ARMENIAN
GENEALOGICAL
SOCIETY
SONYA MIRZOYAN
Let's take a closer look at the woman who has dedicated her life to the archives and Armenian history. She uses all possible resources for creating your genealogical tree - metric books, the National Archives of Armenia, and Synod Archives -, little by little, restoring all the details of those times.
Sonya Mirzoyan was born on July 15, 1949 in the small Armenian-populated city of Kirovabad (now Ganja, Republic of Azerbaijan). She was the eldest of four daughters in the family and went to Baku after finishing school for university. But fate had other plans: at her first exam, Sonya received aa failing grade and returned to her native town. The same year she entered the local pedagogical school. After graduation, Sonya did not give up and once again applied to the Faculty of History of the Azerbaijan State University. The same year they opened a new area of study - "archival studies", and Sonya was sent there.
All her 5 years at university were years of formation and national consciousness. After graduation, Sonya was sent to Armenia at the request of the Main Archives Department of the Armenian SSR. In 1973, her career began in the Armenia's National Archive.
After 10 years, Sonya became the deputy director of the Archive; in 1993 she was appointed as the director of the Historical Archive, and in 2003, when all the archives of the Republic of Armenia were united and the National Archive of Armenia was established, she became the deputy director of the National Archive of Armenia.
During those years Sonya was not only an administrative worker but also a creative force. She wrote her dissertation on Alexander Khatisian (the state and political figure of the 1st Armenian Republic). She is also the author of dozens of scientific publications and understands how important it is to know one’s family history and national origin.
Sonya says with confidence that she has found her vocation in life and without a doubt would have chosen the Faculty of History again, if given the opportunity.
All the secrets and important aspects of your ancestors' lives will be uncovered for you, and the genealogical tree will be a source of proudness. Knowing the history of your family and your nation is very important. It will help you learn about your future and understand yourself, and your character better.