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Treasures of NAASR's Mardigian Library:
E. A. Yeran: Pioneering Armenian-American Printer and Publisher, Part 2
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Part 1 of our Library Treasures feature on the work of Edward Arakel Yeran presented books published by his Yeran press through ca. 1915. Part 2 continues and brings to a conclusion this work.
Among the striking aspects of Yeran Press is the diversity of the publications. Reference works, historical writings, literature, medical writings, compatriotic publications--all this and more form a rich and lasting legacy.
To the best of our knowledge, this two-part feature includes all known Yeran publications, which includes items where he is listed as publisher as well as when he is listed as printer--although we acknowledge that there may be items we are not aware of. As far as we know, they only missing items are a collection of postcards; according to the Yeran catalogue, the postcards included Armenian notables, writers, and historical figures. If anyone has these, we'd like to see them.
Compiled by Ani Babaian and Marc Mamigonian
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Author: Dikran K. Babigean = Տիգրան Գ. Պապիկեան
Title: Azkayin erreag sgzpunk‘ner: Agreyiazkě
= Ազգային երրեակ սկզբունքներ : Ակրեյիազգը [Three national principles: Aggressiveness]
Publication Information: [Boston:] Eran Dbagrut‘iwn, 1916
NAASR Mardigian Library, gift of Hairenik Association
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This book was published in 1916, in the midst of the Armenian Genocide. The author, Dickran K. Babigian, is basically unknown to us. It appears he was born in 1888 or 1889 in Malatia, immigrated ca. 1890 and lived in Lowell, MA. He died in 1947 and is buried in Mt. Auburn Cemetery.
Babigian expresses his rebellion against the times and argues for new principles to establish a strong and successful nation. He says: “There is no need to write, there is a need to act on principle. We do not want literature or poetry anymore. Throw all the books in the fire and turn them to ashes. We need only the unchangeable and eternal Three National Principles and by them the Armenian nation will be restored.”
The three principles are:
1. National Productive Labor [Ազգային արդիւնաբեր գործունէութիւն = Azkayin artiwnaper kordzunēut‘iwn]
2. National Strength/Vigor [Ազգային ուժեր = Azkayin uzher]
3. National Aggressiveness [Ազգային ակրիցիա = Azkayin agrits‘ia]
As the author explains, “a strong national and individual oppositional self-defense and offensive force is called agrets‘ia,” which we understand to mean a national fighting spirit. Babigian explains that agrets‘ia derived from the Latin word aggressa. Similarly, the English words aggression and aggressiveness derive from the same Latin root.
Babigian employs various compound words similarly related to and derived from this same root. For example, agresaazk (aggressa + azk [Nation]), agresaanhad (aggressa + anhad [individual]), agresamidk (aggressa + midk [mind]), agresafizik (agressa + fizik [physical]), etc. Since these words cannot be found in dictionaries, we assume they are the coinages of the author himself.
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Author: H. H. Chakmakjean = Յ. Յ. Չագմագճեան
Title: K‘eragan-ěnt‘ertsaran: Amerigahay manugneru hamar = Քերական-ընթերցարան։ Ամերիկահայ մանուկներու համար [Grammar-reading book: for American-Armenian children]
Publication Information: Bost‘ěn: Hradaragut‘iwn I. A. Eran, 1916
NAASR Mardigian Library
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Author: S. Barushean = Ս. Պարուշեան
Title: Arachin p‘ortsers = Առաջին փորձերս [My first endeavors]
Publication Information: Bost‘ěn: Eran Dbagrut‘iwn, 1916
NAASR Mardigian Library
As the title indicates, this is the author's first book. The first part, Tiwts‘azni khōsker = Դիւցազնի խօսքեր [Words of the conqueror], contains four patriotic poems. The second part, Kʿnaris hed = Քնարիս հետ [With my lyre], is the expression of the poet's inner world, and one of the poems is dedicated to the American feminist author and human rights advocate Alice Stone Blackwell (1857-1950).
Barushian writes: “I am publishing this small work, first to contribute my small share of the book sales to our poor people, and second to take care of my needs as student. I hope that readers will notice that these are juvenile experiments and judge their merit accordingly. I am sure that sincere suggestions will help me in my future endeavors, and modest encouragement will inspire me to achieve my goals.”
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Author: Dōk‘t‘. A. Ingěrman; t‘argm. Ruserēnē Bondats‘i = Տօքթ. Ա. Ինկըրման ; թարգմ. ռուսերէնէ Պոնտացի
Title: Nergay baderazmi badma-dndesagan badjarnerě = Ներկայ պատերազմի պատմա-տնտեսական պատճառները [The historical-economic reasons of the current war]
Publication Information: Bost‘ěn: Eran Dbagrut‘iwn, 1916
NAASR Mardigian Library
We believe the likely author of this short book to be Dr. Anna (Amitin) Ingerman (ca. 1868-1931), a Russian-born physician who was very active in socialist circles along with her physician husband, Dr. Sergius Ingerman, in New York City. We have not identified the original of this translated work.
According to the translator "Bondatsi," "there is no brochure in the literature of the Armenian labor class that briefly and clearly explains the historical and economic causes of the current war," a gap which this work fills. He explains that "the reader will understand very clearly all the games of the great powers and will definitely understand the damage done by leading political organizations that play a role in Armenian life because of their immature and infantile perceptions, practices, and ideologies, [because of] which the Western Armenians suffered in general, and the Armenian labor class in particular."
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Author: Kisag K. Kazanjean = Գիսակ Գ. Գազանճեան
Title: Baderazm = Պատերազմ [War]
Publication Information: Bost‘ěn: Dbagrut‘iwn I. A. Eran [no date; 1916?]
NAASR Mardigian Library
The book contains patriotic poems and essays on topics such as who is responsible for the war, what will happen when the war ends, and a call to wealthy Armenian Americans. NAASR’s copy of the book is signed by the author.
Kissag Krikor Kazanjian was born in Kharpert in 1891, emigrated in 1908, and resided in Watertown, Massachusetts, in later years using the name Kenneth Kazanjian.
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Author: H. H. Chakmakjean = Յ. Յ. Չագմագճեան
Title: Ěntartsag badmut‘iwn Hayots‘ = Ընդարձակ պատմութիւն Հայոց [All-Inclusive History of the Armenians]
Publication Information: Bost‘ěn: Hradarakut‘iwn Eran Kradan, 1917
NAASR Mardigian Library, from the collection of Harry and Araxie Kolligian
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This is an ambitious work of popular history by Chakmakjian, like his Ěntartsag pararan discussed below, may be the first book of its kind produced in the U.S.; undoubtedly, if not the first history of the Armenians written in Armenian in the U.S. it is the most substantial, and was clearly a volume that adorned the bookshelves of many Armenian Americans. The cover (perhaps designed by the same artist responsible for the Zhoghovrtayin erkaran?) is an adaption of the familiar image of Mayr Hayastan (Mother Armenia) seated among the ruins as well as the Armenian coat of arms (which would be adopted by the first Republic of Armenia in 1918).
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From the Foreword:
We are facing an unprecedented catastrophe today. Blood is still flowing unhindered, honor is trampled on, laboring arms are crushed, half-dead bodies are tortured for the sake of satisfying human evil, and loved ones are left hungry and naked in the face of death's hopelessness. But the responsibility to save the existence of the Armenians weighs on we that remain. In these circumstances, Armenian history is a requirement for national self-recognition and a necessity of individual education.
A nation without history cannot have a place under the sun, and a nation with history must find a source of strength and wisdom in it.
This history is dedicated to Armenian-Americans who have been deprived of books because of the war.
The author has no ambition to say this is his work alone, but he has used many existing books and foreign sources. He has tried to present Armenian history on a scientific basis based on recent sources as well as our traditional history. Individual theories and critiques are not based only on today's data and principles but are also the understanding and needs of the long-established past.
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Author: Sewayr = Սեւայր
Title: Prngogh gaydzer: Hay heghapokhagan geank‘ē, 6 araruadz 2 badger = Բռնկող կայծեր: Հայ յեղափոխական կեանքէ 6 արարուած 2 պատկեր [Incendiary sparks from Armenian revolutionary life]
Publication Information: Bost‘ěn: Eran Dbaran, 1917
NAASR Mardigian Library, from the collection of Robert Bejoian
According to the foreword, became a favorite and the Ararat Dramatic Association in Watertown, MA, decided to publish it. It is a story of revolutionary life, showing the services Armenian revolutionaries have rendered to the nation and homeland, how many abducted Armenian girls it has freed from the hands of Kurds and criminals, etc. The play is presumed to be an adaptation of a work by the same author published under the same title in Cairo in 1905.
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Author: Dig. G. A. Nazar = Տիկ. Կ. Ա. Նազար
Title: Haykirk‘: Amerigahay Manugneru hamar = Հայգիրք Ամերիկահայ Մանուկներու համար [Armenian Book for Armenian-American Children]
Publication Information: Bostěn: Eran Dbaran, 1917
NAASR Mardigian Library, from the collection of Herman D. Sahagian
The author of this book for Armenian-American children, Gulenia Nazar (?-1962), was the wife of the well-known Boston-Armenian writer and community figure A. Nazar. She was an educator and writer, and was the Armenian teacher of NAASR founding chairman Manoog S. Young (1917-2012). Originally published by Yeran, later they were republished by Baikar, also in Boston.
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Author: Arshawir B. Shamlean = Արշաւիր Պ. Շամլեան
Title: Vrezhkhntir tsayner: Hishets‘ēk‘ k‘saně = Վրէժխնդիր ձայներ: Յիշեցէք քսանը [Revengeful voices: Remember the twenty]
Publication Information: [Boston] Eran Dbaran, 1918
NAASR Mardigian Library, from the collection of the Hairenik Association
Arshavir B. Shamlian (also known as Arthur, ca. 1884-1963) belongs to the active generation of Hunchagians who published patriotic poems and essays. The book has five poems, the longest being “Vrezhkhntir tsayner” dedicated to the eternal memory of the twenty Armenian S. D. Hunchags hanged on June 15, 1915, in Constantinople. The book has black and white illustrations by the author. On the back cover the author’s upcoming illustrated books are announced: Zeyt‘unts‘i Goriwn [Զէյթունցի Կորիւն], Hay K‘nar [Հայ Քնար], Im Idealě Abakan [Իմ Իտէալը Ապագան], and Murad Khorakhoruni [Մուրատ Խորխոռունի]. However, we have found no indication that these were ever published.
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Author: [none given]
Title: Anchrti ew shrchagay kiwgheru ojrakordzneru ararknerě = Անջրդի եւ շրջակայ գիւղերու ոճրագործներու արարքները: 1915-1918 [The actions of the criminals of Anchrti and surrounding villages]
Publication Information: Bost‘on: Eran Dbaran [no date; 1918 or 1919?]
NAASR Mardigian Library, from the collection of Harry and Araxie Kolligian
Anchrti was a village near Arapgir. According to the publication, it presents “only a part of the atrocities by Hadji Mehmed, the son of Kelesh Agha of Sarajiwgh.”
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Author: Eruant D. Mgrdichean = Երուանդ Տ. Մկրտիչեան [Ervant Der Megerditchian]
Title: Dzidzaghi p‘uncher = Ծիծաղի փունջեր [Bouquet of smiles]
Publication Information: Bostěn: Eran Dbaran, 1919
NAASR Mardigian Library, from the collection of Gerard T. Amirian
This book is divided into two parts. The first includes short episodes from Khrimian Hairik’s life along with other humorous anecdotes including several about the Armenian joker and entertainer from Karabakh Bělě-Bughi [Պըլը-Պուղի] (1731-1810). Part two includes funny stories from foreign sources, riddles, games, and a piece titled “The Words of the King” narrated by Bedo, an illiterate old man from the village of Shatakh in Van province, in two versions: using Shatakh dialect and Western Armenian.
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In the foreword, the author, Ervant Der Megerditchian, writes of his hope that in publishing this humorous book he has done a small service to his nation, “especially in the present moment, when every Armenian's heart is weeping and mourning in pain and fear.” He explains that he has collected the pieces “from here and there, from storytellers, newspapers, and magazines,” and that in addition to Armenian-language sources, many are translated from Russian, and English. |
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Above: photo of Ervant Der Megerditchian, ca. 1915, from his memoir The Life of an Armenian Emigrant (1970)
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Der Megerditchian was born in Van in 1888 and died in Massachusetts in 1973. Late in life he published a very interesting and informative memoir, The Life of an Armenian Emigrant (1970). He was also responsible for numerous other works in Armenian and English, including as author, Tsgnors Zak‘ar: Paroyalits‘ Zaweshd Měg Arar = Ձկնորս Զաքար: Բարոյալից զաւեշտ մէկ արար (Cairo, 1919), T‘ap‘aragan Hayě = Թափառական Հայը (Boston, 1938), Kantser Vasburagani = Գանձեր Վասպուրականի (Boston, 1966); and as translator, English versions of Hagop Baronian’s Gentlemen Beggars (Boston, 1929) and Uncle Balthazar (Boston, 1933) and Gabriel Sundukian’s Bebo (Boston, 1931). He also served as editor of two short-lived Armenian-language humor publications, Mdrag [Մտրակ], in 1921, and Sap‘rich [Սափրիչ], in 1929, as well as the Van-oriented publication Ardzui Vasburagan (Արծուի Վասպուրական) from 1941-45. Copies of Mdrag and Sap‘rich must be exceedingly rare; we have never seen them.
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Author: [Առաջնորդութիւն Ամերիկայի Հայոց = Arachnortut‘iwn Amerigayi Hayots‘]
Title: Artsanakrut‘iwnk‘ Eresp‘okhanagan Zhoghovoy erek‘ shrchannerun: 1.-1917 P‘etruar 18, 2.-1917 Hulis 29, 3.-1918 Abril 7-8 = Արձանագրութիւնք Երեսփոխանական Ժողովոյ երեք շրջաններուն : Ա.-1917 Փետրուար 18, Բ.-1917 Հուլիս 29, Գ.-1918 Ապրիլ 7-8 [Minutes/Records of Three Periods of Delegation Meetings]
Publication Information: Bost‘on: Eran Dbaran, 1919
NAASR Mardigian Library (image used here is from the National Library of Armenia)
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Author: H. B. Boghosean = Յ. Պ. Պօղոսեան
Title: Hay ts‘eghě ew haladzank‘nerě hokepanut‘ean loysin dag = Հայ ցեղը եւ հալածանքները հոգեբանութեան լոյսին տակ [The Armenian race and the massacres in the light of psychology]
Publication Information: Boston: Eran Dbaran, 1919 [1920 on cover]
NAASR Mardigian Library, from the collection of Andy Ohannessian; signed by author
According to the foreword, the author first presented his work at a scientific gathering at the house of the first president of Clark University, Granville Stanley Hall (1846–1924), which aroused great interest and encouraged him to go on with the study. Boghosian’s study drew on the results of a questionnaire published in Azk newspaper on Nov. 20, 1917 and interviews conducted in the community. As such, it is probably the first work of its kind.
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The book consists of two sections, in which the author addresses such issues as the psychological shocks of the individual during the genocide, the immediate and subsequent effects of the massacres, the psychological changes in women, and the impact of the massacres on the new generation. The author used the works of famous social psychologists, philosophers, and doctors of his time in his research.
The following biography is translated and edited from that provided in Boghosian’s book Neradzutʿiwn Hay Hokepanutʿean, published late in his life in 1958. We include substantial portions of it in light of his fascinating life and career.
Dr. Hagop B. Boghosian was born in 1890 in Vahka [Feke], Cilicia. In 1897, he entered the Hadjin American Missionary School (orphanage). In 1905 he graduated from the Hadjin Academy and then in 1905-1909, attended St. Paul’s College in Tarsus. 1906-1907, he was a teacher at the Academy of Hadjin for a year. Leaving Tarsus at the time of the Cilicia catastrophe in 1909-1911, he attended Jenanian College in Konya, where he graduated in 1911 with a B.A. From 1911 to 1914, he served as a director and at the same time as a teacher at Jenanian College. In 1914, during World War I, he left for America to study psychology and pedagogy, intending to return to Jenanian college. In 1914 he entered Columbia University and in 1915 received an M.A. degree.
From 1915 to 1917, he attended Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, to pursue the same disciplines, and in 1917 received his Ph.D., writing a dissertation titled “The Individual and Society.” From 1917 to 1918, he was an Honorary Fellow at Clark and wrote a work titled “The Superman Idea.” In 1920 he became a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of London, England.
During World War I, Boghosian, who was fluent in Turkish, Armenian, English, French, and German, was tasked by the United States government with reviewing foreign newspapers and publications, for which he earned a symbolic one dollar a year salary. From 1922 to 1924, he studied law at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and finding that course was not to his taste, he quit.
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Hagop Boghosian ca. 1917 and in the 1950s |
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In addition to his scholarly life, Boghosian was active in Armenian affairs. While in Tarsus, he became a member of the Tarsus branch of the Hunchagian Party. In 1909, when he first heard of the Adana massacre, Sarraf Kemal, a pro-Armenian Turk, urged him to flee from Tarsus to Cyprus immediately. But he gathered a few hundred people of Tarsus in the courtyard of St. Stephen's Church and told them what has happening in Adana, and the city was divided into districts for self-defense.
In the United States in 1918, he was for a time, the assistant secretary of the Armenian National Union. He played a role in the unification of the Ramgavars and the Reformed Hunchagians in 1921, now known as the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party.
Boghosian wrote for many Armenian periodicals and lectured widely. In addition to Hay ts‘eghě ew haladzank‘nerě hokepanut‘ean loysin dag, he is the author of several other published books, listed below, as well as unpublished writings:
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Ṛamgavarutʿean Okin gam Anhadaganut‘ean Zarkats‘umě = Ռամկավարութեան Ոգին կամ Անհատականութեան Զարգացումը [The Spirit of Ramgavarism or the Development of Individuality] (Bosdon: Dbaran Azk, 1920)
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Hajěni Ěnthanur Badmutʿiwně ew Shrchagay Kōzan-Daghi Hay Kiwgherě = Հաճընի Ընդհանուր Պատմութիւնը եւ Շրջակայ Գօզան-Տաղի Հայ Գիւղերը [The General History of Hadjin and the Surrounding Armenian Villages of Gozan-Tagh], Լos Angeles, California: Bozart Press, 1942
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Highlights of Armenian History and Its Civilization (1957)
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Neradzutʿiwn Hay Hokepanutʿean = Ներածութիւն Հայ Հոգեբանութեան [Introduction to Armenian Psychology] (Cairo: Dbaran Sahag Mesrob, 1958)
Boghosian married Victoria Benneyan from Kharpert in Fresno in 1921. They had a daughter Carol Grace (Boghosian) Kinosian and a son Dr. Melkon Paul Boghosian. In 1948 his wife died, and in 1950, Dr. Boghosian remarried Nounoufar Arzouian Baharian, a native of Constantinople.
In addition to his intellectual work, Boghosian worked in the Oriental rug trade from 1927 to 1951 in Pasadena, California. He died in 1959.
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Author: H. H. Chakmakjean = Յ. Յ. Չագմագճեան
Title: Mayreni lezu: arachin dari = Մայրենի լեզու: առաջին տարի [Mother tongue, first year]
Publication Information: Boston: Hradaragut‘iwn Eran Kradan, 1920
NAASR Mardigian Library, from the collection of Gerard T. Amirian
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Author: [none given]
Title: Ōrats‘oyts‘ Hayasdaneayts‘ Egeghets‘woyn Amerigayi 1921: Badgerazart ew shahegan haweluadznerov= Օրացոյց Հայաստանեայց Եկեղեցւոյն Ամերիկայի 1921 : Պատկերազարդ եւ շահեկան յաւելուածներով [Calendar of the Armenian Church of America 1921. Illustrated and with useful supplements]
Publication Information: Bosdon: Eran Dbaran
NAASR Mardigian Library
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This small calendar provides information about the dioceses of the U.S., the names of bishops, priests, and board members, and images of the Armenian churches in Massachusetts in the 1920s. It also contains information about how to behave at church and other useful information. |
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Author: [Pʿrgutʿean Hankanagutʿean Getronagan Hankanagichʿ Hantsnazhoghov = Փրկութեան Հանգանակութեան Կեդրոնական Հանգանակիչ Յանձնաժողով]
Title: Baduoy kirk‘: P‘rgut‘ean hankanagut‘ean Hayots‘ Amerigayi 1920-1921 = Պատուոյ գիրք Փրկութեան հանգանակութեան Հայոց Ամերիկայի 1920-1921 [Book of Honor: Armenian-American fundraising for the salvation (of Armenia)]
Publication Information: Bost‘ěn: Eran Dbaran, 1921
NAASR Mardigian Library, from the collection of Andy Ohannessian
The first portion of this “Book of Honor” presents documents relating to the effort spearheaded by General Antranig (Andranik) to raise funds in the U.S. for the Republic of Armenia. The bulk of the volume consists of lists of donors, grouped by American city of residence. Many of these lists also provide the Old Country city or town of origin of the donor. It is a remarkable snapshot of Armenian-American existence shortly after the Genocide.
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Author: ashkadasirets‘ P‘rōf. H. H. Chakmakjean = աշխատասիրեց Յ. Յ. Չագմագճեան
Title: Ěntartsag pararan Ankl.-Hay. = Ընդարձակ բառարան Անգլ.-Հայ. [A Comprehensive Dictionary English-Armenian]
Publication Information: Bost‘ěn: Hradarakut‘iwn Eran Kradan, 1922
NAASR Mardigian Library, from the collection of Ann Kaprelian
Chakmakjian’s aptly named Comprehensive Dictionary must stand as the most ambitious lexicographical undertaking of its era in the Armenian-American diaspora. At more than 1,400 pages the dictionary also included “essential parts of the English grammar; mythological, geographical, biographical, historical dictionaries; foreign words and phrases; Constitution of the U.S.A.; naturalization laws; postal rules and regulations; ethiquettes; etc., etc., etc.” It is no wonder that this massive work went through multiple printings and remained in print (via other publishers) decades after its original appearance.
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Author: Dōkʿtʿ. [Dr.] M. G. Srabean = Տօքթ. Մ. Կ. Սրապեան
Title: Adamnapuzhut‘iwn (Badgerazart): agraneru hiwantut‘iwnnerě, anonts‘ badjarnerě ew tarmanumě = Ատամնաբուժութիւն (Պատկերազարդ) : Ակռաներու հիւանդութիւնները, անոնց պատճառները եւ դարմանումը [Dentistry (Illustrated): Tooth diseases, their causes and treatment]
Publication Information: Bostěn: Eran Dbaran, 1924
NAASR Mardigian Library, from the collection of Herman D. Sahagian; signed by the author
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Above: portrait of Dr. Surabian and his signature. |
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Author: [none given]
Title: Amp‘op‘ deghegakir Chmshgadzagi Ěnthanur Miutʿean 1917-1925 = Ամփոփ տեղեկագիր Չմշկածագի Ընդհանուր Միութեան 1917-1925 [Summary Report of the General Union of Chmshgadzag]
Publication Information: Bōsděn: Eran Dbaran, 1925
NAASR Mardigian Library, from the collection of Dr. Levon Z. Boyajian
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List of Yeran publications, 1920 (back cover of Mayreni lezu)
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Support the Future of Armenian Studies. |
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