Mari Bedikian as Mother Armenia, 1916

In 1916, at a contest organised by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) at Silver Bay, New York, Armenian women appeared in the costumes of various characters. According to the source, in this photograph Mari Bedikian embodies Mother Armenia, a symbol of the pain, endurance and dignity of Armenians living far from their homeland.

The photograph shows nine women, sitting and standing on rocks. Most wear long white dresses, a few wear Eastern-style clothing. One woman wears a crown and a sash reading “Armenia”. On the other sashes the letters “YWCA” and the word “Missionary” can be read, and on a hand-held sign, “Relief”.

According to the source, during the years of the genocide such events were not only cultural self-expression but also a means of aid and solidarity.