News

The National Association for Armenian Studies and Research is proud and thrilled to recognize our illustrious Board member, Edward Avedisian, who is also the principal building donor for our new global headquarters, on receiving an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Rhode Island at its commencement in Kingston, RI, on May 19, 2019. Mr. Avedisian, the son of Armenian Genocide survivors, became a clarinetist with the Boston Pops for 35 years and the Boston Ballet Orchestra for more than 40, and has devoted himself with the same heartfelt dedication and excellence as a philanthropist in Armenia and the U.S....

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) held a benefit dinner at the historic home of Dr. Seda and Vartan Keshishian on May 18. The Keshishian home, which used to belong to Gov. William Weld of Massachusetts, was recently renovated and formed an impressively elegant backdrop to the brief formal program and dinner, at which more than 80 guests were present. The fundraising was to support NAASR’s operational expenses, not the construction of its new building. Read the complete article by Aram Arkun, in the Armenian Mirror Spectator.    

Archaeologist Tigran Aleksanyan, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of NAS RA, reports from the field on his project's progress. Tigran is a recipient of a Knights of Vartan Fund for Armenian Studies grant to support a project to document monuments preserved in the Republic of Armenia and Artsakh associated with the memory of Vardanants' martyrs. NAASR partners with the Knights of Vartan to issue grants. “I am glad to inform you that the study of Vardanants sanctuaries, supported by the Knights of Vartan fund, is going well. Before beginning fieldwork we have reviewed the published, bibliographic and archival materials, clarified...

A precious piece of Armenian history has landed in Watertown. A rare first edition of an 18th-century landmark work that survived eras of turbulence and destruction, and was preserved lovingly by a prominent Armenian family, is now in the collection at the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research. “History of the Armenians,” or “Patmut’iwn Hayots’, by Father Mikayel Chamchian, was published in Venice from 1784 to 1786, and was described by scholar Razmik Panossian as “the definitive Armenian history text in this formative period of mass national identity.” The three-volume work was preserved by the Simsarian family of Worcester...

Thursday, February 28, 7:00 p.m. Hamilton 702, 1130 Amsterdam Avenue (at 116th St.) Columbia University in the City of New York Co-sponsored by the Columbia University Armenian Center, Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR), Research Institute on Turkey, and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). Click here for more information and click here to view flyer.

BELMONT, MA — The National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) will name its new headquarters in Belmont, MA, after Dr. Vartan Gregorian, President of the philanthropic foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York, fulfilling the request of the building’s principal benefactors, Edward and Pamela Avedisian of Lexington, MA.  The new building’s official name will be the NAASR Vartan Gregorian Building. Read more here.

The last steel bar on NAASR's new building was raised and secured in place Friday afternoon, January 4, 2019, in a joyful "topping off" celebration. Members of the Board and staff, key supporters, the SMMA design team, and Altair Construction signed the beam before it was raised. As the US and Armenian flags gently waved against a beautiful blue sky atop our building, sparkling cider capped this historic moment! Watch the Belmont Journal's coverage of the topping off here.

Thursday, December 13, 7:30 p.m. Nahigian Hall, First Armenian Church, 380 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA. Moderated by Stephen Kurkjian, and including John A. Simourian, Michele Simourian, Hayk Demoyan (on video), Carolann Najarian, and Elaine Kasparian.  Co-sponsored by the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR)/Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Lecture Series on Contemporary Armenian Issues and the First Armenian Church. Click here to view flyer.

Thursday, December 6, 7:30 p.m. AGBU Center, 247 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA. Moderated by Prof. Anna Ohanyan.  Sponsored by the Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City Association and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR)/Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Lecture Series on Contemporary Armenian Issues.  Click here to view flyer.

Tuesday, December 4, 7:45 p.m. St. Leon Armenian Church/Charles & Grace Pinajian Youth Center, 12-61 Saddle River Road, Fair Lawn, NJ Dr. Pattie will be joined by volume contributor Varak Ketsemanian. Co-sponsored by AGBU Ararat, Armenian Democratic Liberal Party-Ramgavars, Armenian Network of America-Greater NY, Knights of Vartan-Bakradouny Lodge and Daughters of Vartan-Sahaganoush Otyag, National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), and St. Leon Armenian Church. Click here to view flyer.