Immigration
Map of the area in 1919
Kharpert today, Harput, Tukrey
Kharpet, Armenia
Makrouhie Guzelian was born in Kharpert, a village in Armenia (part of the Ottoman Empire at the time). Today, 106 years after the Armenian Genocide, Kharpert is now Harput, Turkey. According to the Armenian Weekly, "Among Diaspora Armenians living in North America today, the Kharpertsi are believed to be among the most numerous. And for most of the 20th century, say some, the Armenians of Kharpert were the quintessential Armenian Americans".
Makrouhie's father was a political activist in Kharpert, as well as a gunsmith and master craftsman. When she was just 10 years old, the Turkish government began rounding up and arresting Armenian educators, politicians, and those they saw as a threat. Makrouhie's father was among that group, and was brought to jail by the Turks. This was the start of the Armenian Genocide.
As a young girl, Makrouhie snuck food to her father through the jail window everyday. The Turkish government did not treat the Armenians in jail with any respect, and did not even provide food. One day, she got to the jail and her father was gone and she never saw him again. The Turkish government had began marching the prisoners through the streets, out of their villages and to their death in the deserts.
When she realized her husband was gone, Makrouhie's mother was determined to find her relatives in a nearby village and save her family. Along the journey she decided to leave Antranig (Makrouhie's younger brother) with family friends, and eventually she did the same with Makrouhie. Makrouhie's mother left to find other relatives to stay with and she and the other children were never seen again, presumably marched to their death by the Turks. The relatives Makrouhie was staying with could not keep her and decided that the best thing they could do was send her to Beirut, Lebanon, to stay in an orphanage where she was protected from the Turks.
Beirut, Lebanon
Makrouhie lived in the orphanage in Lebanon for many years.
During these years, an aunt had made her way to Alexandria, Egypt where she lived peacefully with her family, and she wanted to find her family. She found out that Makrouhie was in an orphanage in Lebanon, and set out to find her.
Makrouhie, pictured in the middle, at the orphanage in Lebanon.
Alexandria, Egypt
When Makrouhie was 16 years old, she went to live in Alexandria, Egypt with her aunt, uncle, and cousins, where she lived for 3 years.
A postcard dated 1/28/24 "Alexandria", making Makrouhie 19 years old in this photograph, pictured on the left with a friend.
The postcard is written in Armenian.
Marseille, France
Makrouhie made her way from Egypt to France. When she was 21 years old, Makrouhie traveled to Marseille, France where she met Mihran Guzelian.
Makrouhie's grandmother was living in the Bronx, New York, and Mihran was in Boston. They knew each other, as their families were distant relatives. Her grandmother knew Makrouhie was living in Egypt with relatives, but knew that she would soon need somewhere to go. Makrouhie's grandmother , Annah, sent Mihran to France to meet the lovely Makrouhie.
The two spent just a few weeks together in Marseille, and after a short courtship, they wed.
"On August 19th, in the presence of her Tashjian relatives she was married in a civil ceremony. However, Makrouhie wanted a church wedding otherwise she said she would not feel married. Therefore, on August 20th they were married again in an Armenian church". (Makrouhie and Antranig's Story)
Makrouhie and Mihran's wedding in France, 1926
Massachusetts, United States
The two newlyweds honeymooned in France, and then on Wednesday, September 15th, 1926 they boarded the S.S. Homeric of the White Star Line, and arrived in New York on September 22nd.
"As a bride of a United States citizen, Makrouhie was now able to be reunited with her relatives in the U.S. to live safely and happily in the country she had been taken away from 16 years earlier. She left here as an innocent five year old, lived through terrible and tragic times, became an orphan, went from orphanage to orphanage, country to country, yet was able to survive through her indomitable courage and maintain her sense of worth and dignity". (Makrouhie and Antranig's Story)
Mihran and Makrouhie settled in Somerville, Massachusetts.
