Figure 1.-- This portrait of the Ioakimeidis family was taken in January 1935. The older boy appears to be wearing a one-piece shortall-like garment, although the image is not clear enough to tell precisely what he is wearing. The family's clothes suggest a prosperous if not wealthy family at the time.

The Ioakimeidis family came from Turkey to Northern Greece in 1922. Conditions in Turkey were very unsettled after Turkey's defeat in World War I and many ethnic Greeks living in Turkey immigrated Grrece to at this time. In many cases these families had lived in what is now Turkey for centuries. They founded a company that makes oriental rugs and carpets. The portrait here was taken in January 1935 (figure 1). There clothes suggest a prosperous if not wealthy family at the time. Another portrait of the Ioakeimidis family was taken in September of 1943. It's hard to believe that this is the same wealthy family of 1935. Their clother are obviously chaeply made. But when you look at the date you realize that this was during the German occupation in World War II. The War had begun to go bad for the Germans and the conditions in the occupied countries were deteriorating badly. A family at this time had to have had money to have been able to afford a family portrait. At this time in Greece many families were hungry and some proplke were dying from starvation. A Greek reader reports, "I dont want to sound dramatic but at that time people tried to find food for their families and didn't mind about their clothes."

The 1920s

The Ioakimeidis family came from Turkey to Northern Greece in 1922. Conditions in Turkey were very unsettled after Turkey's defeat in World War I and many ethnic Greeks living in Turkey immigrated Grrece to at this time. Greece had fought on the Allied side in the War, but rather reluctantly. In many cases these families had lived in what is now Turkey for centuries. We are not suire what the circumstannces of their immigration were in the 1922. The Ioakimeidis family founded a company that makes oriental rugs and carpets.

The 1930s

The family appears to have prospered. The portrait here was taken in January 1935 (figure 1). There clothes suggest a prosperous if not wealthy family at the time. I'm not precisely sure what the boys are wearing. The older boys looks to be about 5 years old and is wearing a one-pience garment looking like shortalls, but it could have romper bottoms. His younger brother whol looks to be a boyt 3-years old also looks to be wearing a one-piecce outfit which has front buttons. Both boys wear kneesocks and leather shoes. Both boys have short hair cuts.

Figure 2.--This portrait of the Ioakimeidis family was taken in September 1943. The bous are 8 years older. It's hard to believe that this is the same affluent family pictyured above in 1935. Their clothes are obviously chaeply made and the bous do not even wear socks.

The 1940s

The family had another portrait taken in September 1943. It's hard to believe that this is the same wealthy family of 1935. Their clothes are obviously chaeply made. Both boys wear short pants suits. The older boys' suit in particular looks cheaply made and does not fit well. He wears some kind of waistband to keep it closed. The boys do not even wear socks. But when you look at the date you realize that this was during the German occupation in World War II. The War had begun to go bad for the Germans and the conditions in the occupied countries were deteriorating badly. A family at this time had to have had money to have been able to afford a family portrait. At this time in Greece many families were hungry and some proplke were dying from starvation. A Greek reader reports, "I dont want to sound dramatic but at that time people tried to find food for their families and didn't mind about their clothes." Note the short hair cuts. Both boys andcmen have extremely short hair, some look as though their hair has been shaved.

Reader Comment

An American reader tells us, "Ioakimeidis was my mother's maiden name. She was born in Alatsam Turkey in 1913 and along with other members of her family was deported by the Turks in 1922-3, the same time frame as the family you have on the page here. The rest of her family was killed by the Turks, but some who I may not know may have survived. I am interested in contacting them." A Greek reader respnded, " The informarion for Ioakeimides family you are looking for can be found on Ioakeimides Family, but I doubt that there is any connection with the reader. Ioakeimidis is a very common name in Greece."

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Created: April 25, 20021
Last updated: August 1, 2002