First Armenians in the United States

A starting point for Armenians in America. Who were these peoples.? How they relate to you.?

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Nancy
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For an informative and compelling history of Armenians in the United States, I highly recommend Worcester is America: The Story of Worcester's Armenians: The Early Years, by Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian.

The first Armenians started coming to Worcester in the late 1860s, having been visited in Turkey since the early 1800s by missionaries from Worcester, Massachusetts.

The first Armenian likely arrived in Worcester in 1867. His name was Garo or Garabed (no surname). He was from Bitlis in eastern Turkey, near Van. He came with Rev. George Cushing Knapp, a Congregational minister who served in Turkey from 1855 to 1895.

Though the book doesn't mention my families, I have proof that a relative by marriage was there by 1887 and was naturalized in the Worcester Superior Court in 1892. My paternal grandparents lived in Northbridge/Whitinsville (Worcester Co.) briefly in the early 1910s.

Reading about the history of Armenian communities in the United States says a lot about the Armenian people. I would encourage everyone to read about their ancestral backgrounds in addition to recording their family names on ancestor charts.

Nancy
ainley14
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Hi , I have two Armenian Family's who entered America in 1865/6 . Known in America as Hagop and Crical Capamagian . Hagop was naturalized in 1871 , His first son Dearan Edward Capamagian was still born in 1868 in Chicago and Hagop was Killed in Chicago in his woolen mill in 1877 , His wife and family returned to England and later immigrated to New Zealand . Crical and his wife remained in America , but I have not been able to find them on any census records . or any entry or exit records , if any one can help i would be most grateful . Regards
Carpet
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After the First World War and the injustices the Armenian nation suffered in 1915, the surviving Armenians migrated to other nations in search for peace and opportunity. Many of these Armenians who flocked to the United States joined those who had moved here in the early 1890's. The Armenians in the United States were sure that with the help of the great powers of the world they would soon move back to their homeland, which would be a free, independent, and united Armenia. They encountered many difficulties in the new country. Much like the others who had just entered the United States. To deal with such difficulties and emotional stresses suffered due to the Genocide, the Armenians made their culture the core of Armenian life.After the treaty of Lozane, which recognized Turkey as an independent nation and which in turn meant that Western Armenia was no longer in the hands of Armenians, and with the rise of the Bolshevik regime, Armenians saw that their hope of returning to their nation was now a distant dream. The Armenians in the United States now saw that they needed organizations to keep the Armenian culture alive.
Mushrooms
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The first Armenian state was established by the early 6th century BC. At its zenith (95–65 BC) the state extended from northern Caucasus all the way to what is now central Turkey, Lebanon, and north-western Iran. Later it briefly became part of the Roman Empire (AD 114–116). Historically the name Armenian has come to internationally designate this group of people but interestingly enough Armenians don't call themselves Armenians in the Armenian language, instead they call themselves Hay (pronounced Hye; plural: Hayer), the roots of the word may have links to the popular Armenian name Hayk.
In AD 301, Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion (see #Religion). During its later political eclipses, Armenia depended on the church to preserve and protect its unique identity. From around 1080 to 1375, the focus of Armenian nationalism was the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, which had close ties with the Crusader States.
Carpet
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America, America was the clarion call of nineteenth and twentieth century immigrants. The United States endeavored to fuse nations and races into a homogeneous citizenry. For a century Armenians have sought security and a better life in the new world. The Armenian American community is the largest in the world outside Armenia and easily the wealthiest and best educated. Rightly or wrongly, it is perceived as the major participant in the reconstruction of Armenia.
Mushrooms
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Armenian Americans feel they have a special role in the survival and success of the new state. They take pride in their support of Etchmiadzin, in the massive humanitarian aid given since the 1988 earthquake, in Armenians in high government positions, and particularly in the establishment of the American University of Armenia, the first major experiment in American higher education in the former Soviet Union. As English quickly becomes the second language of the new republic, Armenians in America feel closer to the homeland, suffering Armenia's tragedies and rejoicing in its successes.
Group
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Today Fresno's Armenian population is estimated at about 6,000 and about 10,000 for all of Fresno County (US Census 2000). A constant reminder of the Armenian people's contributions and presence in Fresno is the life-sized monument of David of Sassoon. This beautiful piece of public art was donated to the city by Armenians in 1970, and stands today on the corner of M St. and Tulare.
Coupon
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Fresno's first Armenian roots can be traced back to 1881 when the Seropian brothers (Hagop, aka Jacob, Garabed, and Simon, half brothers Kevork, aka George, and Hovahaness, aka John) arrived from Massachusetts (Bulbulian 17). The Seropian's were also the first Armenians to start a business in Fresno—numerous businesses in fact.Penny Auctions|Penny Auction Site
Last edited by Coupon on Wed Sep 14, 2011 6:48 am, edited 2 times in total.
Coupon
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Many Armenians fleeing the homeland settled on the eastern coast of the US, but eventually moved to Fresno for the myriad of opportunities, as well as the Mediterranean like weather which resembled what many were used to back home.Audio Mastering Services |Music Mastering Services
Last edited by Coupon on Wed Sep 14, 2011 6:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
Coupon
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Armenia Town (aka Little Armenia) was in the making. Many Armenians fleeing the homeland settled on the eastern coast of the US, but eventually moved to Fresno for the myriad of opportunities, as well as the Mediterranean like weather which resembled what many were used to back home.Silver bullion
Last edited by Coupon on Wed Sep 14, 2011 6:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
johndanywood
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Mushrooms wrote:The first Armenian state was established by the early 6th century BC. At its zenith (95–65 BC) the state extended from northern Caucasus all the way to what is now central Turkey, Lebanon, and north-western Iran. Later it briefly became part of the Roman Empire (AD 114–116). Historically the name Armenian has come to internationally designate this group of people but interestingly enough Armenians don't call themselves Armenians in the Armenian language, instead they call themselves Hay (pronounced Hye; plural: Hayer), the roots of the word may have links to the popular Armenian name Hayk.
In AD 301, Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion (see #Religion). During its later political eclipses, Armenia depended on the church to preserve and protect its unique identity. From around 1080 to 1375, the focus of Armenian nationalism was the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, which had close ties with the Crusader States.
That's really very well post about the first Armenian in USA, and also about his living history...
Wedding1
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Armenia Town (aka Little Armenia) was in the making. Many Armenians fleeing the homeland settled on the eastern coast of the US,Penny Auctions | Penny Auction Sites but eventually moved to Fresno for the myriad of opportunities, as well as the Mediterranean like weather which resembled what many were used to back home.
Last edited by Wedding1 on Mon Jul 02, 2012 2:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
Wedding1
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Fresno may be best known to many Armenians as the birthplace of William Saroyan—the great Armenian-American author. A number of Saroyan related organizations, such as the William Saroyan Society, are still based out of Fresno, and the Fresno Metropolitan Museum is home to a permanent exhibit of Saroyan's works and personal objectsOntario G1 Practice Test |G1 Practice Test
Group
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the most famous Armenian musical figure and among the most performed American composers; his vast output includes more than 50 symphonies, many with Armenian titles and themes. Ruben Nakian's (1898-1988) sculpture can be found in major American museumsGAMSAT preparation| GAMSAT
Carpet
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Agriculture, specifically raisin growing, was the most prosperous industry which the early Armenian immigrants ventured into: first as farm laborers themselves and later on owning the land and companies which packed and distributed the fruits and vegetablesAndroid Affiliate Program
Last edited by Carpet on Sun May 13, 2012 9:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
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