noonoofar	Noonia always used	Noonia/Nonig/Noono	Yeghazar, no. 191; mother to no. 193,194 to 197
193	Simonian	Samuel	Simon	Sam, Sammy	Rita Fenlon
194	Simonian	Bizer	Baidsar	Bizer / Betty	Bizer died Oct. 10, 2015
195	Simonian	Eva			Roger Haroyan; Eva is deceased
196	Simonian	Oghda		Ogda; Iggie	Philip O'Gulian; Oghda and Philip are deceased
197	Simonian	Pamela	Pannonia	Pam/ Pannon	Apkar Apkarian; Pam and Apkar 'Bob' are deceased
198	Alexanian	Hagop			Godfather to all the Simonians
199	Simonian	Bagdasar		Baghdo	Zabel Kasperian no. 200; later to Altoon DerKrikorian, no. 183
200	Simonian	Zabel			Bagdasar Simonian mother to nos. 201 and 202
201	Simonian	Thomas	Toomas	Tommy	Jean Kaloustian; Tommy died in 1992
202	Simonian	Elizabeth	Yeghsapet	Elsie	James Melikian; Jim died in 2007

Acknowledgements

Identifications in this picture derive from a group effort spearheaded by ADK with so many others that details would fill a book. Both those dead or alive will know that they remained true to their heritage. We thank everyone and her cousin for the help in filling out this Spreadsheet. Indeed, we say “her” because we relied largely, but not exclusively, on the fairer sex for generously responding to the call to rally round this project. Sadly, many have since passed on. We apologize for any errors and stand ready to make additions or corrections to the Master List. Clearly we have ‘sat on this long enough.’ As the old timers might have asked “Ahl heh’rick ch’eh!” [Is it not enough?] We hope that they would have also said, Shidag, shidag ehr’erehn [they’ve done it correctly] or at least would have said, “Gur’tsadz’ihn chahp’uh ehreren [The have done as much as they could].

Endnotes

[1] Haroutune Shabouian’s book on the “History of Kerope/Körpe” lists all families to the extent possible. This book was surely a labor of love but as is the case in most efforts of that sort, it is not totally reliable. Exactly why he called it Keorpe rather than Keropeh, the correct Armenian form remains unanswered. This probably is merely the result of trying to get the Turkish ‘sound’ into the Armenian spelling. The volume lists the various households of this purely Armenian village by house number. There were no Catholics or Protestants. He started writing this in 1958 or 1959 and completed it around 1963 to 1965. It is handwritten in Armenian, and was reproduced in photo offset. We should be very glad that he took it upon himself to write the book. He admitted that there may be have been errors but an effort has been made to verify facts. And, of course, there is the problem that informants were sometimes mistaken about their own particulars - dates of immigration for instance. There is one absolutely critical and perhaps unique feature of the book - (we know of no other village history, and quite a few were written by Diasporan Armenians) - that has the feature. There may be, but we are not aware of it/them.) Briefly, at the end of the volume there is a household tabulation that gives the names of the people in each household, starting with the oldest male followed by age and status. Then the oldest female is given, again followed by the others. The challenge is that one cannot tell for sure which female goes with each male and so forth. Ages are given for all. These are largely conjectures since many did not know exactly when they were born. The tally at the right hand side of an entry merely is an ongoing accounting of the number of souls/bodies in the village. As each name is entered, the tally goes up by one.

The beautiful feature of the village history is that it is a history that deals with the common people - everyone was fitted in, or, more accurately, at least named in a family context.

The entry on Körpe village in Vahe Haig’s massive on Kharpert may be found reproduced in full in our article entitled “A Family Photograph from Korpeh, Kharpert, Old Armenia Bears Forceful Witness to the Genocide” Armenian News Network / Groong July 10, 2015. This article includes a brief bibliography, photographs and relevant maps. See http://groong.usc.edu/orig/ak-20150710.html

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