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Avakian donates Armenian books

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Dr. Arra S. Avakian displays some of his Armenian books
in his home before they were donated to the Madden Library.

Dr. Arra S. Avakian, a retired professor of Armenian Studies, has donated his extensive personal library of Armenian materials to the university's Henry Madden Library.

The collection includes an estimated 3,000 books and pamphlets appraised at tens of thousands of dollars.

Dean of Library Services Michael Gorman said the acquisition is an important addition to the Madden Library.

"This is a historic Armenian community and our collections reflect that. Further, we have one of the few Armenian Studies departments in the country and the Library should reflect that," Gorman said.

Dr. Dickran Kouymjian, who is the Haig and Isabel Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies at Fresno State, called Avakian's library "specialized and valuable to Armenian studies."

About 60 percent of the books are in English and the others in Armenian. English-language materials will be cataloged and integrated with current Madden Library holdings. Rare or valuable items will housed in the library's Special Collections. To catalog the Armenian-language works, a cataloger who can read Armenian to transliterate the title pages must be hired. Funds will be sought for that position. 

The collection includes a 19th century missal from Venice, an Armenian-Latin dictionary printed in Constantinople and a copy of the first English edition of "The Forty Days of Musa Dagh."

Avakian had a career in scientific research and engineering, especially in aerospace technology, before coming to Fresno State in 1970. He has been deeply involved in Armenian community life and the study of Armenian culture for many years. He is the author of "Armenian Journey Through History," "Armenians in America," "Manual for Choirmasters" and "The Eaglet," a historical novel, plus 10 translations of books from Armenian into English.

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