Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Bandoian Family Letters, 1942-1946. Accession 51387. Personal papers collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Purchased from Tim Abbott, Richmond, Virginia, 9 September 2014.

Biographical Information

David Bandoian (1893-1965) and wife Annig Z. Bandoian (1902-1986) were both Armenian natives. Their children Carl "Banny" Bandoian (1924-2006) and Violet Bandoian (1925-1995) were born in Michigan. The family then relocated to Richmond, Virginia, where they kept a shop. Son Carl enlisted with the United States Army in February 1943, eventually earning a Bronze Star with the 86th Infantry Division. Violet worked in the Treasurer's Office at Richmond Professional Institute . Carl went on to marry Mabel Ramsey (1926-2005) and have one son and two daughters with her.

Scope and Content

Letters, 1942-1946, of the Bandoian family of Richmond, Virginia, chiefly come from Violet Bandoian (1925-1995) to her brother Carl "Banny" Bandoian (1924-2006) while he was away serving with the 86th Infantry Division of the United States Army. Topics include Violet's job working for Dean H. H. Hibbs Jr. (1887-1977) in the Treasurer's Office at Richmond Professional Institute; her romantic prospects and social life; the return of various soldiers, and celebrations marking the end of World War II; observations of students, staff, and faculty at RPI; and religious and social gatherings in the Armenian community. There is also one letter, 11 August 1942, from Carl Bandoian in New York City to his family, describing the various attractions he had visited and stating that he missed the friendliness of people back in Richmond, especially customers of the family store; and one undated letter from David Bandoian (1893-1965) to his son Carl.