WILLIAM SAROYAN CENTENNIAL
1908-2008
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“—the hot sun and the heavy rain, the new green of spring and the fire-golden of fall: the farmer’s
weather of Fresno, in which I lived and became a part of the human race.”
Saroyan, The Time of Your Life, (Preface) 1939

2008 Centennial Honors Saroyan’s Legacy

Fresno, California is leading a statewide celebration honoring their most high-spirited native son,
William Saroyan, during the 100th anniversary year of his birth (1908-2008).  Saroyan was an
internationally renowned Armenian-American novelist and playwright, whose published writings
topped over 4,000 literary works, including short stories, plays, and novels.  William Saroyan was
born in Fresno and died in Fresno, and in between he became an award-winning writer and
playwright, to include a Pulitzer Prize, an Academy Award, and The Drama Critic’s Circle Award.  He
had an illustrious career that spanned over forty-seven years.
What's New
Saroyan Centennial in the News
Centennial Silkscreen Prints go on sale - Only 100 will be printed!
                                         
 (Click for Details)
WILLIAM SAROYAN: Places in Time (Available Early July 2008)
by Pat Hunter and Janice Stevens
Linden Publishing
$26.95
88pp. 55 watercolor illustrations.
(Click for Details)
Centennial Events Calendar
Supporting Organizations
The sponsoring organizations of the centennial have united to plan and present a vast
array of events to honor William Saroyan
Academy of Classical Music and Art
Armenian Cultural Foundation
Armenian Museum
Armenian Technology Group
California Opera
City of Fresno
College of the Sequoias
Corridor 2122
CSU Fresno - Armenian Studies Program
CSU Fresno - Arts and Humanities
CSU Fresno - English Department
CSU Fresno - Theatre Department
CSU Fresno - Summer Arts
CSU Los Angles
CSU Northridge
Fig Tree Gallery
Fresno Art Museum
Fresno Arts Council
Fresno Chamber of Commerce
Fresno Chorale Artists
Fresno City College
Fresno Community Chorus
Fresno Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
Fresno County Library
Fresno County Office of Education
Fresno County Office of Tourism
Fresno Folklore Society
Fresno Historical Society
Fresno Philharmonic
Gallery 25
Good Company Players
Kings Art Center
Knights of Vartan
KFCF - 88.1   (Calendar of Saroyan Radio Specials)
Merced Arts Council
San Joaquin River Parkway
Spectrum Gallery
Stanford Library (Saroyan Collection)
Town Hall of San Joaquin Valley
Tulare County Historical Society
Tulare Historical Museum
Valley Public Radio (KVPR)
Valley Public Television (Channel 18)
William Saroyan Foundation
William Saroyan Society

Major Funding for the William Saroyan Centennial has been generously provided by:
Fresno Bee
Kaiser Permanente
Educational Employees Credit Union
City of Fresno
Bertha and John Garabedian Charitable Foundation
Shirley Brinker
Cohen Communications
Dumont Printing
Bonner Family Foundation
Bennett Family Foundation Fund
Leon S. Peters Foundation
Wathen-Castanos, Inc.
Ed and Jeanne Kashian
Alliance for California Traditional Arts, Living Cultures
Fresno Regional Foundation (Ewell Fund)
The Ralph Ermoian Foundation
The Harry M. Ermoian Foundation
Roxie Moradian “Mrs. Frank”
The George Ignatius Foundation Trustees:  George Phillips, Esq., Michael Amerian, Esq., and Walter
Karabian, Esq.
Professional Business Bank
Sun-Maid Growers of California
Triple X Fraternity, Selma Chapter
Knights of Vartan

Additional Support has been generously provided by:
AGBU Fresno Chapter
Robert and Debra Bagdasarian
Richard and Mimi Gunner
Jane M. Cleave
Ken and Jeanne Parnagian
Leo and Rosalie Balakian
In loving memory of Frank and Florence Caglia
Clifford Tutelian and Family
Civic Center Square, Inc.
Hagopian Family Trust
Coke and James Hallowell
Larry Balakian
Vatche Soghomonian and Jane F. Kardashian
Bee Sweet Citrus
Bud and Elaine Long
Anita Shanahan
Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Karian
Varoujan Der Simonian
William Saroyan Centennial Coordinated by Armenian Museum
For more information contact:
Armenian Museum
Attn: Mary LaFollette
1300 E. Shaw, Suite 131
Fresno, CA  93710
(559) 243-5880
armenianmuseumfresno@yahoo.com

Note: Office hours are 11:00am-4:00pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
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