PAMBOUKIAN TALKS ABOUT ARF ARCHIVES
Khatchig Mouradian
oukian-talks-about-arf-archives/
April 29, 2009
WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.)-On April 7, the Hairenik Association
organized a discussion with historian and former Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) Bureau member Dr. Yervart Pamboukian from Lebanon. The
event, held at the Homenetmen "Papken Suny" center in Watertown, was
attended by scholars, intellectuals, and representatives from Armenian
organizations and associations from the Greater Boston area and beyond.
Pamboukian has edited and published five volumes in Armenian on the
ARF archives, and was in Watertown in March and April to conduct
research for his sixth and seventh volumes.
Tatul Sonentz-Papazian, the former editor of the Armenian Review and
former director of the ARF and First Republic of Armenia archives,
currently directs the publications department of the Armenian Relief
Society (ARS). Sonentz-Papazian introduced the speaker, saying that
for decades Pamboukian has served his nation as a teacher, historian,
and party activist.
Pamboukian began his talk by saying that as a historian, he feels a
great sense of satisfaction when he delves into the ARF archives,
because they make "you relive everything that had to do with our
national struggle."
Pamboukian said the ARF archives are immense and that records have been
kept from the founding days of the party. Although not as organized as
they could have been in the late 1800’s, the archives were gradually
enriched and organized over the decades. "Most of the material found
in the archives comes from Tsarist Russia and the Ottoman Empire," he
said, explaining that it includes thousands upon thousands of letters
and reports, sometimes written in secret codes or by invisible ink.
Before World War I, the archives were kept in Geneva and then
Paris. After the war, they were moved to Boston, where they are still
kept "in perfect condition," he said.
"Not only do these archives contain party-related issues, but also
a wealth of information about the recent history of the Armenians,
statistical and demographic data, etc.," said Pamboukian. "I can say
that no Armenian archives of any Armenian organization are as rich
as the ARF archives. In fact, we sometimes have more material about
other Armenian organizations than those organizations themselves."
Talking about the digitization process of the ARF archives, which began
recently, Pamboukian announced that the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
had provided $50,000 for that purpose. A question-and-answer session
and a reception followed.