Refugees waiting for work at Marsavan [i.e. Marsovan]

Photograph shows Armenian and possibly Turkish women with children, picking up wool to take home and weave into cloth and clothing for orphans. The women with their faces covered may be Armenian converts to Islam. The striped blankets worn by some of the women are typical of the Marsovan region. (Source: researcher A. Marsoobian, 2015).

Photograph was probably taken by photographer Tsolag K. Dildilian, who took photographs for relief organizations in Marsovan in 1919. A related photgograph by Dildilian shows a woman dressed in a striped blanket and patterned face-covering similar to the one in this image. (Source: researcher A. Marsoobian, 2015).
Photograph published in: Ernest Pye, editor, Charlotte R. Willard of Merzifon: Her Life and Times (New York: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1933), between pp. 114 and 115. Caption: "Wool Industry, War-time Relief." Detailed footnote, p. 113 reads: "The following words found in Miss Willard's handwriting on the original of this picture reveal its meaning: 'Merzifon women coming to the wool room for work. Four hundred women and girls are on the work list and dependent on the work for their daily bread. Yarn, stockings, sweaters, knitted suits for boys and girls, underflannels and shawls are made. A thousand orphans are now clothed by them and many others helped. Merzifon, May 1919.'" The photographs in this book were taken by Tsolag K. Dildilian. (Source: researcher A. Marsoobian, 2015).
Filed in: Armenians Refugees.
No. RC-10027.
Forms part of: American National Red Cross photograph collection.