Anna Tigranovna Ter-Avetikian was born on 23 October 1908 in Yerevan, which at the time was in the Erivan Governorate of the Russian Empire.[1] At the time that Armenia was annexed to Russia from the Ottoman Empire, her ancestors were granted a noble title from Nicholas I of Russia for providing assistance and medical supplies to General Ivan Paskevich's troops.[2] She came from a family of architects and city developers who were noted for creating such works as the first drinking water system of Yerevan, the first hospital of the city, as well as other landmarks.[1] Her father, Tigran Ter-Avetikian and his brother, Yervand, created the Philharmonic Hall of Yerevan, the City Council building on Shahumyan Square, and other noted works.[2]