Denice Peter Karamardian is one of the many researchers that has passed though the History Center in Tompkins County, looking for clues about  her family identity. Denice grew up in Ithaca, New York, thinking she was Syrian – part of the small Syrian community that co-mingled with Greek, Italian, and other 20th century immigrant communities that helped to build the little city from the turn of the 20th century. She was partly right. Both of her paternal grandparents came from Syria and spoke in Syrian. But at the age of 12, she learned that her grandfather was actually Armenian and certain mysteries and stories emerged upon his death. Denice spent a lifetime searching for answers and details, and more than a decade putting the journey to paper – her own and her ancestors.

The result is a trilogy, presented in a hybrid form as historical fiction and part memoire, based entirely upon the true story of the Karamardian family (known locally as the Peter family) across continents, wars, and generations. The series is called Odar, which means “other” in Armenian; sometimes it can mean “stranger” or “foreigner”. The author tracks a parallel narration of her own coming of age as it relates to the discoveries she makes in her search for identity.

Now, she's completed the Odar Trilogy with the last book in the series, Amirkans. In this book, the next generation of the Peter clan thrive on a South Danby farm and face a the Great Depression and a new war, while a family branch in Syria is making a national impact on that country. With ultimate emigration, journeys converge across two American coasts. Meanwhile, the author grapples with myths and misinformation in pursuit of questions, but is no less inspired with the wonder of resilience and triumph of mankind when nothing else will do. 

Denice's persistence in research and her skill in turning family mythos and historical documents into gripping narratives is awe-inspiring. Now, not only are her family histories saved for her own descendants, but they are also are available to the public as a unique example of local history storytelling. 

You can find more info here.

Join Denice at the History Center on Sept. 7, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m., for a reading of her books.