Title Synopsis: Set within the contexts of American immigration history and women’s philanthropy, From Persia to America recounts the remarkable journey of a prominent Persian-Armenian immigrant and her commitment to a life of generosity in her adopted American homeland. Emma Ordjanian Melikian was born in Teheran into a family that, having earlier faced imprisonment in Russia following the Revolution of 1917, fled to Persia where the Ordjanian family had longstanding roots. The account traces Emma’s family life in Teheran and the move to New York where she completes her schooling, marries, has four children, and begins charitable work within the Armenian community of metropolitan New York. The biography concludes with her years in Phoenix where her civic leadership and philanthropy included the founding of the non-profit organization, “Thank you America,” and the endowment of The Melikian Center at Arizona State University. From Persia to America draws upon extended first-person interviews with Emma Ordjanian Melikian who remains deeply engaged and discerning in her tenth decade.
Author Bio: Stephen K. Batalden is professor emeritus of history at Arizona State University, and founding director of the Melikian Center for Russian, Eurasian & East European Studies at ASU. A specialist on Russian/East European religious and cultural history, his Cambridge University Press volume, Russian Bible Wars: Modern Scriptural Translation and Cultural Authority, received the 2014 Reginald Zelnik Award of the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies for outstanding contribution to modern Russian history.
Author: Stephen K. Batalden
Narrator: Arra Melikian
Publisher: Innovative Ink Publishing
Copyright: Stephen K. Batalden, 2024
Audiobook Release Date: July 11, 2025
Original Book Release Date: April 24, 2024
Running Time: 03:40:54
Audiobook ISBN: 9781965655436
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A Journey of Resilience and Legacy
Stephen Batalden’s From Persia to America is a captivating triumph that brings history, culture, and human resilience vividly to life. With eloquence and depth, Batalden chronicles the extraordinary journey of Emma Ordjanian Melikian, a Persian-Armenian immigrant whose story embodies both the struggles and triumphs of displacement and renewal. The book seamlessly weaves together themes of immigration, philanthropy, and cultural identity, offering readers not just a biography but a window into the broader immigrant experience in America. What makes it truly remarkable is how it balances meticulous historical detail with heartfelt storytelling, leaving you inspired by Emma’s generosity, perseverance, and lasting legacy. It’s a moving, beautifully written work that lingers in your mind long after the final page.
