The 1895-1896 Armenian Massacres in Harput: Eyewitness Account

Abstract

This article offers insights into the events and impact of the massacres perpetrated against Armenians in Harput province in Eastern Turkey, which occurred predominantly in 1895. In this region, the massacres were witnessed by a small group of American Protestant missionaries, who were proselytising there under the auspices of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Utilising the archival records of the missionaries and other sources, the article explores the impact of the massacres upon the missionaries as well as the Armenians. Harput was devastated by the massacres, with approximately 40,000 Armenians dying as a result of the violence, and over 90,000 more left impoverished and in need of aid in their aftermath.