Note Type
Historical NoteNote
Garabed and Mihran Shahinian (see Postcard #9), both survivors of the Armenian Genocide, were detained and imprisoned during the atrocities. After their release, they settled in Constantinople, where each established a photography studio. Garabed founded and operated the Cumhuriyet photography studio in Taksim, while Mihran established Galatasaray Studio, which later came under the directorship of his daughter, Mayram.
Garabed Shahinian was known for financing and supporting an Armenian orphanage in the immediate aftermath of the Hamidian massacres. He lived near the Surp Astvatsatsin Cathedral in the city center. After relocating to Istanbul and operating the Cumhuriyet photography studio, he remained there at least until 1940.
Avedis Shahinian lived in the Surp Kevork neighborhood in the center of Sivas. He was a prominent merchant who owned several flour mills in Tavra. An active community leader, he served in the Armenian National Assembly, the Meclis İdare (Administrative Council), and the Belediye Meclisi (Municipal Council). He married Elmas Bchakjian, with whom he had five sons—Shahen, Aram, Mgrditch, Levon, and Suren—and five daughters: Zaruhi, Paris, Asdghig, Khatun, and Khanum. Khanum was killed during a skirmish near Tavra, at Paşa Fabrikası, during the genocide. Paris married Dr. Kosmos Messaiyan, later moved to the Armenian SSR in 1926, and died in Kislovodsk in 1939. Shahen, born in 1890, also moved to Armenia, where he died in 1972; he is buried in the Charbakh cemetery.Note Type
Cataloging NoteNote
Ottoman Armenian Documents #24-8 are all related to Shahinian
