The early history of Armenian printing and publishing in the United States holds a special place of interest for us at NAASR, and it is not a topic that has been the focus of much sustained scrutiny (with some welcome exceptions).

Although he was not the first Armenian-American publisher—that distinction belongs to Haigag Ēginian (Հայկակ Էկինեան)—occupying a special place among the early publishers stands E. A. Yeran and Yeran Press in Boston.

E. A. or I. A. or Edward Arakel Yeran was born Yervant Arak‘eli Iknadiosian (Eruant Arak‘eli Iknadiosean) = Երուանդ Առաքելի Իգնատիոսեան in Chemeshgadzak in the 1870s. (1875, according to Hampardzum H. Kasbarian [Համբարձում Յ. Գասպարեան], Ch'mshgadkak ew ir Kiwgherě [Չմշկածագ եւ իր Գիւղերը]; 1876, according to Garnik Stepanyan [Գառնիկ Ստեփանյան], Kensagrakan bararan [Կենսագրական բառարան]; 1877 according to Yeran’s gravestone.)

Above: photo of Yeran from Ěntartsag Krats'uts'ag (Comprehensive Catalogue) published by Yeran in the late teens. Below: Yeran, his wife Elizabeth (Sarian) Yeran, and their daughter Elizabeth, ca. 1913. Photo courtesy of Lisa Pierce, great-granddaughter of Yeran.

He married Elizabeth Sarian and had two children, daughters Elizabeth and Rose. He died in 1958 and is buried in Belmont Cemetery, about a mile and a half from the NAASR building. We know nothing of his early years in America, but by the early 1900s he was associated with the Hairenik publishing house in Boston. In 1905 he was the translator of Antronigē: Hunagan Heghap‘okhut‘[e]an Herosuhin [Անդրօնիկէ: Յունական Յեղափոխութեան Հերոսուհին] by S. T. Ksenos (Stephanos Th. Xenos, 1821-1894), a novel of the Greek revolution of the 1820s, published by Hairenik.

Around the same time, Yeran produced perhaps his most popular and enduring creation: the Nor krbani paṛaran gam krbanit ěngerě [Նոր գրպանի բառարան կամ գրպանիդ ընկերը], eventually also known as Pocket Dictionary or Pocket Companion. We think it only a slight exaggeration to state that every Armenian-American owned a copy of this book. We can date the first edition of this publication, issued by the Hairenik Press, to 1906, when the Hairenik was located at 27 Beach Street in Boston. The first edition is credited to Yeran and M. K. Sadoian. There were both Armenian-English and English-Armenian versions which were subsequently combined in one volume. After a couple of printings, the newly established Yeran Press took over as publisher. Much later, in the 1950s, Hairenik would again become the publisher of this perennial favorite which, for all we know, is still in print somewhere.

The other perhaps best known of Yeran’s publications is the massive Ěntartsag Paṛaran Anklierēnē-Hayerēn [Ընդարձակ Բառարան Անգլիերէնէ-Հայերէն] (A Comprehensive Dictionary English-Armenian), edited by H. H. Chakmakjian [Յ. Յ. Չագմագճեան], and first appearing in 1922, with later reprintings by Yeran. Eventually, this dictionary was republished in Beirut first by Aztag and then by Mshag, and is still regarded as one of the best dictionaries of Western Armenian.

Above: Yeran advertisements from Hayrenik' (June 2, 1906; with thanks to Hairenik digital archives) and Azk (Oct. 16, 1912)

Author: I. A. Eran = Ի․ Ա․ Երան; hradaragich‘ner I. A. Eran, M. K. Sadoean = Մ. Գ. Սատօեան

Title: Nor krbani paṛaran gam krbanit ěngerě, Hayerenē-Anklierēn = Նոր գրպանի բառարան կամ գրպանիդ ընկերը, Հայերենէ- Անգլիերէն

Publication Information: Dbaran Hayrenik‘i, Boston [no date given; however, first printing is from 1906]

Author: I. A. Eran = Ի․ Ա․ Երան

Title: Nor krbani pararan gam krbanit ěngerě, Hayerenē-Anklierēn / Pocket Dictionary or Pocket Companion, English-Armenian (ut‘erort dbakruti‘wn= ութերորդ տպագրութիւն/8^th edition)

Publication Information: Yeran Press, Boston [no date]

Although this was not the first Armenian dictionary published in the U.S.—that distinction appears to belong to Bedros R. T‘orosean’s Aṛ Tsern Amerigean Paṛaran, Anklierēnē Hayerēn = Առ Ձեռն Ամերիկեան Բառարան Անգլիերէնէ Հայերէն (A Handy American Dictionary, English-Armenian [Niow Eork: Elias Khalaf ew Ěng., 1899])—Yeran’s dictionary seems to have attained a much higher level of popularity. Advertisements for it appeared in the Hayrenik‘ newspaper as early as June 1906 and continued for several years. 

Hayrenik‘ subsequently published a combined volume with both dictionaries (it is not clear in what year this occurred; the dictionaries were not printed with publication dates), a format that was carried on when Yeran Press became the publisher, although advertisements indicate that the separate volumes also remained available from Yeran. Beginning, we believe, with the second Yeran edition, a section containing helpful phrases and other supplementary material was added. Of Yeran’s collaborator M. K. Sadoian we know little. According to a history of Asbarez, the first of the West Coast Armenian newspapers, Sadoian, whose first name was Mardiros, "had worked at the Hairenik, in Boston, and was an experienced typesetter." At some point, his name disappears altogether from later printings of the dictionary.

Author: I. A. Eran = Ի․ Ա․ Երան

Title: Badgerazart zruts‘adrut‘iwn Hayerenē Anklierēn = Պատկերազարդ զրուցատրութիւն Հայերենէ Անգլիերէն [Armenian-English Conversation Illustrated]

Publication Information: Bostěn: Dbaran “Hayrenik'”i, 1910

Author: I. A. Eran = Ի․ Ա․ Երան

Title: Musavvēr Miwk‘ealēmē T‘iwrk‘jedēn-Inglizjēyē = Մուսավվէր Միւքեալէմէ Թիւրքճէտէն-Ինկլիզճէյէ [Turkish-English Conversation Illustrated]

Publication Information: Boston: Yeran Press, 1914

Author: I. A. Eran = Ի․ Ա․ Երան

Title: Badgerazart zruts‘adrut‘iwn Hayerenē Anklierēn: Namagakrutʿiwn, Kʿeraganutʿiwn, Garewor Kidelikʿner ew Ěntʿertsʿanutʿiwn = Պատկերազարդ զրուցատրութիւն Հայերենէ Անգլիերէն: Նամակագրութիւն, Քերականութիւն, Կարեւոր Գիտելիքներ եւ Ընթերցանութիւն [Armenian-English Conversation Illustrated: Correspondence, Grammar, Important Knowledge, and Reading] (chorrort dbakrut‘iwn/4^th edition)

Publication Information: Boston: Eran Mamul [no date given; ca. 1920]

This remarkable and evidently popular work was first published by Hayrenikʿ in 1910—eye-catching ads can be found in the Hayrenikʿ weekly from June 1910 through the end of the year (one example from Sept. 13 is on the left)—and subsequent editions by Yeran Press in 1911, 1913, 1920, and 1925. The volume is packed with useful information, words, phrases, dialogues, form letters, maps, weights and measures, and so forth, all with an eye towards helping the new Armenian immigrant make his or her way in America. 

Author: Hapēt‘ M. P‘ilibbosean = Յաբէթ Մ. Փիլիպպոսեան

Title: Kordznagan aṛoghchapanut‘iwn = Գործնական առողջաբանութիւն [Practical Hygiene]

Publication Information: Boston: Eran Mamul, 1911

Author: Dōk‘. Bōghos T‘orosean = Տօք․ Պօղոս Թորոսեան

Title: Seṛayin aṛoghchapanut‘iwn = Սեռային առողջաբանութիւն [Sexual Hygiene]

Publication Information: Boston: Hradaragut‘iwn I. A. Eran, 1911

An interesting topic of study would be what sorts of health concerns are expressed by books such as these two, as well as the contemporaneous Seṛayin aṛoghchapanut‘iwn [Սեռային առողջապահութիւն] by Smpad Kaprielian [Սմբատ Գաբրիէլեան] (New York: Amerigahay Kradun, 1915). Based on the semi-scientific evidence of how many copies of these works have found their way to the NAASR library, they were popular publications and as such probably have much to tell us.

Title: Ameriga = Ամերիկա

Publication Information: Boston: Yeran Press, 1911

It appears that only one issue, from September 1911, of this ambitious magazine covering the arts, science, and politics was published; the NAASR library does not have it, but for the sake of completeness we include it in this feature, making use of the digitized copy accessible from the National Library of Armenia.

Author: [none given]

Title: Zhoghovrtayin Erkaran = Ժողովրդային երգարան [Popular Song Book]

Publication Information: Boston: Eran Mamul [no date; ca. 1912]

Although no date is given for this iconic volume, we can infer a 1912 date of publication. An announcement in the Yeran-published periodical Ameriga (see entry above) informs the public about “a unique book in coming in January that has never been published yet in Armenian” and inviting them “to send their favorite five songs (original, published, or nonpublished) until end of the September.” However, the first public announcement of the book that we have seen is in the January 1, 1913, issue of the newspaper Azk (Ազգ). According to advertisements we have seen in Hayrenik', the second printing appeared in 1914; a third followed ca. 1925.

Containing more than 500 songs and poems, “azkayin, heghap‘okhagan, grōnagan, erkitsagan” (national, revolutionary, religious, satirical), this book went through several printings, always retaining its striking and recognizable cover. Unlike the artwork for most of Yeran’s publications, this cover has a visible signature: N. G. Tourounjian [Ն․ Կ․ Թուրունճեան]. This would appear to be Nishan George Tourounjian/Tooroonjian, a Kharpert-born immigrant who worked in California as a sculptor and as a typesetter for Asbarez.

Author: Hagop K. Tertsagean = Յակոբ Գ. Դերձակեան

Title: P‘arlamēnt‘agan ganonner ew zhoghovavarut‘iwn = Փարլամէնթական կանոններ եւ ժողովավարութիւն [Parliamentary and Assembly Rules]

Publication Information: Bost‘ěn, Mēs.: Eran Mamul, 1912

The author was a lawyer based in Boston. (See advertisement below from Azk, Feb. 26, 1913.)

Author: [none given]

Title: Adenakrut‘iwn: Kharperti Grt‘asirats‘ Miats‘eal Ěng. 13rt Badkamaworagan Zhoghovin kumareal i P‘rovidens, R. A. Hogd, 11, 1913 = Ատենագրութիւն Խարբերդի Կրթասիրաց Միացեալ ընկ․ ԺԳրդ Պատգամաւորական Ժողովին գումարեալ ի Փրաւիտէնս, Ր․ Ա․ Հոկտ․ 11, 1913 [Declaration of the 13th Assembly of Delegates the United Educational Association of Kharpert in Providence, RI, October 11, 1913]

Publication Information: Boston: Eran Mamul [no date; 1913 or 1914]

Author: H. H. Chakmakjean = Յ. Յ. Չագմագճեան

Title: Amerigahay namagani = Ամերիկահայ Նամականի [Armeno-American Letter Writer]

Publication Information: Bost‘ěn: Eran Dbaran, 1914

According to the Foreword, “We have left our parents, brothers, sisters, families, and friends in our country, whom we miss and want at least to speak to in a letter and partially cool our longing heart. We need to gather information about opportunities in different parts of the America and finally inform our employers of our existence and explain our capabilities to them.” Amerigahay namagani aims “first to teach the form, method, and correct style of correspondence, second, to find a way to teach correspondence in the language of the country.” For that reason, “We were not satisfied with dry examples alone, but we chose letters that … satisfy the tastes and feelings of the readers.”

The compiler of this volume, whose name will recur several times below, was one of the giants of the Armenian-American community of the time, Haroutioun H. Chakmakjian. Chakmakjian was born in Adana in 1878 or 1879 and died in Boston in 1973. According to a profile in the Armenian Review (vol. 32, no. 1 [1979]), he attended “the Zmmair [Bzommar] Mekhitarist School in Lebanon. He taught in Caesarea [Kesaria or Kayseri] and Gerasun, Asia Minor, and migrated to the United States in 1904 … Chakmakjian entered Harvard College as an undergraduate biochemistry major in 1905 and received his degree in 1909, when he took over [as editor] at the Hairenik. He shortly left to accept a full-time position as instructor in biochemistry at the Tufts College Medical School, in Boston, and was appointed Professor of Biochemistry there, a position which he faithfully occupied until his retirement in 1955 as Professor Emeritus.” Chakmakjian was also a Founding Member of NAASR.

Author: Moliēṛ; tarkmanets‘ Franserēn pnakrēn H. H. Chakmakjean = Մոլիէռ; թարգմանեց Ֆրանսերէն բնագրէն Յ. Յ. Չագմագճեան

Title: Sk‘ap‘ēni ch‘arajji hnaramdut‘iwnnerě: gadagerkut‘iwn erek‘ araruadzov = Սքափէնի չարաճճի հնարամտութիւնները : կատակերգութիւն երեք արարուածով

Publication Information: Bost‘ěn: Hradaragut‘iwn I. A. Eran [no date; ca. 1914?]

Chakmakjian’s translation of French playwright Molière’s (1622-73) play Les Fourberies de Scapin [The Impostures or Trickeries of Scapin], first staged in 1671. As the title suggests, Scapin is a schemer who works for the benefit of the young couple Leander and Octave. The play contains the famous line “Il vaut mieux encore d'être marié que mort” (It's still better to be married than to be dead), rendered by Chakmakjian as “աւելի աղէկ չէր ամուսնանալ քան թէ մեռնիլ” (aweli aghēg ch'ēr amusnanal k‘an t‘ē meṛnil).

Author: Tʻarkmanuats chʻors hariwr daruan tseṛakrē Hovhannēs anun hay ark‘ebisgoposē mě hōrineal = Թարգմանուած չորս հարիւր տարուան ձեռագրէ Յովհաննէս անուն հայ Արքեպիսկոպոսէ մը յօրինեալ

Title: Kaghdnik‘ ganants‘ = Գաղտնիք կանանց [Secrets of women]

Publication Information: Bost‘ěn: Hradaragut‘iwn I. A. Eran [no date; 1914?]

This sixteen page pamphlet contains 13 brief articles providing useful information to women about conception, embryonic development, and other issues relating to sexuality and childbirth. The writing style is simple and understandable. We are aware of a previous edition of the same text published in Constantinople in 1872, held by the National Library of Armenia. As the title page indicates, it is presented as the work of an Armenian archbishop named Hovhannes writing “400 years ago” and the booklet begins with a letter purportedly from Hovhannes to the person who requested he write the text, in which he urges them “not to convey it to shallow and shabby men.” We suspect, though, that Kaghdnik‘ ganants‘ was no more the work of Archbishop Hovhannes than Aristotle’s Masterpiece was the work of Aristotle.

On the cover of this booklet and of Nasrēddin Hōchayi zuarchalik‘nerě and Ak‘lōr eghpayr (see below) are the words Sbaṛadz Kirk‘er = Սպառած Գիրքեր [Sold-Out Books]. It is noteworthy that these two titles were republications of books first published in Constantinople and which, presumably, were no longer available but in demand, suggesting Yeran’s awareness of the demands of the marketplace and of his customers.

Author: Boghos T‘orosean = Պօղոս Թորոսեան

Title: Bntut‘iwn ew anor tarmanĕ = Պնդութիւն եւ անոր դարմանը [Constipation and Its Remedy]

Publication Information: Bost‘ěn: Hradaragut‘iwn I. A. Eran, 1915

Author: H. H. Chakmakjean = Յ. Յ.Չագմագճեան

Title: Lusangarchut‘iwn = Լուսանկարչութիւն [Photography]

Publication Information: Bost‘on: Hradaragut‘iwn I. A. Eran, 1915

Author: Dikran S. Lewonean = Տիգրան Ս. Լեւոնեան

Title: Pnabashdin erkerě = Բնապաշտին Երգերը [Songs of the naturalist]

Publication Information: Bost‘ěn: Eran Dbagrut‘iwn, 1915

Author: [Vasburagani Usumnasirats‘ Ěngerut‘iwn = Վասպուրականի Ուսումնասիրաց Ընկերութիւն [Vasburagan Research Association]

Title: Azadagan grt‘ut‘iwn ew urish tasakhōsut‘iwnner = Ազատական կրթութիւն եւ ուրիշ դասախօսութիւններ [Liberal education and other lectures]

Publication Information: Bostōn: Eran Dbagrut‘iwn, 1915

This booklet contains the texts of the organization's educational lecture series offered from October 1914 to April 1915 in Chelsea, MA. Contents: “A Liberal Education, by Thomas Henry Huxley,” translated by Aram Torosian; “Adom Yarjanian (Siamant‘ō),” by Aram Torosian; “The Armenian origin of Byzantine Emperors,” by H. Shaghoyan; “Rabindranath Tagore,” by H. Shaghoyan; “About the Nature of Goodness by George Herbert Palmer,” by Badveli K. Bedrosian; and two lectures by Dr. B. Torosian: “Emotions” and “Balanced Man.”

Author: [none given]

Title: Ak‘lōr eghpayr: Gam mangan mě badmutʿiwně aṛadzalits imasdiwk‘ = Աքլօր եղբայր: Կամ մանկան մը պատմութիւնը առածալից իմաստիւք [Rooster Brother: or a story of a child with wise proverbs]

Publication Information: Bost‘ěn: Hradaragutiwn I. A. Eran [no date; 1915 or earlier]

According to Garegin Zarbanalean’s Haykakan matenagitut'iwn 1565-1883 [Հայկական Մատենագիտութիւն] (Venice, 1883), Ak‘lōr eghpayr was published through the efforts of A. G. M. [Ա. Գ. Մ.] in Constantinople in 1863, but the book was compiled in 1825 by M. Vardapet [Մ. Վարդապետ] for the entertainment of his family and friends.

According to B. M. Hovakimyan’s Hayots‘ Tsatskanownneri Baṛaran [Հայոց Ծածկանունների Բառարան] (Yerevan: YHH, 2005), A. G. M. was Abraham G. Muradyan [Աբրահամ Գ. Մուրադյան (1833 Nicomedia-1903 Constantinople)].

His father, Murat Varzhapet (1801-1848), was an educator, author, and artist who was principal of Armash monastery, St. Hagop monastery in Jerusalem, and finally Nicomedia, where he passed away. In 1846 he took his firstborn son Abraham with him to Jerusalem. There Abraham worked at the printing house in St. Hagop Monastery and then to Nicomedia. He published the newspaper Hayrenasēr [Հայրենասէր (1850-53)], then settled in Scutari, Paris, and Egypt. From 1870 to his death in 1903, he held teaching positions in Constantinople.

Aklor eghpayr is the story of a boy who loses his merchant father. When the time comes for his graduation, he wants to give his teacher a suitable gift to show his appreciation. The mother and son decide to give the teacher their best possession, a rooster. But on the way to meet the teacher, robbers steal it from him. Instead of despairing, he finds a way to get the rooster back. Aklor eghpayr [Rooster brother] is the nickname of the boy, who became a successful merchant. The book is full of unexpected and exciting stories and adventures, seasoned with appropriate proverbs in Armeno-Turkish.

Author: [none given]

Title: Nasrēddin Hōjayi zuarjalik‘nerě = Նասրէտտին Հօճայի զուարճալիքները [The Pleasantries of Nasreddin Hodja]

Publication Information: Bost‘on: Hradaragut‘iwn I. A. Eran, no date [ca. 1915]

This early 20th century Armenian translation of the popular Hodja tales provides not publication date or translator, but perhaps was done by the publisher Yeran himself. The cover and title page present the iconic image of the Hodja riding his donkey backwards, as does this ad which appeared in Azk in February 1916, suggesting a late 1915 publication date. A second edition, also with no publication date, probably came out in the 1920s.

Author: [none given]

Title: Paghtats‘oyts‘ ew erazahan = Բաղդադցոյց եւ երազահան

Publication Information: Boston: I. A. Eran Hradaragut‘iwn [no date; ca. 1915]

Yeran advertisement in Azk, March 5, 1913