Armenians of Worchester

Mavi Boncuk |

See also: ARMENIANS OF WORCESTER Author: Pamela E. Apkarian-Russell [1] ISBN: 9780738504650 # of Pages: 128 Publisher: Arcadia Publishing


"...This cabinet card image is a terrific example of a photographer capturing history with his/her camera. In this case, the photographer was just not cataloging history, but he was part of it. Lusadaran, the Armenian Photography Foundation[2], cites the photographer of this cabinet card. An article on their web site discloses that Hairabed was a photographer in Worcester, Massachusetts in the 1900’s through the 1920’s. During his photography career he had shortened his name from his given name of Hairabedian. There is no mention of his first name. The article reports that he had likely emigrated to America from the Ottoman Empire. Once here, he photographed the first waves of Armenian Genocide survivors and immigrants settling in the Worcester area. His specialty was taking studio portraits. After doing some preliminary research, I may have uncovered the photographer’s first name. The city directory of Providence (1909 and 1910) lists a photography studio operated by Bedros and Astoor Hairabedian. The 1910 directory notes that Astoor Hairabedian moved to Salem, Massachusetts during that year. This image was most likely taken before 1910 but it would not be unusual for a family photography business to have been operating at two or more different cities simultaneously. Perhaps Astoor had decided to move to Massachusetts to manage or work at that location to replace or join another relative already there. What do we know about the subjects of this cabinet card portrait? Not much. We can only surmise by their dress and appearance that they are Armenian immigrants to the United States shortly after the turn of the century. The woman in the image is wearing traditional clothing including a scarf covering her head and much of her face." SOURCE



[1] Author Pamela E. Apkarian-Russell has carefully gathered rare images that document and celebrate the history of this community from individuals and local organizations in and around Worcester. Here, she presents this striking collection of photographs that tell the stories of the people, their struggles, celebrations, and culture. Join her as she takes the reader through the twentieth century in Armenians of Worcester.

"...At the beginning of the twentieth century, millions of immigrants came to the United States in search of a better life and greater opportunities for their families. However, the Armenians who came to Worcester between 1894 and 1930 were escaping a devastating genocide that tore their country apart. What they found and how they became an integral part of Worcester culture and history is the story found in Armenians of Worcester. Worcester was a mecca for many Armenians, who had escaped with little more than their lives. There were mills that provided work, and there was a growing number of Armenians who were struggling to make sense of what had happened in their homeland. The first Armenian Apostolic church and the first Armenian Protestant church in America were both in this city, and both helped to build new foundations for a community that was to enrich the city and slowly resurrect the art, theater, music, and food that celebrates the Armenian culture. The Armenian picnics that were an integrating influence in the early years continue even today as a gathering of clans and all who join in on these days of celebration."

[2] Lusadaran: Armenian photography foundation project Foundation Facebook Page