Law Pioneer Norma Karaian

Norma Karaian was the first American-born Armenian woman to become a lawyer in the United States. Norma was the recipient of many awards, including the Armenian Bar Association’s first Honorary Award and the Girl Scouts of America’s “Outstanding Woman of Achievement” in 1993. In her retirement, she was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Board on Juvenile Justice as well as the Victim and Witness Assistance Board, all while continuing to practice law until her death in 2005 at the age of 100. Both the Armenian-American community and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are richer for Norma’s legacy. These items about Norma Karaian are currently on display in the Family Case near the Museum entrance. This exhibit highlights family histories through a rotating display of donated objects that tell powerful stories.