AGBU History

Posted by Flora on February 14th, 2008
boghosnubarpacha.gifThe Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) was founded on April 15, 1906, in Cairo, Egypt, at the initiative of renowned national figure Boghos Nubar and other prominent representatives of Egyptian-Armenian community.The goal was to establish a union that would in every way assist the Armenian people, the future of which, as a minority in the Ottoman Empire, was endangered.The objective was to gather all Armenians, to contribute to their spiritual and cultural development and to help them to stay on their motherland. In 1906-1914, with ten AGBU chapters established, AGBU provided the villagers of Western Armenia with seeds and agricultural instruments, and created many schools in Armenian-populated regions of the Ottoman Empire in order to increase literacy.
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The World War I years and the Armenian Genocide were a turning point both for the Armenian nation and AGBU. In 1914 Boghos Nubar left Egypt and moved to Paris. Despite dramatic losses within the different chapters of the union, AGBU managed to provide real assistance to genocide survivors. After the war AGBU was reformed and it established new branches in the Armenian-populated regions of the Near East, Greece, France and USA.In 1921 AGBU headquarters were moved from Cairo to Paris, as most Armenians from Turkey were displaced from East to West, especially to France through Marseilles, where AGBU established a chapterin 1910.
After World War I, AGBU’s primary objective was to preserve and promote the Armenian language, identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs.
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In 1930, after the death of Boghos Nubar, oil magnate and prominent Armenian figure Calouste Gulbenkian became AGBU’s next presidency. Two years later, the son of Boghos Nubar, Zareh Bey Nubar, became AGBU’s third president and headed the union until 1940. It is during this period that AGBU developed its structure.During the World War II, AGBU headquarters were moved once again, from Paris to New York (1943). In 1942, Arshak Karagyozian became AGBU’s fourth president. Many US chapters were established, after the original american chapter established in Boston, USA, in 1908.

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AGBU activities aimed at national preservation became more effective in post-war period, especially during Alex Manoogian’s tenure (1953-1989). AGBU expanded to become the largest and most influential Diaspora-Armenian organization in the world. In 1981, headquarters were moved to Saddle Brook, New Jersey. Today, AGBU has chapters in 78 cities and 25 countries in the USA, Europe, Middle East, South America and Australia. AGBU has 20 schools (6600 students) and finances more than 16 educational establishments. AGBU’s main research center, the Nubarian Library established by Boghos Nubar, is located in Paris.

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AGBU also manages an important program for social assistance, organizes sport competitions, and runs 4 summer camps in United States, in Syria, in France and in Bulgaria. In 1989, Louise Manoogian Simone, daughter of Alex Manoogian, became AGBU president, and proceeded to strengthen ties between the Armenians of Armenia and those of the diaspora. In 1988, immediatelyafter the Spitak earthquake, AGBU organized the shipment of food, clothes and medicine to the disaster zone. In 1990 AGBU opened a representation in Yerevan, restarting its activities in Armenia after a 50-year interval. Along with humanitarian assistance, the AGBU carries out projects aimed and contributing to the development of the country.

 

Mr. Setrakian was elected seventh President of AGBU in 2002. He is currently a partner at Dewey & i_setrakian.jpgLeBoeuf LLP, a law firm specializing in international commercial and corporate law. Born in Beirut in 1949, he resides in Englewood, New Jersey. He is married and has two daughters. As an active member of AGBU structures since early youth, he continues the century-old patriotic mission of AGBU.