12.06.2020


The photograph depicts a fund-raising initiative by the American Committee for Armenian-Syrian Relief in the city of Seattle for the starving Armenians. Symbolic heroes - Uncle Sam representing America, Mother Armenia and two Armenian orphans passing through the streets of the city - were calling the Americans to participate in a fund-raising. The car carried a poster ''Starving Armenia: help the children in need... Uncle Sam reaches for help today. Seattle performs its duty '' (1917).

The American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief, established by the initiative of the US Ambassador Henry Morgenthau in the Ottoman Empire in 1915, often organized movable exhibitions, aiming to inform the American public about the unprecedented sufferings of the Armenian people and urge them to participate in a fund-raising. During 15 years of its existence (1915-1930) the Relief organization provided through the donations and fund-raising activities about 117,000,000 US dollars as an aid for the deportees in the Near East (including Armenians) providing them with food and shelter.

“In view of the urgent need I call again upon the people of the United States to make such further contributions as they feel disposed, in their sympathy and generosity for the aid of these suffering peoples”.

US President Woodrow Wilson
From the Call to the American people
October 29, 1917
AGMI Collection, section 13, found 1079

Photo: Armenia. The World Spells Tragedy, New York, 1917.