Scope and Contents

Undated albumen print by an unknown photographer, depicting a Persian-Armenian woman in outdoors dress.

Arrangement

One oversized folder.

Biographical / Historical

Historically, Iran (or Persia) has had great influence on Armenia's culture, with the two peoples sharing religious, political, and linguistic elements and traditions. However, Armenia's conversion to Christianity and Persia's subsequent conversion to Islam created a cultural separation. In 1604-1605, during his war with the Ottoman Empire, Shah Abbas of Persia relocated tens of thousands of Armenians from Nakhichevan to an area of Isfahan called New Julfa, which was created to become an Armenian quarter. The community became active in the cultural and economic development of Iran; by the beginning of the 20th century, Iran was a major center of Armenian life in the Middle East.

Local Numbers

FSA A1999.01

Custodial History

Purchase, 1998.