Long before AGBU moved its global headquarters to New York, it had already found its way to America. In the early decades of the twentieth century, as waves of Armenian immigrants fled persecution and genocide, the organization followed its people westward—establishing its first American Chapters in the Armenian enclaves of New England. This brought structure to communities still finding their footing in a new country. It offered education, aid, and continuity of a way of life while firmly planting a stake in the New World with the full intention of giving back to it.
As the decades passed and Armenian families pushed further into the American interior, AGBU went with them. Chapters took root in the industrial cities of the Midwest—Detroit, Cleveland, and Chicago. Fresno, California was one of the most vital early Armenian communities in America, and is now part of a network of Chapters
in the Western Region, including San Fernando Valley, Pasadena-Glendale and Silicon Valley and as far inland as Texas.
This photo essay traces this arc of growth that led to a nationwide presence, built Chapter by Chapter, city by city and each of the hundreds of thousands of Armenian American soldiers, tradespersons, professionals, or leaders of successful business enterprises.
AGBU exemplifies the promise of America and the hope of a people yearning to breathe free.
Click any photo for to see captions.
