Calouste Gulbenkian Trustee Visits ARF Archives Institute
WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.) – On Aug. 10, Martin Essayan, a member of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s Board of Trustees, visited the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Archives Institute office at the Hairenik Association, located in Watertown.
Essayan, who is the great grandson of Calouste Gulbenkian, was welcomed by ARF Archives Institute president Vatche Proodian, who discussed past and present efforts in preserving, organizing, and digitizing the collection. Also present at the meeting were Tatoul Sonentz Papazian and Jirayr Beojekian, who are also engaged in these efforts; Jan Avedissian, a member of the ARF Eastern U.S. Central Committee; Asbed Kotchikian, editor of the “Armenian Review”; Zaven Torikian, editor of Hairenik Weekly; and Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) member Dikran Kaligian.
Essayan was also received by the Armenian Relief Society’s (ARS) central office, as well as the editorial teams of the Armenian Weekly and Hairenik Weekly. Afterwards, he visited the Archives and viewed sample materials from the ARF collection and the Republic of Armenia collection.
In 2009, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation provided a grant of $50,000—and in 2008, $25,000—to the ARF Archives Institute.
