Greek Diaspora Museum Project Launched in Athens

"Greek Diaspora Museum Project Launched in Athens" published in The National Herald, July 20, 2024, authored by Constantine S. Sirigos.

Years ago Hellenic Genealogy Geek was fortunate to receive permission from The National Herald to reprint article that may of interest to our community

ATHENS – The Greek Diaspora Museum Project is the vision of a diverse and dedicated group of Hellenes, many born and raised as Hellenes Abroad, who dream of a dynamic and living institution in Athens that both honors the experiences and achievements of their forebears and shares the story of their struggles and triumphs with Hellenes in the Homeland.

From the interest and excitement generated at the standing-room-only first event at the Demos Center in Athens’ historic Plaka district on July 17, generously hosted by its director and founder Mary Cardaras, the journey from dream to reality has begun.

The organizing committee consisting of Alexander Kitroeff, Artemis Kohas, Gregory Kontos, Spyros Ladeas, and Peter Poulos made presentations that blended touching family stories that illustrated their motivation for the endeavor, with plans for moving forward. They also listened carefully during the Q&Q to ideas from the guests who are in a position to move the project forward, i.e. helping to search for a permanent location, and, of course, the fundraising. Guests also committed to participating in activities that will engender broader support, offering to help organize lectures and temporary exhibitions of the priceless photos and objects that along with recorded testimonials will comprise the treasures of the museum.

Ladeas welcomed the guests, and introduced the project – and the remarkably similar experiences and motivations of the group: wherever they lived in the Diaspora, wherever they travelled, they sought Hellenes and Hellenism – at parish coffee hours, the events of Hellenic organizations… and restaurants, their ears always perking when a word of Greek was heard.

They also share a fascination with what Kitroeff called the material culture of the Diaspora, the objects from the homes and businesses of Hellenes filling out the stories announced by those personal and historic photos that so striongly draw later generations into the lives of those who came first.

Just as they felt each place in the Diaspora they visited was a ‘home away from home’, so they wish to create an analogous space in Greece – but not merely an exhibition space – an experience, a feeling for the Diaspora world that is simultaneously passing – Kitroeff urged acting before objects “in our cupboards and closets” are no longer available – and transforming.

They are correctly thinking long term and step by step. A main part of the work, which will include collaborations with relevant institutions in the Diaspora, will be to encourage people to fill the museum with temporary or permanent loans of their own jewels of history.

After hearing from people that exhibitions of the Diaspora’s material culture fired up their imaginations and passions for reconnecting with Hellenic roots, Kitroeff, realizing its power beyond even the many books and articles he has written, made the material culture the primary focus of his work, which has to date documented the Diaspora in Egypt and the U.S.

Kontos, a historian, the group’s genealogy expert, spoke of the curiosity engendered by family stories – when did they leave Greece and why, what made them choose their destinations, etc. While not a member of the Diaspora (though he has lived among them), he marvels – thoughts echoed by Kitroeff – at the phenomenon of Hellenes holding onto their heritage and desires for connection with homeland longer and more strongly than other ethnic groups.

Poulos, past THI Executive Director, a prime example of 3rd and 4th generation Greek-Americans whose Hellenism burns very bright, emphasized that “we want people to know that we are one of the world’s great diaspora communities.” He was energized by visiting the diaspora museum in Tel Aviv and thinking, “our story is at least as interesting.”

Speakers emphasized the advantage of ‘not having to reinvent the wheel” – there are models that can be adopted or adapted. Poulos also noted the tremendous resource of hundreds of family foundations that have already been established and whose support will be pursued. He also expressed confidence, pointing to the guests, because “we have filled this room with smart people and doers.”