In recognition of the anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, the Center for Armenian Studies at the University of Michigan, in partnership with the Armenian Students Cultural Association and the Multidisciplinary Workshop for Armenian Studies, invites the community to the fourth annual Shared Memories: The Armenian Experience Through Objects and Stories.
This gathering centers on the power of objects as vessels of memory, survival, and identity. Across generations and geographies, Armenians have preserved history not only through archives and texts, but through everyday items carried, saved, and passed down. Photographs, letters, jewelry, textiles, books, religious objects, and household items often bear stories of loss, resilience, migration, and continuity that written records alone cannot capture.
Community members are invited to bring an object and, if they wish, share the story connected to it. These stories may speak to the Armenian Genocide, life in the Ottoman Empire, displacement and refuge, the Michigan Armenian experience, or the broader American Armenian story. Sharing is informal and conversational, creating space for reflection, dialogue, and intergenerational connection.
No prior expertise is required, and participation is flexible. Attendees are welcome to listen, reflect, and engage even if they do not bring an object.
Refreshments will be provided.
This event is open to the public.