Aurora Mardiganian

Born Arshalouis Mardiganian in the Ottoman Empire, she survived the Armenian genocide as a teenager and eventually reached the United States. There, her story was published in 1918 as Ravished Armenia, a memoir that introduced many American readers to the violence Armenians had endured.

She also appeared as herself in the 1919 silent film Auction of Souls, based on her experiences. The book and film helped raise awareness and support for humanitarian relief efforts, especially for Armenian orphans.

Later in life she became widely known as Aurora Mardiganian. Her testimony remains an important personal account of genocide, remembered both for its historical value and for the courage it took to tell it.