Program Will Create Chair In Armenian

The fund to establish a chair for Armenian studies--the first in the United States--has reached $250,000 of its projected $300,000 total. No one has yet been chosen to fill the chair.

Scheduled to end in mid-May, the campaign for funds "has been carried out almost strictly by Armenians in America over a three year period," according to Sir Hamilton A. R. Gibb, Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies.

At present, the University offers only a few elementary courses in Armenian. "When the chair is established," Gibbnoted, "a full selection of courses will first be offered on the graduate level. Eventually, we expect that Armenian will be an undergraduate field of concentration."

He pointed out that studies of Armenian history are particularly important for a full understanding of social and economic developments in Asia. Courses in medieval history, church history, and linguistics will be offered in correlation with Armenian, he noted.

Gibb hopes that the proposed department at the University will provide a nucleus for Armenian research throughout the country. "Obviously, one institution can't do it all," he remarked, "but we may start a chain reaction."

Members of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies have spoken to Armenian groups throughout the country in an attempt to raise the necessary funds. Through "small, medium, and large contributions, Armenians have donated almost every cent toward establishing the chair," Gibb said.