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.
