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Journal of the Society for Armenian Studies
Volume 12
The Journal for the Society for Armenian Studies, volume 12, has newly been released.
-Four articles
-Twenty-five book reviews
-Information on the Society for Armenian Studies
-Information on SAS Publications
To Order:
Send a check, made out to SAS, for $20 per issue plus $2.50 postage,
Back issues of Volume 2-11 are also available for purchase.
Send to:
Society for Armenian Studies
c/o Armenian Studies Program
5245 N Backer Ave PB4
Fresno, CA 93740-8001
FAX 559-278-2129
Telephone: 559-278-2669
From the Editor
The Society for Armenian Studies established the Journal for the Society of Armenian
Studies in 1984 under the editorship of the late Avedis Sanjian of UCLA. Under his
leadership, volumes 1-5 of the JSAS were produced and JSAS was soon recognized for
its excellence by being named as “The Best New Journal” in 1985 by the
Conference of Editors of Learned Journals.
In late 1994, Dennis Papazian undertook the reigns as editor of JSAS, and with the
assistance of Gerald Ottenbreit, produced volumes 6-11. Their efforts continued
the excellent work of the earlier volumes and many articles, book reviews, communications,
review essays have filled the pages of JSAS.
The Society takes pride in the JSAS and its valuable contribution to Armenian studies
over the past eighteen years. It has provided a forum for a wide variety of high
quality scholarly work to appear in a Journal which reaches across the globe.
The last issue of JSAS, Volume 11, appeared in 2000 and for the past two years there
has been no JSAS editor. In November of 2001, the SAS Executive Council, acting
on Dickran Kouymjian’s timely suggestion, determined to put together the next
volume (JSAS 12) by building on materials already in hand, as an interim measure
to maintain continuity of publication. The President of SAS was to be in overall
charge of efforts to send the volume to press.
With the assistance of fellow members of the Executive Council I was able to achieve
the goal set out for us and to produce JSAS 12.
I would like to thank Peter Cowe for his work in serving as Book Review Editor for
this volume. His diligent efforts have been demonstrated with the 25 reviews which
appear. I would also like to thank Dickran Kouymjian, Richard Hovannisian, Robert
Hewsen, Dennis Papazian, and Gerald Ottenbreit, who provided their experience and
expertise in answering numerous questions regarding the production of JSAS 12. Ultimately,
as interim editor, I take responsibility for any errors or omissions, which were
the result of my work.
The SAS Executive Council appointed John Greppin, in late 2002, as the new editor
of JSAS for the next three years, beginning with JSAS 13. Peter Cowe has graciously
accepted to continue as Book Review Editor and has also accepted the position of
co-editor of JSAS.
I encourage all SAS members to make their contribution to the JSAS through the submission
of articles, book reviews, review essays, and communications. JSAS has a valuable
and continuing role to play in the dissemination of Armenian studies throughout
the academic world. JSAS reflects the scholarship of its members and is a window
to the world of Armenian studies.
I would like to thank the Armenian Studies Program of California State University,
Fresno, directed by Dickran Kouymjian, for providing partial subvention of the costs
of producing the Journal.
I would also like to thank the Narekatsi Chair at UCLA for partially offsetting
costs associated with book reviews.
Thank you also to the contributors to this volume.
Vartan Matiossian has contributed an incisive analysis of the Armenian community
of Argentina and how that community has changed over the past few years. In particular
he examines the role of identity and the effects of assimilation, bringing much
needed attention to this South American Diaspora community.
S. Peter Cowe has contributed an article about T‘lgadints‘i, the
Western Armenian writer, whose role in literature has been under-appreciated. Cowe
focuses on T‘lgadints‘i’s contribution to Armenian literature as
a regional writer, who for the most part lived and worked in Western Armenia. The
transliteration system for this article maintains the Western Armenian form.
Lynn Jones discusses Armenian identity as it relates to the relics of the
True Cross in medieval times. Her article explores how relics of the True Cross
have been utilized by Armenian royal and nakharar families as visible and sacred
symbols in a period when such symbols had great importance. The relics symbolized
the piety of the Armenian rulers and reflected an emulation of Byzantine expressions
of pious rulership.
Robert Hewsen has offered an essay by Cyril Toumanoff on the concept of the
princely rank, which sheds light on the role of the nakharars in Armenian history.
Toumanoff’s erudite discussion of the two fundamental concepts of the princely
rank provides an insight into the function of the nakharars in Armenian life.
The 25 book reviews included in JSAS 12 indicate the broad spectrum of works with
some connection to Armenian studies which have been produced in the past few years.
Whether the books relate directly or indirectly to the field, the reviews provide
a concise overview of the contents and their evaluation.
Artsvi Bakhchinyan concludes the volume with a communication culled from his research
into Swedish-Armenian relations. The letter from noted Swedish writer Arthur Magnusson
to the Publishing House of the Armenian Academy, expresses Magnusson’s interest
in the rich literature of the Armenian people.
Barlow Der Mugrdechian
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