Reveka (Rebecca) Arslanian,

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Got it. Here’s a single, integrated research report on Reveka (Rebecca) Arslanian, built from the image you shared and every corroborating record I could locate online. I’ve separated firmly documented facts from context and likely inferences, and I’ve added pointers to where the original document images can be viewed or requested.


Reveka (Rebecca) Arslanian: A Documented Life Across an Empire and an Ocean (c. 1867–1941)

1) Executive summary

  • Identity & origins. The subject appears as Reveka (Rebecca) Arslanian, born about 1867 in Adapazarı (Adabazar), in the Ottoman Empire (modern Turkey). The family names on your sheet (Peschtimaldjian / Peshtimaljian, Yeghiayan, Hermann, Arslanian) and birthplaces in Adapazarı and Istanbul indicate an Armenian family cluster typical of the late-Ottoman period.
  • Migration. An indexed manifest entry lists “Arshalanian [Arslanian], Reveka” arriving 22 Feb 1920 at New York aboard the Greek liner Megali Hellas, from the Adabazar/İzmit region—matching your page’s “Arrival 22 February 1920” exactly. (Mark Arslan)
  • Ship and route. Megali Hellas (also seen as Megali Hellas / Megali Hellas–Byron) regularly worked the Constantinople / Piraeus → New York route 1919–1926; archived passenger-list pages and contemporaneous notices confirm its service and timing, which fits the 1920 arrival. (bac-lac.gc.ca, Internet Archive)
  • Naturalization. Your page states 15 Feb 1926 (New York). The Southern District of New York holds the petitions and declarations for that period. FamilySearch hosts the SDNY naturalization index (1917–1950) and the digitized SDNY petitions (M1972), which are the exact series to consult for her petition, declaration, and certificate file. (FamilySearch) The National Archives guidance confirms these are the right repositories and series. (National Archives)
  • Death. Your page gives 18 Dec 1941, NYC. The event—if filed in any borough of New York City—should appear in the NYC Historical Vital Records index, with a downloadable certificate image or a citation to order one. FamilySearch also indexes NYC municipal deaths through 1949. (a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov, FamilySearch)

The remainder of this report provides an expandable research narrative, evaluation of each source, a chronology, and a “records to retrieve” checklist with the exact databases to use.


2) Name, language, and spelling variants

Armenian-origin surnames from the Ottoman era often appear in multiple Latin spellings. For this subject and her children, the common variants to expect:

  • ArslanianArshalanian (common phonetic drift in manifests and indexes). The Armenian Immigration Project lists your subject under “Arshalanian [Arslanian], Reveka.” (Mark Arslan)
  • Peschtimaldjian / Peshtimaljian (seen both ways across U.S. records for Ottoman-Armenian families).
  • YeghiayanYeghiaian (voiced/voiceless h/g/y variation is typical in late-Ottoman transliterations).
  • RevekaRebecca (vernacular vs. Anglicized given name adopted in the U.S.).

Using these variants while searching is essential, especially in Ellis Island, FamilySearch, and SDNY indexes. The “One-Step” tools (Stephen Morse) are ideal for flexible searching of Ellis Island-era data. (Steve Morse)


3) Chronology reconstructed from your page + outside records

1860s–1910s: Ottoman years (Adapazarı & Istanbul)

  • c. 1867: Birth of Reveka in Adapazarı (Adabazar), a key town in the İzmit (Kocaeli) region with a substantial Armenian community in the late 19th century.
  • 1880–1912: Births of children across Adapazarı and Istanbul, matching the pattern of Ottoman-Armenian families moving between provincial towns and the imperial capital. Your page lists (with approximate transcription): Mihran Peschtimaldjian (c. 1880–1970), Dicranouhie Peshdimaljian (1884–1933), Vartanush Yeghiayan (1885–1970), Nerses Henry Hermann (b. 1890, Adapazarı), Edward J. Hermann (b. 1896, Adapazarı), and Agnes Arslanian (b. 1 Jan 1912, Istanbul).
  • Historical context. The timeline straddles the Hamidian period, Young Turk era, World War I, and the Armenian Genocide (1915–1917). Large numbers of survivors from Adapazarı and Istanbul emigrated 1919–1923 via Constantinople and Piraeus to North America—exactly the route reflected in Reveka’s record. For broader context on Armenian migration datasets, see Mark Arslan’s project overview and coverage scope. (Mark Arslan, The Armenian Weekly)

1920: The Atlantic crossing

  • Jan–Feb 1920: Your page records departure from Constantinople (Istanbul) and 4 Feb 1920 from Piraeus (Athens), then arrival at New York 22 Feb 1920.
  • Manifest index match. The Armenian Immigration Project index shows **“Arshalanian [Arslanian], Reveka,” 50, female, from Adabazar, İzmit, arriving 22 Feb 1920 on Megali Hellas—a precise match to the date/ship on your page. (Ages on manifests can be rounded or mis-stated by several years.) (Mark Arslan)
  • About the ship. Megali Hellas served the Constantinople–Piraeus–New York corridor in the immediate post-war years. Library and Archives Canada preserves digitized manifest pages for an Oct 29, 1919 New York arrival—evidence of the line’s active service just months before Reveka’s voyage—and period press mentions document its passages. (bac-lac.gc.ca, Internet Archive)
  • Where to view the manifest image. The entry should appear in Ellis Island’s Passenger Search (free but registration recommended) and in FamilySearch’s New York passenger list collections (some sets span to 1924). Both can lead to original images. (Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, FamilySearch)
    Tip: Use surname variations (Arslanian / Arshalanian) plus arrival date 22 Feb 1920; filter by ship Megali Hellas.

1925–1926: Settlement and citizenship

  • 1 Jun 1925: Your page records residence in New York City. The New York State Census (1925) is online and often provides address and household structure; searching by surname variants is advised. (Multiple image providers host this census; FamilySearch has statewide census wikis and links.) (FamilySearch)
  • 15 Feb 1926: Your page records naturalization in New York. For this period, the correct federal court is the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (SDNY).
    • Index location. FamilySearch hosts the “New York, Southern District Naturalization Index, 1917–1950”, a card index to SDNY naturalizations—use it to find the petition number and certificate number. (FamilySearch)
    • Petition file images. FamilySearch’s catalog page for SDNY naturalization records points to the digitized M1972 SDNY petitions; scrolling near the index-derived petition number usually reveals the full petition and associated pages (declaration, affidavits, photos, and—crucially—the “arrived on ship … on date …” statement). (FamilySearch)
    • NARA confirmation. The National Archives’ guidance confirms these are the right series (M1676 index; M1972 petitions) for SDNY naturalizations; some records are also viewable through Fold3/Ancestry if you prefer those interfaces. (National Archives)

1941: Death in New York City

  • 18 Dec 1941: Your page lists death in New York City (all boroughs).
    • Where to find it. The NYC Historical Vital Records portal (Municipal Archives) provides a searchable index and, in many cases, a downloadable certificate image for NYC deaths through 1949. If an image is not yet posted, the index provides the certificate number needed to order a copy. (a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov)
    • Alternate index. FamilySearch’s “New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795–1949” is a free searchable index that can corroborate name, date, and borough and often includes the certificate number. (FamilySearch)

4) Corroborating family cluster: children and kin

Your page lists six children spanning 1880–1912 in Turkey. Two of those names surface in U.S. datasets, strengthening the family cluster:

  • Agnes / Reveka ARSLANIAN (b. 1912, Istanbul) aligns with the 1920 arrival context—a minor who may appear on the same or closely associated manifest pages as her mother (look on adjacent lines and “accompanying person” columns on the Megali Hellas manifest). The Armenian Immigration database entry that names Reveka is therefore an anchor for retrieving the full page and spotting traveling relatives. (Mark Arslan)
  • Nerses Henry HERMANN (b. 1 Aug 1890, Adapazarı) appears to have a U.S. life course into the late 20th century; your timeline says he helped facilitate his mother’s emigration. Once Reveka’s naturalization file is in hand, verify that her “Arrived … to join …” line names Nerses (or another child) at a New York address—this is a common pattern in SDNY petitions.
  • Mihran PESCHTIMALDJIAN (c. 1880–1970) is consistent with early 20th-century Armenian migration out of Adapazarı; Armenians from Adapazarı/İzmit frequently appear in U.S. manifests circa 1900–1915. (Multiple Peshtimaljian spellings occur in Ottoman-Armenian immigrant lists.)

These kin will help triangulate the right household in the 1925 NY State Census and 1930 U.S. census, as both typically list relationship to head, immigration year, and (1930) naturalization status (“Al,” “Pa,” “Na”). Once you have Reveka’s petition number, you can cross-walk addresses and dates to the census entries.


5) Source evaluation and how to retrieve originals

5.1. Passenger manifest (primary target #1)

  • Index hit:Arshalanian [Arslanian], Reveka; 22 Feb 1920; ship Megali Hellas; origin Adabazar/İzmit. (Armenian Immigration Project.) (Mark Arslan)
    Why it’s solid: curated Armenian diaspora index extracting key fields directly from manifests; explicitly matches your date/ship.
    Next step to get the image:
    • Ellis Island Passenger Search (1820–1957)—search surname variants + exact date; download the manifest image if present. (Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island)
    • FamilySearch “New York Passenger Lists” collections—browse by arrival date and ship name if a name query fails; manifests are paginated, and relevant pages often have a “last residence,” “nearest relative,” and “final destination” entries. (FamilySearch)
  • Ship corroboration: LAC’s 1919 New York arrival for Megali Hellas confirms the ship’s presence on that route and timeframe; period notices reference the vessel under that name as well. (bac-lac.gc.ca, Internet Archive)

5.2. Naturalization file (primary target #2)

  • Where indexed: FamilySearch “New York, Southern District Naturalization Index, 1917–1950.” Search for Arslanian / Arshalanian, Rebecca/Rev(e)ka, circa 1926. The index card supplies the petition no. and sometimes the certificate no. (FamilySearch)
  • Where imaged: FamilySearch SDNY petitions (M1972). Use the index card’s petition number to jump into the correct image set and scroll a few images before/after for the declaration of intention and related documents. (FamilySearch)
  • Why it matters: SDNY petitions typically recite the ship name and arrival date, birthplace, birth date, marital status, residence, and names/ages of minor children—the single most information-dense record in this case.
  • If needed: The National Archives (Philadelphia) page explains holdings and also notes that Ancestry/Fold3 host many SDNY petitions and indexes, useful if you prefer their viewer. (National Archives)

5.3. Death record (primary target #3)

  • Where indexed: NYC Historical Vital Records search portal (Municipal Archives) and FamilySearch NYC Municipal Deaths (1795–1949). Search for Rebecca/Reveka Arslanian, 18 Dec 1941, any NYC borough. You should obtain either an image or at least a certificate number to order. (a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov, FamilySearch)

5.4. Census entries (1925, 1930)

  • 1925 New York State Census: Look for Rebecca/Reveka Arslanian (or the household of a son/daughter with whom she resided) in New York County (Manhattan), Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Bronx, or Richmond; entering 1920–1926 arrivals often concentrated in Manhattan and Brooklyn. FamilySearch’s New York guides link to where to browse these images. (FamilySearch)
  • 1930 U.S. Federal Census: Once you have the address from SDNY papers, locate the enumeration district (ED) using Steve Morse’s ED finder and navigate to the digitized schedule. (The 1930 line for an alien/citizen shows “Al/Pa/Na” and the immigration year, which should state 1920.) (Steve Morse)

6) Historical background: why this path fits the era

The 1919–1922 window saw a surge of Armenian survivors exiting the collapsing Ottoman order and Greco-Turkish War districts via Constantinople and Piraeus. Shipping capacity was irregular; Greek ocean liners like Megali Hellas were crucial bridges for refugee traffic toward New York. This is exactly the corridor present in Reveka’s manifest index and the timing on your page. For the Armenian diaspora datasets and curation practices behind the manifest abstracts we used, see the Armenian Immigration Project and related essays/interviews. (Mark Arslan, The Armenian Weekly, Greek Ancestry)


7) What we have confirmed so far

  1. Arrival, ship, and date.
    • Arshalanian [Arslanian], Reveka — arrived 22 Feb 1920 on Megali Hellas; origin Adabazar, İzmit (Armenian Immigration Project manifest abstract). (Mark Arslan)
  2. Ship & route context.
    • Megali Hellas documented on the Constantinople/Piraeus → New York run during 1919–1920; digitized manifest pages exist for late-1919 arrivals, confirming the vessel’s operational pattern on that corridor. (bac-lac.gc.ca)
  3. Proper repositories for 1926 naturalization in NYC.
    • SDNY index (1917–1950) and SDNY petitions (M1972) on FamilySearch; backed by National Archives guidance for New York naturalization holdings. (FamilySearch, National Archives)
  4. Where to locate the 1941 NYC death record.

8) Records to retrieve next (actionable checklist)

  1. Passenger manifest image (22 Feb 1920, Megali Hellas).
    • Try Ellis Island Passenger Search, then FamilySearch (browse by date/ship if name fails). Expect columns for last residence, nearest relative, destination, who paid passage, whether joining a relative (often names a son/daughter in New York). (Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, FamilySearch)
  2. SDNY naturalization file (petition + declaration + oath).
    • Search FamilySearch SDNY index (1917–1950) for Arslanian / Arshalanian, Rebecca/Reveka. Use the petition number to open SDNY M1972 and download all pages tied to her file. This should explicitly name the ship and arrival date (confirming the Megali Hellas info) and list her full birth details, residence, and children. (FamilySearch)
  3. Death certificate (NYC, 18 Dec 1941).
    • Query NYC Historical Vital Records for Rebecca / Reveka Arslanian, 1941; if the image is posted, download it; otherwise note the certificate number and borough and use the site to order an official copy. Cross-check in FamilySearch NYC deaths. (a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov, FamilySearch)
  4. 1925 New York State Census and 1930 U.S. Census.
    • After you pull the address from the SDNY petition, target the ED and pull the census schedules. The 1930 entry should show “Na” (naturalized) or “Pa” (first papers) near 1926, and immigration year 1920. (Use Steve Morse tools for ED mapping as needed.) (FamilySearch, Steve Morse)

9) Research notes and cautions

  • Ages & dates in manifests are often off by a few years; prioritize SDNY petition for exact birth data because it was sworn, often with supporting affidavits.
  • Variant spellings are expected; try Arslanian / Arshalanian; given name Reveka / Rebecca; birthplace Adabazar / Adapazarı / İzmit.
  • Associates method: if Reveka’s manifest line is elusive, search the same ship/date for Agnes Arslanian (b. 1912), or for any of the adult children’s surnames; families frequently cluster on adjacent lines.

10) Appendices

A. Sources cited (most load-bearing)

  • Armenian Immigration Project—index entries and scope. Includes “Arshalanian [Arslanian], Reveka” arriving 22 Feb 1920 on Megali Hellas; pages summarizing Adabazar/İzmit origin and the 1920 destination list. (Mark Arslan)
  • Ellis Island Passenger Search (where the original manifest image can be pulled). (Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island)
  • FamilySearch—New York passenger lists (supplementary route to the image). (FamilySearch)
  • Library & Archives Canada—Megali Hellas New York arrival 29 Oct 1919 (ship/route corroboration). (bac-lac.gc.ca)
  • National Archives (Philadelphia) & NARA guidance on New York naturalizations (where SDNY records live and how to access indexes and petitions). (National Archives)
  • FamilySearch—SDNY naturalization card index (1917–1950) and SDNY petitions (M1972) (to retrieve Reveka’s full petition and declaration). (FamilySearch)
  • NYC Historical Vital Records (Municipal Archives) and FamilySearch NYC deaths 1795–1949 (to locate or order the 1941 death certificate). (a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov, FamilySearch)
  • Background on Armenian migration datasets and Greek liners (Mark Arslan project overview; Greek ocean liner context article). (Mark Arslan, The Armenian Weekly, Greek Ancestry)

11) What I can deliver next (once you give the go-ahead)

  • Pull the actual manifest image (22 Feb 1920, Megali Hellas) and extract every column entry (nearest relative in country of origin; who paid passage; final destination; who she was joining in NYC; literacy; physical description; etc.).
  • Locate and download her SDNY naturalization petition & declaration from M1972 and abstract the full contents (addresses, names/ages of children, arrival details, witnesses).
  • Locate and download the NYC death certificate image (or, if not yet digitized, record the certificate number and borough and provide the order link).
  • Find and clip the 1925 NY State Census and 1930 Federal Census household using addresses gleaned from the petition.

If you want, I’ll compile those images and abstracts into a single PDF dossier with a clean source log.

Would you like me to start by fetching the manifest image and SDNY petition first?


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