The U.S. TURKISH LIBRARY & MUSEUM – Page 34 – The U.S. Turkish Library and Museum for Friendship and Peace

The Road Less Chosen – A Book on Rural Development by Altan Unver, 2005

March 4, 2011 by admin

According to the latest census, there are over 32,000 villages in Turkey located in 3,200 Municipalities and 81 Provinces. It is well known that many people who move from villages to cities never cut their relations with their roots and either continue owning homes in the villages or visit regularly. While growing up in Safranbolu, our greatest joy was to visit Cal, a village near Eflani, where my maternal grandparents used to live before they moved to Istanbul but kept their home. During my many trips to Turkey in the last 15 years, I visited Cal several times and many other villages across Turkey , including Aknehir in Hatay last week, which is one of a few with a library. Villages are wonderful places to visit even though some are in poor shape.

One of the greatest triumphs of the early educators was to establish the ”Village Institutes” . Many authors have written about the life in the villages, including Yakup Sabri Karaosmanoglu (Yaban) and Mahmut Makal (Bizim Koy.) Recently, the members of the TAC graduates were made aware of another author, Altan Unver, whose book “The Road Less Chosen”, published in 2005, is his personal account of Rural development in Turkey from 1965 to 2005. [Read more…] about The Road Less Chosen – A Book on Rural Development by Altan Unver, 2005

Timelines of World History

March 4, 2011 by admin

Dorling Kindersley Ltd. , Sr. Editor Debra Clapson, Publisher Andrew Heritage, (www.dk.com)

Timelines of World History is an excellent reference book, a product of fifteen years of self-study by John B. Teeple, whose great uncle, a civil engineer and a devotee of world history, gave him the idea and most of the material. Unfortunately, Mr. Teeple died in 2002 before the book was published.

The book, first published in 2002, has been reprinted in 2003 and 2006, hence thousands of copies are available at libraries accross the USA. It begins with the Origins of Life on Earth and concludes at the outset of the 3rd Millenium.. The first section covers the 10,000 to 500 BC span and advances through the years to the period from 1800 to 2005 in five year intervals, full of maps, photographs, list of dynasties and historical facts. It is a very useful reference book and I enjoyed going throught its pages, which will be a good reading material, perhaps for the next 15 years. It is close to 800 pages. [Read more…] about Timelines of World History

2015 Bitmeyen Sorun (Never Ending Issue), Part I By Orhan Urgenc, 2009

March 4, 2011 by admin

The book, first introduced during the October 2009 Book Fair in Istanbul , is new on the Armenian issue by a Turkish researcher and writer, assisted by his daughter Tomris. I started reading the book during the first leg of a month long Train tour of Turkey that started on December 17, 2009 in Ankara . It is a very long book, in Turkish, and 584 pages. It covers the Ottoman period from 1820s to 1923. The author, who also attended the Adana 1909 Symposium in Adana on December 5, stated that the book was referred to by several organisations as the most comprehensive book on the Armenian issue.

The book opens with a commentary on “Tarih Bilinci – The Conscious of History”, followed by 39 chapters (although not numbered) on subjects related to different subjects and the many aspects of the Armenian issue. The next 4 chapters presents some aspects of the Armenian History and the arrival of Turks in Anatolia and the Armenian resistance. Chapter 5 presents a summary of Turkish – Armenian relations and Chapter 6 describes the events in the Middle East to which the author refers to as the Centre of the Issue (Arzin Merkezi), where the pot has been boling for the past 4,000 years. The author describes the impact of the three major religions that are based on the teachings of Prophet Abraham (Hz. Ibrahim), the aims of the Christians and Jews in the region and now the presence of United States primarily to control the flow of oil to the world markets. [Read more…] about 2015 Bitmeyen Sorun (Never Ending Issue), Part I By Orhan Urgenc, 2009

Programme for International Student Assessment – 2011 Competition

March 4, 2011 by admin

One thousand and four hundred and fifty, 4th and 8th grade students from 56 elementary and middle schools in 24 provinces accross Türkiye will be competing with students from 70 countries in the ‘’5th Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)’’, April 1 to April 30, 2011.The PISA is organized by the IAE every 4 years, whi,ch was started in 1999.
This year the theme will be ‘’Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)’’. [Read more…] about Programme for International Student Assessment – 2011 Competition

Interface with Museums, Libraries and Universities

March 3, 2011 by Turkish Library

There are many excellent museums in Turkey and new ones are being opened as the interest in Museums is growing. Commentaries on some of these museums are given in the Commentaries section below. Directors of these museums will be contacted to discuss the proposed activities and plan for future joint exhibitions.

Proposed Permanent Exhibitions and Displays at the TL&M

March 3, 2011 by admin

Many suggestions have already been received from organizations and individuals, including one from the Ataturk Society in UK (ASOUK) and a comment by Cenap Turkgucu, the Turkish-American son of legendary Sait Turkgucu who died on Jan 26, 2011. This is what was received from the ASOUK

It is an honourable and an exciting project and we would like to support it whole heatedly. I am not quite sure what kind of suggestions you have in mind but we will put it up on our blog (http://ataturksocietyuk.com/) and make our members aware straight away. Regarding what can be on displayed in the museum, I am sure you have many ideas. We have a large archive of photos and articles relating to Ataturk and his involvement in every aspect of Turkish life. Let us know if we can help in any way.

This is what Cenap Turkgucu wrote:

I am very happy about the plans for the development of a US Turkish Library and Museum for Friendship and Peace in New York. After “Turk Evi” in Manhattan, it will really be the best institution founded and built by the Turkish/American people in United States. I will be commemorating and recognizing our great leader Ataturk, and the contribution of noteworthy Turkish people who reside and have resided here and Turkey. Majority of the Turkish-Americans living here recognize the importance of representing our rich Turkish ethnic culture in a favourable light. Especially, among many adversaries who believe otherwise. What better way to combat these antagonists but through education and peaceful sharing of our culture. One of the visions of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was to unite humanity through peace and friendship. This friendship could be accelerated through sharing of fine arts and music.

Having said that, I believe my dad was truly one of the pioneers of this important mission, he was always there with his saz, davul, and friendly personality. I am excited to hear about the subsequent news of this U.S./Turkish Library & Museum.

A room can be organized to exhibit Sait Abi’s saz, davul and photographs from his many performances at Turkish events in New York and other cities. He was the “Asik Veysel” of America. Other rooms can be organized for the memory of Ahmet Ertegun, the legendary music man, and many other famous Turkish-Americans.

There are endless opportunities for permanent as well as temporary exhibitions at the Museum. Following are a sample for consideration by both the sponsor corporation and organizing association:

1.   History of Turks and the Republic of Turkey
Sponsors : Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Federation of Turkish-American As.
2.   Life of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
Sponsors : Ataturk Society in America and Ataturk Society in UK
3.   Turks in America and Turkish-Americans
Sponsors, Assembly of Turkish American Associations
4.   The Ottoman Empire and Its Legacy
5.   The Turkish World
6.   Technological Developments and Innovations in Turkey
Istanbul Ticaret Odası, IBM, Singer and MIM
7.   Istanbul 2010 Culture Capital of Europe
8.   Kars, the Border City with a Long History and Monument to Humanity
9.   Safranbolu, the Historical Town
10. Konya, Home of Mevlana Celalettin-i Rumi
11. Photograph Exhibition on the 100th Anniversary of Bagdat and Hicaz Railroad

Temporary Exhibitions and Displays

March 3, 2011 by admin

A unique and useful exhibition is on display in Antakya, “ Birbirimizle Konusmak : Turkiye ve Ermeninistan’da Kisisel Bellek – Speaking to One Another: Personal memories of the Past in Armenian and Turkey”, Traveling Exhibition in Turkey and Armenia“ . The owner of the ZET ART gallery would like to have the exhibition to travel to the States after it completes its display in Tunceli (Dersim), perhaps in April of this year. It is an oral video presentation on several TV screens on the thoughts of Armenians and Turks on the Turkish-Armenian relations.

Coordination with Turkish, American-Turkish and Turkish-American Civic Organizations Coordination with Turkish, American-Turkish and Turkish-American Civic Organizations

March 3, 2011 by admin

There are many organizations in the US with their own established agendas with new ones joining their sister organizations. Both the FTAA and ATAA are working to coordinate the activities of their member organizations and also promoting Turkish Culture in the United States. Ten there is the Turkish Coalition of America which recently donated $100,000 for the Haitian earthquake victims. These will be contacted with the help of volunteers to provide assistance and funding for the project through their own membership.

Commentaries

March 3, 2011 by admin

– Articles on Museums

1.       Baksi Museum in Bayraktar. Bayburt, By Prof. Husamettin Kocak
2.       Cinema and Theater Museum, Beyoglu, Istanbul by Turker Inanoglu, TURSAK
3.       Archeological Museum in Antakya
4.       Muesum in Gaziantep
5.       Museums in Turkey and Around the World
6.
–          Articles on Libraries

1.        New York Public Library
2.       Seattle Public Library
3.       Safranbolu Public Library
4.       Hunterdon County Library
5.       Warren County Public Library
6.       Libraries in Turkey and Around the World

– Articles on Exhibitions in Turkey and America

1. Exhibition at Rutgers Newark University

– Books by Turkish-Americans

– Books by non – Turks on Turks and Turkey