Acknowledgements
This website represents the collective efforts of several groups of dedicated professionals who spent hours gathering materials and preparing them for publication. Of particular importance, with respect to the Chavchavadze site is Illi Giorgobiani, a social scientist who played an important role in researching the history of the Chavchavadze family. Maya Kokochashuili, Director of the Chavchavadze House Museum, also provided expertise and shared her valuable knowledge of the subject matter.
George Kharabadze, Director of the Tsinandali Project, a major restoration initiative of the Silk Road Group and Sandro Chkhaidze, Deputy Director of the Tsinandali Project, are dedicated to sharing knowledge of Chavchavadze’s history with their fellow citizens and other interested parties. George Ramiashvili, the Director of the Silk Road Group, is the cornerstone of the group’s efforts to meet the demands of improving the Tsinadnali estate. Without the able assistance and commitment of Boris Gagua, the Director of the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia (NPLG) this project would not have been undertaken. The NPLG partnership with the Smithsonian Institution Libraries, which Mr. Gagua instituted, has led to a number of excellent ideas and shared insights. I also gave special thanks to the Library‘s staff whose comments strengthened the presentation of the material.
It is always a great personal and professional privilege to work with members of my staff. Lance Costello and James Smith organized and edited the texts. Lance provided innumerable and invaluable suggestions on a range of topics including the design of the site. Irakli Pipia, a visiting scholar, researched the subject matter in Georgian, Russian, and English. Matthew MacInnes, a talented young visionary, designed and built the site. Throughout all of this Samantha Grauberger, my administrative assistant, contributed greatly on all administrative matters and helped the team to approach the work in a more systematic manner.
Finally, I would like to thank Paul Taylor, Director, Asian Cultural History Program, for his professionalism and keen insights. His friendship, guidance, and support are a few of the many benefits of my career at the Smithsonian.
[ TOP ]