Assyrian Oral Histories collectionASSYR-OH.001.CaTurCSU
California State University Stanislaus Special Collections and University Archives
University Library
One University Circle
Turlock, CA 95382
mweppler@csustan.edu
Contributing Institution:
California State University Stanislaus Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Assyrian Oral Histories collection
source:
Backus, Nina (born 1906)
source:
Badal, Ludia (born 1907)
source:
Bourang, Jerusha
source:
Durna, Elia (born 1906)
source:
Elia, Mary Jim (born 1915)
source:
Elias, Jesse Youkhana (born 1907)
source:
George, Abram (born 1908)
source:
Gouryagous, David (born 1910)
Creator:
Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
source:
Israel, John (born 1910)
source:
Jackson, Sarah (born 1914)
source:
Jacobs, Walter (born 1909)
source:
Jacobs, Florence (born 1920)
source:
James, Jerome (born 1904)
source:
Jones, Alfi (born 1904)
source:
Joseph, Aprim (born 1892)
source:
Joseph, Martha (born 1907)
source:
Khoubyar, Arby (born 1907)
source:
Khoubyar, Nina
source:
Mirza, Joel (Yoel) (born 1896)
source:
Oushana, Maryam (born 1912)
source:
Paul, Yonatan
source:
Rustam , Rabcca (1898)
source:
Sarguis, Regina
source:
Sarguiss, Maghdeleta (born 1913)
source:
Sarquis, Khat Shalim (born 1896)
source:
Schwartz, Helen (born 1910)
source:
Shabaz, Lea (born 1894)
source:
Yohannan, Helen (born 1916)
source:
Yohannan, Shlimun (born 1916)
source:
Yonan, Sam (born 1907)
source:
Yonan, Yoel (Joel) (born 1913)
source:
Andrius, Alice
Identifier/Call Number: ASSYR-OH.001.CaTurCSU
Physical Description:
42 Cassettes
Tapes consist of 52 family histories, 6 interviews with Assyrian-American political leaders, 6 interviews with non-Assyrian
university professors, city political leaders, or businesspeople, for a total of 64 interviews on 42 tapes and one flash drive.
Also included are text transcriptions of the interviews.
Physical Description:
1 USB flash drive
Physical Description:
45 Digital Files
Date (inclusive): 1979-1987
Language of Material:
English
, Syriac
.
Container: 1 of 1
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Scope and Contents
The Assyrian Oral History collection chronicles the stories of members of an Assyrian enclave in Turlock, California. The
majority of stories were recorded in the early 1980s with interviewees recounting family histories extending back to the early
part of the 20th century. According to Dr. Arianne Ishaya, preliminary research on this project began in the 1970s while
she was working on her Ph.D. dissertation at UCLA. From 1981-1982, Dr. Ishaya conducted 108 interviews with members of the
enclave on their family histories.
Dr. Ishaya has identified several characteristics of the enclave from her research: The initial colony came from Canada to
Turlock in 1910. During the 1920s, several refugees from Iran arrived following the WWI Assyrian genocide. Assyrian Americans
from the East Coast and Midwest arrived from the 1940s on. In the 1970s, refugees escaped the purging of their villages in
Northern Iraq, the historic homeland of Assyrians, while refugees fleeing the Islamic revolution in Iran arrived during the
1980s.
These varied histories document stories of brutal treatment and suffering as homeless refugees, to stories of hope and finding
a new life in the USA. Today the community continues to grow and thrive.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Assyrians
Forced migration
Oral histories
Refugees
Backus, Nina (born 1906)
Badal, Ludia (born 1907)
Bourang, Jerusha
Durna, Elia (born 1906)
Elia, Mary Jim (born 1915)
Elias, Jesse Youkhana (born 1907)
George, Abram (born 1908)
Gouryagous, David (born 1910)
Israel, John (born 1910)
Jackson, Sarah (born 1914)
Jacobs, Walter (born 1909)
Jacobs, Florence (born 1920)
James, Jerome (born 1904)
Jones, Alfi (born 1904)
Joseph, Aprim (born 1892)
Joseph, Martha (born 1907)
Khoubyar, Arby (born 1907)
Khoubyar, Nina
Mirza, Joel (Yoel) (born 1896)
Oushana, Maryam (born 1912)
Paul, Yonatan
Rustam , Rabcca (1898)
Sarguis, Regina
Sarguiss, Maghdeleta (born 1913)
Sarquis, Khat Shalim (born 1896)
Schwartz, Helen (born 1910)
Shabaz, Lea (born 1894)
Yohannan, Helen (born 1916)
Yohannan, Shlimun (born 1916)
Yonan, Sam (born 1907)
Yonan, Yoel (Joel) (born 1913)
Andrius, Alice
Series 1, Interview Recordings
1981-1982
Dean Ron Rodriguez with Dr. Arianne Ishaya, June 14, 2022: 2022 June 14
Physical Description: 65 Digital Files
Albert Adams interview, January 25, 1982
1982 January 25
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Albert Adams, January 25, 1982 (audio): 1982 January 25
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Adams, Albert
Alice Andrius interview, April 15, 1982
1982 April 15
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Alice Andrius, April 15, 1982 (audio): 1982 April 15
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Andrius, Alice
Assyrian Universal Alliance representative interview, November 6, 1981
1981 November 6
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Assyrian Universal Alliance Representative, November 6, 1981 (audio): 1981
November 6
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Assyrian Universal Alliance
Assyrian Universal Alliance representative interview, November 11, 1981
1981 November 11
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Assyrian Universal Alliance Representative, November 11, 1981: 1981 November
11
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Assyrian Universal Alliance
Mary Backus interview, February 7, 1982
1982 February 7
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Mary Backus, February 7, 1982 (audio): 1982 February 7
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Backus, Mary
Russel and Mary Backus interview, February 7, 1982
1982 February 7
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Russel and Mary Backus, February 7, 1982: 1982 February 7
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Backus, Mary
Backus, Russel
Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party interview, December 16, 1981
1981 October 16
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party, December 16, 1981 (audio): 1981 October 16
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party
Jerusha Bourang interview, April 4, 1982
1982 April 4
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Jerusha Bourang, April 4, 1982 (audio): 1982 April 4
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Jerusha Bourang, April 4, 1982 (transcript): 1982 April 2
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bourang, Jerusha
Margaret Bourang interview, April 4, 1982
1982 April 4
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Margaret Bourang, April 4, 1982 (audio): 1982 April 4
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bourang, Margaret
George Dadeshoo interview, November 4, 1981
1981 November 4
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with George Dadeshoo, November 4, 1981 (audio): 1981 November 4
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Dadeshoo, George
William Dadeshoo interview, November 4, 1981 (audio)
1981 November 4
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with William Dadeshoo, November 4, 1981 (audio): 1981 November 4
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Dadeshoo, William
Kasha Daryaoush interview, January 11, 1982 (audio)
1982 January 11
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Kasha Daryaoush, January 11, 1982 (audio): 1982 January 11
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Physical Description: 1 Digital Files
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Daryaoush, Kasha
Elia Durna interview, May 4, 1982
1982 May 4
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Elia Durna, May 4, 1982 (audio): 1982 May 4
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Elia Durna, May 4, 1982 (transcript): 1982 May 4
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Durna, Elia (born 1906)
Mary Jim Elia interview, May 6, 1982
1982 May 6
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Mary Jim Elia, May 6, 1982 (audio): 1982 May 6
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Mary Jim Elia, May 6, 1982 (transcript): 1982 May 6
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Elia, Mary Jim (born 1915)
Joe Elias interview, February 8, 1982
1982 February 8
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Joe Elias, February 8, 1982 (audio): 1982 February 8
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Elias, Joe (born 1897)
Kasha Yossip Esha interview, January 6, 1982
1982 January 6
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Kasha Yossip Esha, January 6, 1982 (audio): 1982 January 6
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Esha, Kasha Yossip
Kasha Yossip Esha interview, January 10, 1982
1982 January 10
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Kasha Yossip Esha, January 10, 1982 (audio): 1982 January 10
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Esha, Kasha Yossip
Abram George interview, December 16, 1981
1981 December 16
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Abram George, December 16, 1981 (audio): 1981 December 16
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Abram George, December 16, 1981 (transcript): 1981 December 16
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
George, Abram (born 1908)
Volonteen Gewargis interview, April 26, 1982
1982 April 26
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Volonteen Gewargis, April 26, 1982 (audio): 1982 April 26
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Gewargis, Volonteen
David Gouryagous interview, May 4, 1982
1982 May 4
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with David Gouryagous, May 4, 1982: 1982 May 4
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Gouryagous, David (born 1910)
Tom Howard interview, May 20, 1982
1982 May 20
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Tom Howard, May 20, 1982 (audio): 1982 May 20
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Howard, Tom
John Israel interview, February 23, 1982
1982 February 23
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with John Israel, February 23, 1982 (audio): 1982 February 23
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with John Israel, February 23, 1982 (transcript): 1982 February 23
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Israel, John (born 1910)
Alfi Jones interview, May 5, 1981
1981 May 5
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Alfi Jones, May 5, 1981 (audio): 1981 May 5
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Jones, Alfi (born 1904)
Alfi Jones interview, May 6, 1982
1982 May 6
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Alfi Jones, May 6, 1982 (audio): 1982 May 6
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Alfi Jones, May 6, 1982 (transcript): 1982 May 6
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Jones, Alfi (born 1904)
Aprim Joseph interview, November 14, 1981
1981 November 14
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Aprim Joseph, November 14, 1981 (audio): 1981 November 14
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Aprim Joseph, November 14, 1981 (transcript): 1981 November 14
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Joseph, Aprim (born 1892)
Martha Joseph interview, November 14, 1981
1982 November 14
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Martha Joseph, November 14, 1982 (audio): 1982 November 14
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Martha Joseph, November 14, 1982 (transcript): 1982 November 14
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Joseph, Martha (born 1907)
Mary Khinoo interview, January 26, 1982 (audio)
1982 January 26
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Mary Khinoo, January 26, 1982 (audio): 1982 January 26
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Khinoo, Mary
Mr. and Mrs. Arby Khoubyar interview, December 10, 1981
1981 December 10
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Mr. and Mrs. Arby Khoubyar, December 10, 1981: 1981 December 10
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Mr. and Mrs. Arby Khoubyar, December 10, 1981 (text): 1981 December 10
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Khoubyar, Arby (born 1907)
Harvey Lazar interview, March 22, 1982
1982 March 22
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Harvey Lazar, March 22, 1982 (audio): 1982 March 22
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Lazar, Harvey
Joel Mirza interview, March 21, 1982
1982 March 21
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Joel Mirza, March 21, 1982 (audio): 1982 March 21
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Joel Mirza, March 21, 1982 (transcript): 1982 March 21
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Mirza, Joel (Yoel) (born 1896)
Maryam Oushana interview, March 10, 1982
1982 March 10
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Maryam Oushana, March 10, 1982 (audio): 1982 March 10
Interviews conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Maryam Oushana, March 10, 1982 (transcript): 1982 March 10
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Oushana, Maryam (born 1912)
Anna Paul interview, April 12, 1982
1982 April 12
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Mrs. Anna Paul, April 12, 1982 (audio): 1982 April 12
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Paul, Anna, Mrs. (born 1906)
Yonathan Paul interview, April 12, 1982
1982 April 12
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Yonathan Paul, April 12, 1982 (audio): 1982 April 12
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Yonathan Paul, April 12, 1982 (transcript): 1982 April 12
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Paul, Yonathan (born 1901)
Joan Petros interview, March 10, 1982
1982 March 10
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Joan Petros, March 10, 1982 (audio): 1982 March 10
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Petros, Joan
Father Badal Piro interview, November 25, 1982
1982 November 25
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Father Badal Piro, November 25, 1982 (audio): 1982 November 25
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Piro, Badal, Father
Abe Rojas interview, May 24, 1982
1982 May 24
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Abe Rojas, May 24, 1982 (audio): 1982 May 24
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Rojas, Abe
Magdeleta Sarguis interview, March 22, 1982
1982 March 22
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Magdeleta Sarguis, March 22, 1982 (4 part audio): 1982 March 22
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Magdeleta Sarguis, March 22, 1982 (transcript): 1982 March 22
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Sarguis, Magdeleta (born 1913)
Regina Sarguis interview, February 2, 1982
1982 February 2
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Regina Sarguis February 2, 1982 (audio): 1982 February 2
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Regina Sarguis February 7, 1982 (transcript): 1982 February 7
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Sarguis, Regina
Shalim Sarguis interview, May 24, 1982
1982 May 24
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Shalim Sarguis, May 24, 1982 (audio): 1982 May 24
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Shalim Sarguis, May 24, 1982 (transcript): 1982 May 24
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Sarguis, Shalim (born 1896)
Lea Shabaz interview, February 8, 1982
1982 February 8
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Lea Shabaz, February 8, 1982 (audio): 1982 February 8
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Lea Shabaz, April 8, 1982 (transcript): 1982 April 8
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Shabaz, Lea (born 1894)
Louise Tamy interview, February 9, 1982
1982 February 9
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Louise Tamy, February 9, 1982 (audio): 1982 February 9
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Tamy, Louise
Agnes Troby interview, March 17, 1982
1982 March 17
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Agnes Troby, March 17, 1982 (audio): 1982 March 17
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Troby, Agnes
Mr. and Mrs. Ushana interview, April 19, 1982
1982 April 19
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Mr. and Mrs. Ushana, April 19, 1982 (audio): 1982 April 19
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Ushana, Mrs. (born 1902)
Ushana, Mr. (born 1902)
Sam Warda interview, March 17, 1982
1982 March 17
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Sam Warda, March 17, 1982 (audio): 1982 March 17
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Warda, Sam
Shlimun Yohannan and Mrs. Helen Yohannan interview, March 13, 1982
1982 March 13
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Shlimun Yohannan and Mrs. Helen Yohannan (audio): 1982 March 13
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Shlimun Yohannan and Mrs. Helen Yohannan, March 16, 1982 (transcript): 1982
March 16
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Yohannan, Helen (born 1916)
Yohannan, Shlimun (born 1916)
Sam Yonan interview, April 25, 1982
1982 April 25
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Sam Yonan, April 25, 1982: 1982 April 25
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Sam Yonan, April 25, 1982 (transcript): 1982 April 25
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Yonan, Sam (born 1907)
Anonymous interview, circa 1981-1982
1981-1982
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with anonymous interviewee
Creator: Ishaya, Arianne, Dr.
Series 2, Interview Transcriptions
1979-1987
Assyrian Oral History collection comprehensive transcriptions: 1982
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Nina Backus, November 12, 1982 (transcript): 1982 November 12
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Ludia Badal, February 2, 1982 (transcript): 1982 February 2
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Jesse (Youkhana) Elias, February 8, 1982 (transcript): 1982 February 8
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Sarah Jackson, February 2, 1982 (transcript): 1982 February 2
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Florence Jacobs, January 18, 1979 (transcript): 1979 January 18
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Walter Jacobs, February 8, 1982 (transcript): 1982 February 8
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Rabcca Rustam, March, 1982 (transcript): 1982 March
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Helen Schwartz, October 31, 1987 (transcript): 1987 October 31
Interview conducted by Dr. Arianne Ishaya with Yoel (Joel) Yonan, April 25, 1982 (transcript): 1982 February 3
Physical Description: 5 Digital Files
Series 3, Inventories
2022
Inventory of interviews with Turlock professionals, businesspeople, and city politicians
Database of recordings of Assyrian Genocide Survivors
Physical Description: 2 Digital Files
Series 4, Images documenting the transfer of records from the creator to archive
2022 June 14
Records transfer from Arianne Ishaya to CSU Stanislaus, 20220614, image 1: 2022 June 14
Records transfer from Arianne Ishaya to CSU Stanislaus, 20220614, image 2: 2022 June 14
Records transfer from Arianne Ishaya to CSU Stanislaus, 20220614, image 3: 2022 June 14
Records transfer from Arianne Ishaya to CSU Stanislaus, 20220614, image 4: 2022 June 14
Records transfer from Arianne Ishaya to CSU Stanislaus, 20220614, image 5: 2022 June 14
Records transfer from Arianne Ishaya to CSU Stanislaus, 20220614, image 6: 2022 June 14
Records transfer from Arianne Ishaya to CSU Stanislaus, 20220614, image 7: 2022 June 14
Records transfer from Arianne Ishaya to CSU Stanislaus, 20220614, image 8: 2022 June 14
Records transfer from Arianne Ishaya to CSU Stanislaus, 20220614, image 9: 2022 June 14
Records transfer from Arianne Ishaya to CSU Stanislaus, 20220614, image 10: 2022 June 14
Physical Description: 10 Digital Files
