Renowned Scholar From Los Angeles Donates Rare Armenian Genocide Materials to Museum-Institute in Yerevan

The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI), based in Yerevan, has received an incredible donation of rare historical Armenian documents and artifacts. On June 18, Dr. Vahram Shemmassian, a professor of Armenian Studies at California State University, Northridge, donated rare historical items from his personal archive to the museum. Dr. Shemmassian is not only a respected academic but also a descendant of survivors from the heroic Armenian resistance at Musa Ler.

The items he donated focus on the struggles and strength of the people of Musa Ler the Armenian Genocide. These documents and artifacts were collected over decades of Dr. Shemmassian’s careful research and personal effort. 

One of the most powerful items donated is a fundraising receipt from 1909, created by the Relief Commission’s Fresno Committee. This document helped raise money for Armenian villages in Antioch and carries the official stamp of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Also among the donated materials are two travel permits issued in Egypt in 1916. These permits were given to members of the Philean family who were fleeing from Port Said and seeking safety in the United States.

Visitors to the museum also viewed a handwoven carpet made in the 1920s by Armenian orphan girls in Ghazir, Lebanon. This emotional piece of history was part of a previous donation made by Dr. Shemmassian last December.

AGMI Director Dr. Edita Gzoyan thanked Dr. Shemmassian for his meaningful contribution. She announced that a special collection in his name will be established within the museum’s scientific archive. This will help future generations of researchers, educators, and visitors understand more about the Armenian Genocide and the importance of preserving history.

Dr. Shemmassian spoke about the deep value of personal items and family records, saying they often tell stories that official reports leave out. He called on others to come forward and share their own documents or objects tied to the Armenian Genocide. According to him, every piece added helps protect the memory of what happened and honors those who lived through it.

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