Dr. George Bournoutian Holds a Series of Book Tours Across the US

Throughout February, March and April of 2012, hundreds of people in six cities across the United States came out to support and listen to renowned historian and author Dr. George Bournoutian, as he discussed his latest work, "The 1823 Russian Survey of the Karabakh Province: A Primary Source on the Demography and Economy of Karabakh in the Early 19th Century." Beginning in November 2011, AGBU launched a highly successful tour to promote the new publication, which contains a meticulous and thorough analysis of the Karabakh Province conducted by Russian authorities proving that Armenians formed the overwhelming 95% majority of the populations inhabiting the Nagorno-Karabakh territory and the villages of Zangezur in 1822. Lectures took place in Detroit, Montreal, New York, and Toronto.

The first 2012 event was held on February 4, 2012, in Cleveland, Ohio, with close to 90 people attending, an impressive gathering for a community that has a relatively small Armenian population. "George is a true scholar who draws big crowds and galvanizes the audience every time he is in Cleveland," said the chairman of the AGBU Cleveland Chapter, Dr. Sebouh Setrakian. Books were sold out immediately, and following the discussion, a few audience members were so inspired by Bournoutian's words that they came forward and pledged $3,000 to have his signature publication, "A Concise History of the Armenian People," translated into Armenian. The printing of this work will be sponsored by AGBU. The original English publication was commissioned by the organization in 1993. More recently, AGBU Buenos Aires published the Spanish version of the book, a Turkish edition made its debut at the annual Istanbul International Book Fair last November via Aras Publishers, and AGBU Cairo has just printed the Arabic version. The book has been adopted as the main text at a number of colleges, universities and high schools teaching Armenian history.

On the heels of the lecture in Cleveland, the distinguished author visited Boston on March 1, where AGBU's New England District co-sponsored the book signing and discussion with the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). AGBU Ararat, together with St. Leon Armenian Church and various local organizations, jointly sponsored a similar event on April 13 at the church, located in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. The room where the talk took place was filled to capacity and standing room only with audience members keenly interested in the subject.

From April 19 to 21, the AGBU Western District invited Bournoutian to southern California, where he began the weekend with a talk at the AGBU Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Center in Pasadena. Special lectures were arranged at both the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School in Canoga Park and the AGBU Vatche and Tamar Manoukian High School in Pasadena. While addressing the students, Bournoutian conducted an educational question and answer session concerning Armenians and their history, much to the delight and enthusiasm of the young attendees. He also spent time giving advice on the students' futures. Both schools had packed auditoriums and the author received standing ovations. Dr. Bournoutian's tour continued in San Fernando Valley and Orange County through the local AGBU chapters. The Orange County event alone had close to 100 people in attendance, with an audience so captivated that the question and answer segment lasted well over an hour.

Although this AGBU-led book tour was academic in nature, the series of talks were brought to life in a unique way due to the lauded historian's lively and charismatic personality. A native of Iran, Dr. George Bournoutian immigrated to the United States in 1964, and received his PhD in Armenian and Iranian History from UCLA in 1976. He is currently a professor of Eastern European and Middle Eastern History at Iona College in New York, and is a recipient of the IREX, NDEA, and Mellow Fellowships. He has taught Armenian and Iranian history at UCLA and Columbia University. Moreover, he organized and taught the first Armenian history courses at the University of Connecticut, Glendale Community College, New York University, Ramapo College, Rutgers University and Tufts University. Bournoutian has written more than a dozen other volumes consisting of annotated English translations of primary sources in Armenian, Russian, and Persian, with introductions, glossaries and indexes. He speaks several languages, including Armenian, English, Persian, Russian and Polish.