30.10.2019


Around 2000 Armenian girl orphans of “Severeski” orphanage of the American Near East Relief Committee in Alexandrapol are standing in an order to form the words “Thank you, America”, as a sign of gratitude to the American people and U.S. government. There is one of the buildings of the Relief's orphanages on the background of the note with a poster “Near East Relief”. By the initiative of the American Near East Relief postcards with this and other similar photographs were also published.



In Alexandrapol - the city of orphans - in the greatest orphanages ever existed in the history of mankind around 20,000 Armenian orphans were under the care of the American Near East Relief, who found shelter in former military camps of “Severski”, “Kazachi post” and “Polygons”.

3,000 orphans were living in the female orphanage “Severski”. Orphans received meal 3 times a day here. The Relief Committee was also involved in their education and undertook a responsibility to find work for those leaving the orphanage: they were sent to reliable families, keeping their lifestyle under control.

The employees of the Relief Committee were mainly volunteers and the financial means for the care of orphans were collected through donations and fundraisings organized in different U.S. cities.

“Saving the lives of these children we are actually taking the responsibility to educate them as citizens and reach them to the level of self-reliance. I consider this as one of the most important stages of our work.”

J.D. Sherman
President of women clubs unity
“International Golden Rule Sunday”, Charles V. Vickrey, New York, 1925, p. 50.

Photo: Collection of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute