Collection of Maps, Atlases, and Guidebooks available at the Zohrab Information Center

On By zohrabcenterIn Zohrab Center Updates

A collection of about one hundred maps has recently been processed and is now available for the interested public to view at the Zohrab Information Center, along with related atlases and guidebooks. The collection was processed by Linda Smith, a graduate student at Simmons University, pursuing a degree in Archives Management, who is concurrently an archival intern at the Zohrab Center.

The collection includes materials that cover over 2800 years of Armenian cartographic history that were acquired and donated over the years by various individuals. The maps, atlases, and guidebooks in this collection were published as early as 1880 and as late as 2003.

Illustrated Guide-Map of Historical Architectural Monuments of Soviet Armenia
Illustrated Guide-Map of Historical Architectural Monuments of Soviet Armenia (publication date unknown). This material is available in English, French, and Armenian.

The first three series of this collection include maps of Armenia and neighboring lands in the past. From consulting these maps, one can see the changes of Armenia’s borders and geographic features over time. There are maps that show its importance as part of the Bible lands, part of the Near East, and when it was in the Byzantine, Persian, Ottoman, and Turkish Empires and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)/Soviet Union.

Political and administrative map of the USSR
There are several maps that show Armenia within empires and unions, including this political and administrative map of the USSR, published circa the 1960s or 1970s.

There are also detailed, illustrated reference maps that highlight specific things within the country, including birds native to different parts of the country, architectural and monument maps, and a style map showing traditional Armenian dress.

Style Map of the Armenian People
Style Map of the Armenian People (publication date unknown). This is one of many available reference maps that give greater detail about the peoples within Armenia.

Birds of Armenia Reference Map

Scans of the Birds of Armenia reference map
Scans of the Birds of Armenia reference map, published in 1999. There are corresponding books available in the Zohrab Information Center catalog. A link in the finding aid will take a user directly to the catalog entries.

A treasured part of this collection includes maps of Havav Village in Palu, which were hand drawn from memory by Hareton Saksoorian after he escaped the massacres.

Maps of Havav Village in Palu (Բալու) by Hareton Saksoorian (Յարութիւն Ձախսուրեան), 1966

Maps of Havav Village in Palu (Բալու) by Hareton Saksoorian (Յարութիւն Ձախսուրեան), 1966. The first picture shows the Palu map drawn by Saksoorian; the second picture is another hand-drawn map showing part of Armenia in the Ortokid period of the 12th century; the third picture shows the border between Turkey and Armenia established by President Woodrow Wilson.

The fourth series includes historical atlases that compile several maps of Armenia over time in one book. One historical atlas in this collection can take someone through Armenia’s history and changing borders from 824 B.C. through 1964 A.D. Another is a road map of Armenia and neighboring countries.

Maps from the Hammond's Historical Atlas
Maps from the Hammond’s Historical Atlas. These depict Armenia as it was from 824 to 625 B.C., the sixth century B.C., and 1000 A.D.

Lastly, the fifth series contains guidebooks. These materials include text, photographs, or both of important and popular places in various Armenian locales. Most of the guidebooks are for the city of Yerevan, though there are some of Etchmiadzin, the island of San Lazzaro in the Venetian lagoon, and Armenian churches as well.

Maps and photos from a Yerevan guidebook published in 1982
Maps and photos from a Yerevan guidebook published in 1982. There are multiple guidebooks in the collection of Armenia’s capital city.

This collection is a visual representation of changes throughout Armenian history due to different leaders and struggles with neighboring countries and former empires. These materials are an invaluable look into the geography and boundaries of this country as they have remained the same and changed at various points in history, as well as places of interest that can still be seen in Armenia today.

Images from an Etchmiadzin guidebook
Images from an Etchmiadzin guidebook (publication date unknown).

This collection is now available for visitors looking to conduct research or consult maps and guidebooks to learn more about Armenia, its lands, and landmarks of the past and present. A searchable finding aid of the collection is available to view here.

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