AUTHOR TO EXAMINE ARMENIANS’ STRUGGLE
Dick Case, Post-Standard Columnist

The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York)
Final Edition
November 27, 2007 Tuesday

My friend Bob Koolakian is ready to publish his study of Central New
York’s part in the Armenian independence movement; the timing couldn’t
be better.

He lectures on it today at Syracuse University’s Bird Library.

"Struggle for Justice" details the American Committee for the
Independence for Armenia. Bob’s grandfather George was a member of
the committee, and the book is based partly on his papers.

This comes as Congress struggles with the wording of a resolution
condemning the slaughter of Armenians almost a century ago. Was
it genocide?

Bob’s a Syracuse native and scholar of Armenian independence and
the committee, 1915-20. His book’s to be published by the Armenian
Research Center at the University of Michigan in Dearborn.

In 1905, George Koolakian, a tailor, founded the business that survives
in downtown Syracuse as Koolakian and Manro Menswear in Hanover Square.

Bob’s talk, which is open to the public and free, is part of the
Syracuse Symposium series sponsored by SU’s College of Arts and
Sciences and the university library. It begins at 4 p.m. and is
followed by a reception.

There are two exhibitions presented by the university in connection
with the lecture, based on historic photos and other archival material:
in the Special Collections Research Center at Bird Library, and in
the Panasci Lounge of Schine Student Center. Both run through Jan. 16.

Bob is a 1966 graduate of the university’s College of Arts and
Sciences and is regarded as one of the foremost authorities on the
life and works of Thomas Edison. As a curator at Henry Ford Museum
in Michigan, he duplicated Edison’s first incandescent bulb as part
of its centennial in 1979.

He also served as director of the Erie Canal Museum and was
instrumental in organizing the SU Audio Archives and Edison
Re-recording Laboratory dedicated to the development of techniques
in the recovery and preservation of early recorded sound.

In the 1970s, Bob lobbied for the creation of the Hanover Square
Preservation District, Central New York’s first historic district
designated on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. He
created a small museum of history above Koolakian’s store on East
Genesee Street; most of the materials are based on archaeological
and archival research he did in the block.

The building, which went up in 1822-23, is one of the oldest
in the city. It started life as the Granite Store and included a
photographer’s studio on the upper floor, including George Barnard’s,
the noted Civil War photographer.

The Koolakians bought the building – which Bob refers to as a "time
capsule" – in 1956.

A polymath’s reflections

Syracuse University has another interesting talk booked for 4
p.m. Thursday, also at Bird Library.

The lecture is called "A Polymath’s Reflections on the Syracuse
University Carnegie Library: Past, Present and Future." The speaker
is Harvey H. Kaiser, the architect who is retired as senior vice
president for facilities administration at the university.

My first question was: What is a polymath? The dictionary defines it
as a "person of encyclopedic learning."

That sounds like Harvey, who is the author of 12 books and more than
50 articles on historic preservation and managing facilities. His
current interest is historic architecture in the national parks. His
first book in a series devoted to the parks – on California, Oregon
and Washington – came out in 2002.

Harvey’s best-known for helping revive interest in the Adirondack
style with "Great Camps of the Adirondacks," first published in 1982.

His first job in Syracuse was at the former architectural firm Sargent,
Webster and Foley. He started teaching architecture at SU in 1969.

Harvey’s newest book deals with the entire national parks system.

"Sourcebook on National Park Architecture" will be published by
Princeton Architectural Press next spring. Thursday’s talk is sponsored
by SU’s Library Associates.

Help the lake

We’re reminded that we can make a donation to Friends of Onondaga Lake
during this year’s run of "Lights on the Lake." Gifts to the group
may be made at the "Lights" ticket booth or at the "Christmas Around
the World" at Ste. Marie Among the Iroquois Living History Museum,
which is run in connection with "Lights."

The Friends organization operates the gift shop at the Salt Museum
and provides volunteers, programming and overall operations at Ste.

Marie. Friends says it’s poised to develop a "fascinating program
highlighting all aspects of the lake’s noble past and events that will
assist in driving economic development and growth to our community."

Dick Case writes Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Reach him
at dcase@syracuse.com or 470-2254.

If you go

What: "Struggle for Justice: Central New York’s Link to the Quest
for Armenian Independence," lecture by Robert Koolakian.

When: 4 p.m., today.

Where: Bird Library, Syracuse University.

Cost: Free.

More: A reception follows the lecture.