The U.S. Turkish Library & Museum for Friendship and Peace (TLM) Project’s Organization, Purposes and Coordination information merged in this page based on its 2011 documents.
Entry note: The U.S. Turkish Library & Museum for Friendship and Peace (TLM) Project’s below envisioned “Organization” definition along with the Purposes were written and posted in 2011.
On October 15, 2014, this project has become an initiative of The Light Millennium Organization.
Further, The Light Millennium legally “amended and broadened” its initial (2001) Certificate of Incorporation along with its founding Purposes effective on December 17, 2019, and made one of the new PURPOSES to work and fund raise toward forming Turkish Library and Museum in the U.S.
– Bircan Ünver, February 2021
THE ORGANIZATION:
A new Society will be established solely for the creation of the US Library and Museum for Friendship and Peace (TLM) in New York City, as a non-profit, tax exempt organization in the US, and a sister institution, Türkiye Kütüphanesi ve Müzesi (TKM) in Talas, Kayseri, the center of Turkey for many. At present, a few dedicated individuals, both in Turkey and the United States, have tentatively accepted to work on this Project on a temporary basis which will be followed by forming the association below to organize the activities for the establishment of the TLM.
Working Group
For the preparation introduction of the Project, a temporary ‘’Working Group’’ has been established. Fort he time being, the Working Group will be managed by Yuksel Oktay (Washington, NJ), Isa Alemdag (London) and Bircan Ünver (New York).
Governance of TLM
Following the initial work by the Task Force, a permanent Association will be established fort he governance of the YLM and committees will be formed, such as for Fund Raising, Building Acquisition, Turkish Library and Museum Design Competition.
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P U R P O S E S
The aim of the Institution will be to provide an opportunity for the Turkish-Americans, Turkic-Americans, Americans and the world travelers to the Capital Culture of the World to learn about the true face and the contributions of Turks to the world peace started through the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and the first President of the secular Republic of Turkey (2). It will also serve as a scholarly research center on things Turkish.
2015 will mark the 100th Anniversary of the victory of the Ottoman navy and army in defeating the forces of the allied forces at Dardanelles and the appearance of Mustafa Kemal Pasa in the world scene who changed the course of history. Other events took place in that year as part of the World War I which will also be commemorated. The opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara on April 23, 1920 led to the creation of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923 and the election of Mustafa Kemal Pasa as its first President who later took the name of Ataturk, the Father of Turks.
The first Turkish Library in the United States
The first Turkish Library in the United States was established in 1973 by the Federation of Turkish-American Association as part of the 50th anniversary celebration programs. Prof. Talat Halman, the late Prof. Oguz Reha Turkkan and the writer were among the few Turks who donated books to the library. However, the project has not been continued and there is no ibrary.
An organization was also established in 1973, Turkish Cultural Center, with the goal of building a Community Center, which has also not been achieved. There is an ongoing study to establish a Turkish-American Community Center in Maryland, near Washington DC, but even though the land has been purchased, the project has not been started yet. A few months ago, a public meeting was held at the site, but details have not been made available on the feasibility and the acceptability of the Project yet.
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.
COORDINATION
Coordination with Turkish, American-Turkish and Turkish-American Org.
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.
Coordination with TurkishState and Goverment Organizations
Once the studies of the Working Group is comletede and the decsion is made to move froward, representatives of Turkish government organizations will be contacted.
Coordination with MUSEUMS, LIBRARIES AND UNIVERSITIES
Contacts have already been made with several Turkish Museums which will be expanded to cover all universities.
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SCHEDULE
03/03/2011
An organizational meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 28 at Kadir Has University Library in Istanbul (to be confirmed) and another one in April, also in İstanbul and for Thursday, May 21, at Hunterdon County Library, 314 Route 12, Flemington, NJ .
Both meetings will be devoted to an open discussion on the feasibility of the project and a decision will be made whether to proceed or not. It is hoped that there will be a wide participation with everyone coming to the meeting with ideas. Then an organizational meeting will be scheduled for June 2011 to establish the Society for US Turkish Library and Museum for Friendship and Peace in NYC.
The plan is initially to purchase a small building in New York City and start the organization with a competition for the design of the Library and Museum Complex. Prof. Dr. Hüsamettin Koçak could lead this effort, who is the creator of the magnificient baksı Museum near Bayburt and others as well. The goal is to have the United States Turkish Library and Museum for Friendship and Peace in New York City inaugurated in 2015 with an opening concert by the renowned Composer and Pianist Anjelika Akbar and others.
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Related:
“AMENDED AND BROADENED” PURPOSES OF THE LIGHT MILLENNIUM, CHARITABLE GLOBAL HUMAN ADVANCEMENT ORGANIZATION APPROVED by State of New York Department of State on December 17, 2019.
https://lmglobal.org/501_c_3/amended-and-broadened-purposes-of-the-light-millennium-inc/