Ottoman Armenian Document #15
Name/Title
Ottoman Armenian Document #15Scope and Content
An envelope with the letterhead "Agop Korian ve Şerikî Dersaadet (Constantinople)", printed in Ottoman Turkish, French, and Armenian. The company operated in Istanbul’s Marpuççular Bazaar during the early 1900s. Hagop Korian was an Armenian merchant from Agn and occasionally worked as a teacher. In August 1872, alongside educators and returning students from Constantinople, Hagop Korian co-founded the Usumnasirakan Society in Agn. The society aimed to establish a reading hall, promote journalism, and create a public library with a museum. Notable members included Zareh Torosian, Harutiun Reisian, and Stepan Mazmanian. During its 5-6 years of activity, the society established a reading hall, library, museum, and published a weekly newspaper named "Tsaghik" ("Flower"). It dissolved due to political pressures. In 1873, the first theatrical performance in Agn was held at the Narekian School, featuring the play "St. Nerses the Great." Hagop Korian participated as an actor, alongside Zareh Torosian, Yeruand Timurian (Der Ashod Qahana Yerkat), pharmacist Stepan Berberian, Harutiun Reisian, Melkon Mazmanian, and others. The proceeds from this performance were allocated to the Usumnasirakan Society for establishing a library in Agn. Following the dissolution of earlier societies, Hagop Korian, along with Harutiun Reisian, Zareh Torosian, S. Davtian, Pilipos Kecheian, Stepan Barunakian, Ghukas Brikian, Harutiun Abgarian, G. Panosian, and others, initiated a movement in Agn to address economic and political challenges. This led to the establishment of the Aramian Society in Constantinople by Agn natives around 1878-1879, aiming to support the creation of national schools in Agn. The society sought to appoint a qualified religious leader for Agn and successfully facilitated the assignment of Garegin Srvanztian as the town's spiritual head. In his seventies during the start of the Armenian Genocide, he was among the intellectuals deported to Çankırı as part of the April 24 deportations. He was permitted to return to Constantinople soon after May 11, 1915. He left Çankırı on August 6, 1915, was jailed in Angora, displaced to Tarsus, and finally arrived in Constantinople on September 22, 1915. Based on a newspaper advertisement from 1922, Hagop Korian had passed his business to his son, who continued the enterprise at Çiçek Pasajı No. 8. The advertisement indicates that the company specialized in the selling of shoes.Category
Letters