Vasili Shoumanov

Assyrian American Association of Chicago Vasili Shoumanov

In 1917, the Assyrian American Association was founded and established in Chicago by those arriving in the United States in an effort to unite the growing community, aid newcomers, and celebrate cultural heritage. The first wave of Assyrians came to Chicago in the late 1800s. Their success prompted successive migration, particularly during World War I, when the Ottoman Campaigns incited massacres in Turkey and Iran and prompted survivors to flee. Although 100 years have passed, the organization remains a pillar of the Assyrian community in Chicago and a prized secular organization in the United States. Cultural activities such as shows and lectures by artists, sponsored by the association, are yet another means of bringing the Chicago community together for shared enjoyment. These pages are filled with old and new photographs that bring the organization's history to life and provide a firsthand look into the past and present.