As you go throughout this page, you will read multiple personal accounts from people who where either part of the Armenian Genocide or knew somebody who was apart of it. As you read these personal accounts, we want you to think about the questions that are listed below. Also, take into consideration the document itself, and identify what type of document you are looking at.

 

A letter written by Aunt Esther Kohlbrenner, an Armenian, to Adrienne and Armen Koochagian (niece of Esther) in the late 1950’s about their recent visit and about what had happened to Esther’s grandparents and uncle. This letter was acquired by Leslie Cook, the daughter of Adrienne and Armen Koochagian, in a box filled with family history and documents upon her parents death. 

1. What kind of document is this? Primary or secondary source?

2. When was this written?

3. Who wrote this letter?

4. Why was this letter written?

5. Why did Aunt Esther Kohlbrenner grandparents and uncles leave Turkey?

6. How did the Turks refer to the Armenians?

7. Throughout history, where else have we seen “Freedom Fighters,” as mentioned in this letter?

8.The letter showed these murders to be purposeful and well thought out, how then can these events be seen as justified and not a genocide by Turkey and many other nations?

 

 

A family background about Hovsep Koochagian’s, an Armenian, life and how he came to America. This document was created in the 60’s by Liz Eastman, the daughter of Hovsep Koochagian as a part of piecing together the Koochagian family history. Upon Aunt Liz’s death, Leslie Cook her niece and Hovsep’s granddaughter, acquired this document in November of 2015.    

1. What kind of document is this? Primary or secondary source?

2. When was this written?

3. Who wrote this letter?

4. Why was this letter written?

5. How and when did Hovsep Koochagian immigrate to the United States?

6. Where did Hovsep Koochagian work in the United States?

7. What is Hovsep Koochagian’s educational background?

8. Why was Hovsep Koochagian taken by the Turks?

 

 

A personal account of a Turkish officers experience while deporting Armenians. 

Citation: The National Archives Experience: DocsTeach. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://docsteach.org/documents/595027/detail?menu=closed&mode=search&sortBy=relevance&q=armenian&commit=Go http://arslanmb.org/ArmenianImmigrants/shiplists.html

1. What did Constantinople say the reasons for the decorations were?

2. What did the Turkish officer believe the reasons were for the deportations?

3. Why was the Armenian Bishop of Trebizond ordered to proceed under escort?

4. What actually ended up happening to the Bishop?

5. What kind of document is this? Primary or secondary source?

6. When was this written?

7. Who wrote this letter?

8. Why was this letter written?

 

Citation

Letters 1 and 2 were obtained through Michelle Cook’s family records of her Armenian heritage