Constantinople, June 29, 1914. The graduating class of the Tbrotsaser School, photographed with the faculty and the school’s administrators.

Boghos Kevorkian Collection – Paris

Translator: Simon Beugekian, 28/04/21

The materials presented on this page, chronicling Boghos Kevorkian’s educational career, were provided to us by Sevan Anedian, a friend of the Kevorkian family. The collection mostly consists of group photographs taken at the educational institutions where Boghos Kevorkian served. A significant portion of the photographs was taken in Constantinople, but there are also others taken in Switzerland and at the Melkonian School in Nicosia (Cyprus).

Boghos Kevorkian was born in 1885, in the Beyoghlou district of Constantinople. He lost his parents at a young age and was raised by his sisters. He attended the Naregian, Esayan, Mkhitarian, and Central schools of Constantinople. He graduated from the Central School in 1908. He then left for Geneva to continue his studies, and in 1912 received his diploma in social sciences (licencié ès sciences sociales). In that same year, he returned to Constantinople, where he began teaching pedagogy and psychology at the Nor Tbrots (New School) and Tbrotsaser School. Beginning in 1915, he taught general history at the city’s Central School.

Group photograph, most probably taken in Constantinople. We have no other information about this photograph.
Constantinople, 1917. The 1916-1917 graduating class of the Tbrotsaser School, photographed with the faculty and the school’s administrators. Seated, second from the left, is Karekin Kavafian, third is Takouhi Baltazarian, fourth is Bishop Mesrob Naroyan. Middle row, first from the left, is Kegham Kavafian.
Group photograph, most probably taken in Constantinople. We have no other information about this photograph.

In 1918, after the end of the First World War, he was appointed principal of the Tbrotsaser School. The school closed in 1922, at which point Kevorkian emigrated to Greece, and from there proceeded to France. In 1922, he was in Switzerland, where he was appointed principal of the Begnins Armenian orphanage-school (Foyer arménien). This institution was founded by Anthony Kraft-Bonnard, a Swiss Armenophile, and operated from 1922 to 1934. There, Kevorkian also founded a small printing press.

Beginning in 1932, he worked as a teacher at the Melkonian School in Cyprus, and in 1935 he was appointed educational supervisor of the same institution. Kevorkian worked at the Melkonian School until 1945.

Boghos Kevorkian was the author of many books, both in Armenian and French, which mostly focused on educational and pedagogical topics.

Constantinople, 1920. The 1919-1920 graduating class of the Tbrotsaser School, photographed
with the faculty and the school’s administrators. Seated, second from the left, is Takouhi
Baltazarian, third is Boghos Kevorkian, and fourth is Karekin Kavafian. Standing, first from the
right, is Kevork Mesrob. The names of the graduates: Hermine Kalaydjian, Varsenig Markarian, Asdghig Chiftdjian, Azniv Der Yeghiayan, Yeranouhi Donigian, Araksi Ohanian.
Constantinople, 1919. The graduating class of the Tbrotsaser School, photographed with the faculty and the school’s administrators. Boghos Kevorkian is the first from the left in the upper row. Seated, left to right: Kevork Mesrob, Karekin Kavafian, and Takouhi Baltazarian.
Constantinople, 1919. The 1918-1919 graduating class of the Tbrotsaser School, photographed
with the faculty and the school’s administrators. Boghos Kevorkian is the third from the left in
the top row. Middle row, second from the left, is Kevork Mesrob, and fourth is Miss Pirpirian.
Seated, second from the left, is Karekin Kavafian, and third is Takouhi Baltazarian.
Constantinople, Kadıköy neighborhood, 1921. The 1920-1921 graduating class of the Tbrotsaser School, photographed with the faculty. Boghos Kevorkian is in the center of the second row from the top, wearing a bowtie.
Constantinople, 1921. The 1920-1921 graduating class of the Tbrotsaser School, photographed with the faculty and the school’s administrators. Seated, second from the left, is Kevork Mesrob. Seated, third from the left, is Boghos Kevorkian. Middle row, second from the left, is Kegham Kavafian.
Constantinople, 1921. The 1920-1921 graduating class of the Tbrotsaser School, photographed with the faculty and the school’s administrators. Seated, second row, first from the left, is Kevork Mesrob, third from the left, is Karekin Kavafian, fourth from left, is Boghos Kevorkian.
Constantinople, June 29, 1914. The graduating class of the Tbrotsaser School, photographed with the faculty and the school’s administrators.
Seated, first from the left, is Dikran Cheogurian (1884-1915); second is Daniel Varoujan (1884-1915); and fourth is Karekin Kavafian. The last from the left (mustachioed and bespectacled) is Levon Larents (1875-1915).
Second row, standing, second from the left, is Boghos Kevorkian.
Constantinople, 1922. The 1921-1922 graduating class of the Tbrotsaser School, photographed with the faculty. Seated, third from the left, is Boghos Kevorkian. Seated, fourth from the left, is Karekin Kavafian. Second row, standing, first from right, is Kevork Mesrob.
Constantinople, 1922. The 1921-1922 graduating class of the Tbrotsaser School, photographed with the faculty. Seated, third from the left, is Karekin Kavafian. Seated, fourth from the left, is Boghos Kevorkian.

He was married to Hermine-Makrouhi Chilingirian, who was born in Constantinople in 1904. They had two children, Koharig (1932-2014) and Kevork (1933-2006).

Boghos Kevorkian died in 1979, in Paris. His wife, Hermine, died in 1989.

The first wards of the Armenian school-orphanage of Begnins, 1922.
The wards of the Begnins orphanage-school with some of their teachers (Source: École arménienne – Begnins et Genève, Lausanne, 1928).
The teachers of the Begnins Armenian school-orphanage. Left to right: Arshavir Hanedanian, Elizabeth Rosdom Zorian, Boghos Kevorkian, Nshan Bekian, and Makrouhi Kalousdian (Source: École arménienne – Begnins et Genève, Lausanne, 1928).

The Melkonian School, 1933, Nicosia. The 1932-1933 graduating class of the secondary school, photographed with the faculty.

First row, left to right: Andre Shosalan, Terengouhi Sisagian, Annig Dedeyan, Sirvart Musurian, Levon Karakashian, Satenig Magarian, Haroutyun Toumayan (doctor), Hovhannes Arousian, Hagop Oshagan, Krikor Giragosian (principal), Boghos Kevorkian, Onnig Mahdesian, Sirouhi Benlian, Onnig Kovan, Nvart Odabashian, Asadour Magarian, and Vahan Bedelian.

Second row, left to right: Levon Apkarian, Parounag Tovmasian, Armenouhi Papazian (Larnaca, Cyprus), Yesper Markarian (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon), Keghanoush Tabakian (Beirut, Lebanon), Berdjouhi Baghdasarian (Jerusalem), Yeranoush Setian (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon), Vartouhi Tokatlian (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon), Mayranoush Deyirmendjian (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon), Rebecca Ourfalian (Larnaca, Cyprus), Siranoush Garoyan (Ekmekdjian) (Beirut, Lebanon), Anahid Bahadourian (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon), Mary Satudjian (Beirut, Lebanon), Varsenig Markarian (Vasbouragan Orphanage, Jerusalem), Alice Dikranian (Akabi Godoshian) (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon), and Manoug Djelalian.

Third row, left to right: Mgrdich Hovsepian (Aleppo, Syria), Dikran Vosgerchian (Orphanage of the Dikranagerd Compatriotic Union, Aleppo, Syria), Sarkis Roumian (Karen Jeppe Orphanage, Aleppo, Syria), Hagop Ourfalian (Beirut, Lebanon), Hagop Vosgerchian (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon), Hayrig Zakarian (Vasbouragan Orphanage, Jerusalem), and Azad Melkonian (Karen Jeppe Orphanage, Aleppo, Syria).

Fourth row, left to right: Hagop Palamoudian and Arakel Badrig.

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1.The Melkonian School, 1936, Nicosia. The 1935-1936 graduating class of the school’s pedagogical institute, alongside the faculty.

First row, left to right: Melkon Krishchian and Boghos Kevorkian (educational supervisor).
Second row, left to right: Mardiros Mardirosian (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon), Angel Khantamour (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon), Hrip Karakashian (Nicosia, Cyprus), Adrine Ashdjian (Thessaloniki, Greece), Armenaz Der Arsenian (Nicosia, Cyprus), Mesrobouhi Mesrob-Tankaranian (Sofia, Bulgaria), and Kegham Odjakdjian (Near East Orphanage, Corinth, Greece).

Third row, left to right: Haroutyun Esegulian (Larnaca, Cyprus), Tovmas Kartounian (Vakif, Syria), Hagopos Ouzounian (Beirut, Lebanon), Dikran Seferian (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon), and Asadour Haladjian (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon).

Fourth row, left to right: Bedros Lepedjian (Alexandretta, Syria), Ardzrouni Boghosian (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon), Noubar Tekeyan (Damascus, Syria), Masis Karakashian (Nicosia, Cyprus), and Aram Aprahamian (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon).

2.The Melkonian School, 1941, Nicosia. The 1940-1941 graduating class of the school’s pedagogical and business institutes, alongside the faculty.
First row, left to right: Mary Melikian (Beirut, Lebanon; pedagogical institute), Varsenig Boyadjian-Shake Varsian (Nicosia, Cyprus; business institute), Azniv Parikian-Baladouni (Nicosia, Cyprus; pedagogical institute), Sirarpi Tashdjian (Nicosia, Cyprus; business institute), Hripsime Der Avedisian-Asilian (Nicosia, Cyprus; pedagogical institute), and Srpouhi Atanasian-Yardumian (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon; pedagogical institute).

Second row, left to right: Krikor Keshishian (Beirut, Lebanon; pedagogical institute), Hovagim Peltekian (Larnaca, Cyprus; business institute), Boghos Kevorkian (educational supervisor), Hagop Topdjian (principal), Khajag Baladouni (Xanthi, Greece; business institute), and Jirayr Kerametlian (Nicosia, Cyprus; business institute).

Third row, left to right: Hagop Dadourian (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon; business institute), Varoujan Gulyakoubian (Amman, Jordan; business institute), Barkev Der Hovhannesian, Kersam Aharonian, Garbis Mgrian (Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; pedagogical institute), and Krikor Hamamdjian (Jounieh, Lebanon; business institute).

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1.The Melkonian School, 1936, Nicosia. The 1935-1936 graduating class of the secondary school, photographed with the faculty.

First row, let to right: Paris Nalbandian, Boghos Kevorkian (educational supervisor), and Sarkis Abdalian (Vahe Vahian).

Second row, left to right: Srpouhi Kountoubesian (Zahle, Lebanon), Adrine Geoyoghlanian (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon), Berdjouhi Kouyoumdjian-Gosdanian (Nicosia, Cyprus), Vertaym Yanukian (Nicosia, Cyprus), Mary Mamigonian (Nicosia, Cyprus), Makrouhi Ghavzayan (Beirut, Lebanon), and Manoushag Diranian-Bedrosian (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon).

Third row, left to right: Nouritsa Ehmalian (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon), Louise Toumayan (Nicosia, Cyprus), and Alice Atamian-Hagopian (Nicosia, Cyprus).

Fourth row, left to right: Sahag Takvorian (Zahle, Lebanon), Mgrdich Lousararian (Alexandria, Egypt), Yeprem Dakesian (Zahle, Lebanon), Dikran Mahdesian (Nicosia, Cyprus), Haroutyun Dedeyan (Nicosia, Cyprus), Sarkis Bodigian (Kelegian Orphanage, Beirut, Lebanon), Garabed Aslanian (Üsküdar Orphanage, Constantinople, Turkey), Garabed Indjeduzenian (Nicosia, Cyprus), and Yezegiel Tahmizian (Larnaca, Cyprus).

2.The Melkonian School, Nicosia, 1930s. Students and teachers who have received medals for their participation in athletic events. We were unable to identify the students.

Second row, left to right: Hagop Adjemian, Boghos Kevorkian, Hagop Topdjian (principal), Onnig Mahdesian, and Melkon Krishchian.

Probably students of the Tbrotsaser School. Date, location, and identity of the students unknown.
Unidentified individuals. The photograph is part of the Boghos Kevorkian Collection.
An unidentified individual. The photograph is part of the Boghos Kevorkian Collection.