Alfortville, an Armenian village, 1920s-1930s.

As part of the monthly seminar Etudes arméniennes organized by Inalco and the Société des études arméniennes.
Panneau-titre de l’exposition Alfortville, un village arménien, années 1920-1930, présentée à l’espace culturel « 148 » d’Alfortville du 13 au 19 avril 2026.
Panneau-titre de l’exposition Alfortville, un village arménien, années 1920-1930, présentée à l’espace culturel « 148 » d’Alfortville du 13 au 19 avril 2026. © Fonds ARAM, Bnf‎

Speech by Sevan Ananian, associate professor of history and geography

Sevan Ananian is an agrégé history-geography teacher at Lycée François Arago in Villeneuve Saint-Georges and Collège Kevork Arabian in Alfortville, and a member of the Alfortville MCA association and the ARAM association.

He is the author of:

  • Alfortville et les Arméniens, l'intégration réciproque, 1920-1947, Editions Val-Arno, Collection Alfortville-Mémoires, 1999. From a master's thesis at the University of Paris-XII Créteil under the direction of André Encrevé.
  • L'école bilingue Saint-Mesrop, 1978-2008, Collection Alfortville-Mémoires, 2008.
  • La Maison de la culture arménienne d'Alfortville, une expérience de vie en diaspora, 2023, with Virab Mouradian, documentary film freely available on Youtube.
  • Alfortville, un village arménien, années 1920-1930, exhibition presented from April 13 to 19, 2026 at espace culturel 148 d'Alfortville.

History of the settlement and integration of the first generation of Armenians settled in Alfortville.

  1. Arrivals and migratory routes

History of the settlement of the first Armenians in Alfortville, notably through examples of individual routes.

  1. Installation and settlement

Modalities and stages in the formation of the community, participation in the settlement and urbanization of the south of the commune.

  1. Work, school, tools for integration?

Factories, independent trades, textile manufacturing: questioning around the idea of integration through work. Role of public schools for the second generation born or raised in France.

  1. Community life

Shaping the associative network, maintaining original traditions, spaces for sociability, emergence of a diasporic culture, political life and debates.

  1. Representations and perceptions.

Testimonies, local and national, French and Armenian press. Questioning the image of successful or exemplary integration conveyed in collective memory today.

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