Why Are Roots So Important?

Many people have asked me about this project of mine...the search of my family history. Most of the questions have been centered on wanting to know if I've discovered anyone new. This got me thinking. Why is it so important to me?

The importance of this search is not so much centered on the desire to find people and make connections - some old, and very definitely, many new ones. The importance of what I'm doing rests in the desire to understand the very basis of where I am from and to have a deeper understanding of the facts of my ancestral origins. Anyone can compile a tree of names and dates. The true testament of a family history are the stories, the struggles, and the genesis of the question, "Where did I come from?"

Most recently during conversations with some relatives on my maternal side of the family, we discovered much to my delight, that three out of the original seven journals of my great, great, Uncle Zakar's are still around. These books are over 100 years old, written in Armenian mixed with some Turkish. The one copy that was loaned to me (and in the process of being scanned), is fascinating because it contains hand drawings and page after page of beautiful, legible, handwriting. My wonderful husband Garik will be working with me to translate this book - and hopefully, once we are able to get our hands on the other two copies (with some sleuthing!), those will be translated as well. I will post some of the pictures here in the next day or two.

In the process of going through the book, I couldn't help but wonder about the man that wrote the words and drew such detailed pictures, reminiscent of Illuminated Manuscripts. I see characteristics in his drawings that I am prone to create when I draw and paint. I see some elements of the same similarity in my nephews drawings. These realizations leave me extremely frustrated because I never got a chance to meet this man and what information there is about him is minimal and very anecdotal...information none the less, but it's information shrouded in a sea of a thousand perhaps millions of questions.

So the research continues and my hope is that the tiny chips of information I've collected will soon turn into much larger chunks of the big picture.

Interesting Factoids About Our Family

Well, I must say that the hunt for our family history has been an interesting one so far. I will add further that I've been bitten by the Genealogy bug and what started as a cultural research project for my Master's degree is quickly turning into what looks like a lifelong hobby. Special thanks to those family members I've heard from so far: Uncle Onnik, Suzy, Garen, and Linda Petrossian. From those of you that haven't had the time to write back, please do so when you can. This project is just more than a bunch of names and dates on a tree chart.

Based on what I've researched so far, I have been immensely impressed with our familial pedigree and the contributions of our various family members. I can't begin to tell you how important it is for us to preserve our family history. For example, my great Uncle Mesrop Avakian, had two very famous children, George and Aram (known as Al or Albert) Avakian. George (that's him in the picture above) is a world renowned record producer who once worked for Columbia records and was responsible for bringing Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Mathis, and Miles Davies -- and hosts of others, to the Columbia label. In addition to his contributions to the music industry, he also served our country in the U.S. Army during World War II. He is alive and well - 90 years old! and currently resides in New York. I hope to speak to him soon and talk to him about his interesting life and add further to the richness of our family history. His brother Aram was a well-known filmmaker/director. He passed away in 1987. I'm still researching him so my information is not extensive yet. His daughter Alexandra Avakian is a well-known, published photographer with National Geographic and currently resides in Washington, DC.

Great-Uncle Hakop Avakian's son Souren Avakian was a renowned Chemist who developed many scientific breakthroughs that eventually earned him several patents. One of his inventions is something we have all experienced or seen during a doctor's visit - "Bacteriuria Test Papers". You know those coated long strips of paper the nurse uses to do a quick urinalysis? Well, that was invented by Souren Avakian!

I have also unearthed some information that there is an Avakian Family Crest/Seal from the days the family was still living in Iran. Does anyone know anything about this or have an idea of what it might look like? Any information, however insignificant you may think it is, please pass it on so that I can add it to my research list.

Please send me any information you have because in the end, the final "still a work in progress" product is going to be for all of us and the Family History/Tree is only as good as the information we have attached to it.

Research Has Started!!

The research has begun! Hopefully within the next several weeks I will be able to share some preliminary research results with you. While online searching/research has been useful, I require the assistance of a powerhouse of information that will really get this project going. I have a preliminary visit scheduled with the Library of Congress on October 5th where I hope to unearth some invaluable leads to begin unraveling the history of our family. Separate research visits are planned at the National Archives and DAR Library as well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will at least be in touch with several family members before the 5th to collect some vital information that will be useful in my search queries.

As we begin this process, I ask that you further assist me in thinking of stories, anecdotes, family traditions, family traits, etc., that will enrich our family tree -- after all, this shouldn't be just about a chart filled with names and a bunch of dates! Photographs, artifacts, memorabilia - all will be useful in creating a rich, robust, and wonderful history of our family. If you have any items that you would like to share, please send scanned or digital photos or web links that can be used within the final product.

For those of you who are in touch with family members who haven't heard about this project, please give them my email address, petrossianfamily@gmail.com and send them a link to this blog page so that they can subscribe and contribute to it.

Family Connections

I am on a quest to research the Petrossian & Avakian Family History. With the small amount of research that I have already embarked on, I have discovered how little I know about my family roots....the essence of where our family all began. As many of you may know the bits and pieces of our family history throughout the years of growing up, during family gatherings, and the occasional reciting of stories and anecdotes around the dinner table - I have found the history to be incomplete and want to know more.

This blog has been created for the purpose of sharing our stories, information, that will hopefully blossom into a family tree. In 1990, Ashot Babaloyan completed his attempt at our family tree. It's a good start but it isn't enough.

If you have any historical information about the Petrossian and/or Avakian families, please post it here or send your information to petrossianfamily@gmail.com. If you are interested in providing information, please send an email to the above noted address and I will send you a family group sheet form to fill out - I'm hoping this form will be completed by as many family members as possible. Any information however small or sparse, will be hugely appreciated and will enhance the final product - an accurate family tree which will be shared with all members of our family!