Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Th Armenian Studies Program would like to thank the donors, authors, and publishers for the following books, periodicals, videos, and archival gifts, either offered personally, or to the Program.
Krikor Djabourian, Los Angeles, CA, for a copy of two books in honor of his late brother, Hampartsoum Djabourian, «Մեր Ժամանակին Մեծ Երաժիշտն ու Նուիրեալ Ազգասէրը» The Great Musician and Dedicated Patriot of Our Times (Yerevan, 2024), 166pp., in Armenian, English, and French, and «Նոտաների ժողովածու» Collection of Musical Notations (Yerevan, 2024) 281pp., in Armenian and English. The book is dedicated to Krikor Djabourian’s late brother, Hampartsoum Djabourian. Krikor Djabourian and Christine published the book, along with his musical scores, not only to honor but to preserve his brother’s legacy and the life that he lived. The book includes Hampartsoum’s biography and musical narrative. It also includes a flash drive of his recordings, with contributions from notable figures whom he worked with, such as Peter Oundjian, guitarist Levon Ichkhanian, and Atom Egoyan. The musical scores were arranged to include all of Hampartsoun’s favorite pieces.
Dennis Gertmenian, Pasadena, CA, for a copy of Memoirs of Mardiros Agha Gertmenian of Hadjin (Gertmenian Fam-ily Foundation, 2025), 95pp., in English, with photos, translated and edited by Murat Cankara and Yaşar Tolga Cora and translated by Ekin Kurtdarcan. The book recounts the memoirs of Dennis Gertmenian’s great-grandfather, Mardiros Agha Gertmenian, who was a native of Hadjin. The book offers a rare first-hand account of life in Hadjin, which was almost solely inhabited by Armenians. Gertmenian depicts the forced removal of Armenians, the brief return of survivors during French control, and the ultimate final removal and destruction by Turkish forces. The memoirs are an invaluable testimony to the history of the town and its people from the perspective of a man whose life story was intermingled with the story of his birthplace and its community.
Andrew Armen Hagopian, Fresno, CA, for a copy of his Master’s thesis, “Preserving Identity Through Sound: Armenians in California from 1900-1960 and the Preservation of Western Armenian and Kef Music” (Fresno State, May 2025), 109 pp., in English. The thesis explores the question of how and why Armenians in California preserved their musical heritage after the Armenian Genocide. The thesis argues that music served as a crucial mechanism for maintaining Armenian identity in the Diaspora. The thesis is based on oral interviews with musicians and community members, private recordings, historical archives, and published works.
Peter Tourian, West Caldwell, NJ, for a copy of Alice Torian’s My Childhood Without Spring: An Eyewitness Account of the Great Fire of Smyrna (Beirut, 2025), 154pp., in English, translated by Vatche Ghazarian, Ph.D. The book recounts the trials and tribulations of Haiarpi “Alice” Torian, an eyewitness survivor of the Armenian Genocide and the Great Fire of Smyrna. Her memoir serves as a rarely captured first-hand account of these two infamous historical events. It is a must-read for all Americans, Genocide scholars, and anyone with an interest in more deeply appreciating the inhuman suffering of the Armenian people living in Turkey at that time.