Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Barlow Der Mugrdechian
Advisor
Dr. Dickran Kouymjian, Haig and Isabel Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies at Fresno State has the pleasure of announcing a major gift to the Henry Madden Library and the Armenian Studies Program of CSUF: the professional Armenological library of Dr. Arra S. Avakian.
The collection has an estimated 3,000 books and pamphlets; 95% of the material has a direct connection to Armenian matters. The collection is specialized and valuable to Armenian studies. An estimated 60% of the books are in English with the remainder in Armenian.
The collection includes a 19th century missal from Venice, an Armenian-Latin dictionary printed in Constantinople, and an original copy of the first English edition of The Forty Days of Musa Dagh. Several charming school-books, covering music, geometry, and philology, were obtained from an old bookstore in Romania.
Dr. Avakian has exhibited parts of his collection at the Fresno County Library.
When asked why he donated the books to Fresno State, Dr. Avakian replied, “It seemed natural. I used to be on the faculty at Fresno State and this is a way for a lasting association with the University.”
Dr. Avakian began collecting books more than sixty years ago, adding to his collection from offered sales, used books stores, gifts, and retired books. He has a special interest in church related materials. His collection of musical scores includes an 1895 Leipzig edition of the Makar Ekmalian Divine Liturgy, with all of the forms for the Liturgy, such as for male voices and mixed voices.
Dr. Avakian is the author of Armenian Journey through History, Armenians in America, and Manual for Choirmasters, as well as ten translations of books from Armenian into English.. He has been deeply involved in Armenian community life and in the study of the Armenian culture for many years.
Dr. Avakian graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and on completing graduate study in 1935 was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science in the fields of Mathematics and Physics. For many years, he served with distinction in scientific research and engineering, especially in the area of aerospace technology.
Responding to a call, Dr. Avakian was appointed Professor of Armenian Studies at California State University, Fresno, in 1970. Several years later, he took a similar position at the newly formed American Armenian International College, in La Verne, California. Dr. Avakian contributed to the initiation of the Armenian studies programs at both institutions. He continues to maintain a highly visible profile in the dissemination of knowledge on Armenian cultural heritage through his authorship of newspaper and magazine articles and his public lectures on Armenian subjects. In addition, he offers a yearly Elderhostel program on the cultural history of the Armenian people. His book, The Armenians in America, is used as a reference text in public schools.
Dr. Avakian has held leadership positions in such community organizations as the Armenian Students’ Association of America, the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research, the Armenian Assembly, the Knights of Vartan, and the Armenian Church at both parish and diocesan levels. Among his special interests are the music and liturgy of the Armenian Church, in which he has served as Choir Director for many years. In 1995, Dr. Avakian was elected a delegate to the National Ecclesiastical Assembly at the Holy See of the Armenian Church, at Etchmiadzin, for the election of Karekin I, Catholicos of All Armenians.
Also, in that same year, he was awarded the St. Sahag-St. Mesrop Medal of Honor by the Catholicos, together with an Encyclical (Gontag) commending him for his long years of fruitful service to the church.
Dr. Avakian has traveled extensively, with visits to Armenian centers throughout the world, especially in historic Armenia (Anatolia) and the Republic of Armenia, often forming and guiding tourist groups.
He is married to the former Georgia Keosaian of New York. They have five children.