The photographic exhibition “Smyrna: The Beginning” sponsored by PANART, presents life in Smyrna before and after the events in 1922 through the works of famous photographers in the beginning of the 20th century. It is an attempt to familiarize the visitor with the painful history of the city of Smyrna, birthplace of The American College of Greece.
The American College of Greece is closely connected to the city of Smyrna and its history. It was in this city that a missionary from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions at Boston, Miss Maria West, made her life purpose to follow the spirit of God and help educate Christian communities (Armenians and Greeks) who were exposed to the “corrupting influence of French literature an infidelity which poisoned family life”. After the Catastrophe, the American College for Girls, faithful to its motto “to serve and not to be served” continued its social work in Greece.
The images in this exhibition were scanned from the original photographs, courtesy of the Harry Yiakoumis and Pierre de Gigord collections.
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