Ararat-Eskijian Museum,

Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Armenia

The National Association for Armenian Studies and Research,

Organization of Istanbul Armenians,

Moussa Ler Association of California,

Present an illustrative talk

ON THE TRAILS OF MY MUSA DAGH ANCESTRY

Dr. Vahram Shemmassian professor and director of the Armenian Studies program in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures at the California State University California Northridge (CSUN).

This presentation recounts Dr. Vahram Shemmassian’s rendezvous with the history of Armenian Musa Dagh, his ancestors’ birthplace.  The Odyssey began during the early stages of the civil war in Lebanon (1975-1990), when life seemed to stand still and required re-ignition.  Idle wanderings in Anjar, Lebanon, where his family had taken refuge, came to an end with the discovery of the umbilical cord tied to the missing Homeland and its people.  The young graduate student embarked on his mission cautiously but surely, navigating through uncharted archival domains, reviewing numerous periodicals and newspapers, interviewing and corresponding with natives, visiting homes across continents in search of family papers, soliciting vintage photographs, and in the process making friends and finding himself in anecdotal situations.  All this resulted in a doctoral dissertation, articles in scholarly journals, conference talks, Power-Point presentations, exhibits, interviews, and so on.  It also led to the publication of a new book, whose cover is featured herein.

Vahram Shemmassian hold PH.D. in History from University of California Los Angeles (1996).  He is the professor and Director of Armenian Studies Program in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures at the California State University, Northridge. Prof. Shemmassian has conducted extensive research in the governmental archives in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Armenia, gathering data on such areas of interest as the Armenians of Musa Dagh and the Sanjak of Alexandretta, as well as Armenian Genocide survivors in the Middle East after WWI. He has published many scholarly articles in refereed journals and chapters in books. He has delivered numerous public and keynote speeches, and has participated in and /or international conferences.
There will be book signing and reception following the lecture.

Sunday November 15, 4:00 PM

Ararat-Eskijian Museum/Sheen Memorial Chapel

15105 Mission Hills Road, Mission Hills, Calif. 91345

For information contact:  (747) 500-7585 or [email protected]

Open to the public, free admission 

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