Naomi Ouzounian's struggles in Syria and Turkey during World War I, p. 9

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Title Naomi Ouzounian's struggles in Syria and Turkey during World War I, p. 9

Description An account of Naomi Ouzounian's struggles in Syria and Turkey during World War I and Hovhaness Eskijian's aid to her and her family. Typewritten (12 pages) in English. "There was a time in my life when I did not hope to live to become eighteen." -- first line.

Tags OAI-PMH Harvest

Type texts

Format 1 page (extent)

Language English

Source 20230913-dadrian-eskijian (batch), Hovhannes Eskijian Archival Materials (subcollection), University of Southern California (contributing entity), Vahakn Dadrian Papers (collection)

Repository Email specol@lib.usc.edu (digital); eskijian@ararat-eskijian-museum.com (original)

Repository Name USC Libraries Special Collections (digital); Ararat-Eskijian Museum (physical)

Repository Location Doheny Memorial Library, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189 (digital); 15105 Mission Hills Road, Mission Hills, CA 91345 (physical)

Access Conditions The copyright and related rights status of this Item has been reviewed by USC Libraries, but we are unable to make a conclusive determination as to the copyright status of the Item. Please refer to USC Special Collections for more information. USC does not own or control any copyright rights with respect to this item. However, responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item.

Identifier dadrian-eskijian-018-lg-014.jpg (filename)

IIIF ID [Document.IIIFV3ID]

Unique identifier UC113372648

Legacy Identifier dadrian-eskijian-018-lg-014

Type Image

Internet Media Type image/jpeg

Resolution 17.0 in × 21.5 in at 300dpi
43.4 cm × 54.8 cm at 300dpi

Transcript (If available)

Content 9

they will grow up and try to take revenge." Authorities of deportation
were being advised that “too many are finding ways to escape from the
camps into Aleppo and the residents of the city, the Christian element
especially, mostly remnants of the ancient crusaders, were giving then
shelter, hiding then in their basenents, cellars ete, ‘They started to
search everywhere, Rev. Eskijian helped me and my family away from the
orphanage. Even my younger sister was over 7 years old. We first went
to the sub basement of the church. From there we went to the outhouse
of a friendly family's farm, Later he had to divide us. He put me
with a wealthy family as a nurse to their small children and a teacher
of needlework to the older girls. They had been students in a Jesuit
school. ‘hey spoke french besides Arabic. If searchers came to the
house I was to be taken as one of the family. Fortunately no one did come.
This was one of the most influential families of the city. They did not
dare to insult them. my family was then moved back to the orphanage
where they all came down with typhus. They nearly died but thanks to
the good care of the reverend they all survived. I didn’t see them for
seven months, but the reverend stopped in a few times being careful not
to be seen, or sent me word with one member of my protector's family
that my family was alright.

In the meantime Agerica had entered the war on the side of the Allies
thus making Rev. Eskijian an enemy agent as a representative of the
American Near East Relief Organization, ‘The orphanage was ordered to
be closed and all occupants shipped to Der-El-Zor, Also an order went
out that local citizens who housed or otherwise protected deportees
would be prosecuted without any exceptions. I went to join ny family
and we started hiding again in basements filled with sewer water, wet
cold, hungry and desolate. I started to think that God himself wanted

the Armenian nation annihilated from the face of the earth.

Inherited Values

Title Naomi Ouzounian's struggles in Syria and Turkey during World War I, p. 1

Alternative Title Armenian orphans (supplied title)

Subject Eskijian, Hovhannes, 1882-1916 (personal name), Ouzounian, Naomi (personal name)