Journal of Ottoman Calligraphy

The Turkish National Library is one of the youngest national library in the world. The works of foundation was laid in a small office in the Ministry of National Education,Directorate of Publications on April 15,1946 and a collection of 8000 works were accumulated in a short time. On April 1,1947 the library was temporarily moved to another building and during this period the collection reached 60,000. The building in the above picture was allocated in order to put the collection into service and the TNL was opened to users on August 16,1948. With the enactment of the Establishment Law on March 29,1950, the TNL assumed a legal identity. Foundation of a Bibliographical Institute working under the TNL was ensured the “Supplementary Law to the Establishment Law of the Turkish National Library “dated May 18,1955. Considering that the first building would not meet the future needs, planning of a new building was started in 1965. The construction work began after a long period of planning during 1965-73, and the building was completed in 1982. The TNL started serving its users in the new building on August 5,1983 The Library is built on a space of 39.000 square meters, and is large enough to enable the addition of new modules. The TNL building consisting of three modular blocks, shelters the administrative offices, general and special purpose reading rooms, group study rooms, staff rooms, study rooms for fine arts, and ventilated stores equipped with fire alarm systems. Here are also an exhibition hall and two multi-purpose meeting and concert halls. New activities have been initiated in the new building including Data
Processing Center, Talking Books Department, Atatürk Documentation Center and Biography Archive, Map Room, Microfilm Archive, fully equipped Printing House using off-set printing techniques Microfilm and Photography Laboratory.

Collected catalogue of Printed Works of Turkey, Arabic Lettered Turkish Works (1729-1928)

Up till now five volumes have been published by the presidency of National library and preparations continue for volume VI.

Türkiye Basmaları Toplu Kataloğu Arap Harfli Türkçe Eserler (Collected catalogue of Printed Works of Turkey Arabic lettered Turkish Works) 1729-1928 Vol. I, Part I (A-Ali el Karî ) Ankara 1990

Türkiye Basmaları Toplu Kataloğu Arap Harfli Türkçe Eserler (Collected catalogue of Printed Works of Turkey Arabic Lettered Turkish Works) 1729-1928 Vol. I, Part 2 (Ali Kâzım Aznavur) Ankara 1990

Catalogue of Manuscripts of National Library

Publishing has started in 1987 under the name of Milli Kütüphane Yazmalar Kataloğu (Catalogue of Manuscripts in National Library). Initial corrections of volume VI named Milli Kütüphane Divanlar Kataloğu (Catalogue of the manuscripts of collected Poems in National Library) has been completed and preparations are going on.

Volume I: (General topics, Metaphysics, Secret Sciences) Ankara 1987

Volume II: (Secret Sciences, Psychology, Logic, Philosophy) Ankara 1988

Volume III: (The Religion of Islam, Sciences related with Koran, Commentary (for Koran)) Ankara 1992

Volume IV: (The sayings of Prophet Muhammad) Ankara 1994

Volume V: ( Religious precepts and study of Koran,Akaid ve Kelam) Ankara 1997

Collected Catalogue of Manuscripts of Turkey

National Library is responsible for specifying the bibliographical identities and publishing catalogues; of the manuscripts existing in libraries and museums connected to Ministry of Culture firstly and later on, those existing in the libraries of some state institutions and some persons.

The following activities have been completed within the scope of the project being implemented since 1978:

1- TÜYATOK 1- The first catalogue covers the manuscripts in the libraries of; Atatürks Mausoleum (16 works, Presidency of the Republic (34 works),Turkish Grand National Assembly of Turkey (104 works) and Public Library of Adıyaman Province (132 works). In
this volume there are bibliographical introduction of totally 286 manuscripts /pamphlets. (Ankara 1979).

2- TÜYATOK 2: The Second catalogue includes the manuscripts belonging to the Public Libraries of Giresun, Ordu and Rize provinces. In this volume there is bibliographical introduction of totally 619 manuscripts/pamphlets.

3- TÜYATOK 3 (34/I): In this catalogue that covers the books belonging to Istanbul Süleymaniye Library - Ali Nihat Tarlan Kolleksiyonu (Collection of Ali Nihat Tarlan) there are bibliographical introduction of 425 manuscripts in total (Ankara 1981).

4- TÜYATOK 4-8 (07/l-V) : This catalogue consists of volumes 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and five separate fascicles and covers manuscripts from the districts and province of Antalya (namely Antalya Province Museum, Alanya District Museum, Akseki Yeğen Mehmet Paşa Library Elmalı and Tekeli District Public Libraries. Totally 4.042 manuscripts / pamphlets are introduced in this catalogue (Istanbul 1982 -1984).

5- TÜYATOK 9 (34/II): İn this catalogue covering the collection Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Paşa Kolleksiyonu in Istanbul Bayezid State Library totally 467 manuscripts are introduced. (Ankara 1984).

6- TÜYATOK 10-12 (01/I-III): In this catalogue, consisting of 3 values, totally 2592 manuscripts belonging to Public Library and Museum of Adana Province are introduced. (Ankara 1985 - 1986)

7- TÜYATOK 13 (34/III): İn this catalogue (volume 13) that covers the manuscripts in the collection, Amca Zade Hüzeyin Paşa ve Hekimbaşı Musa Nazif Efendi Kolleksiyonu in İstanbul Süleymaniye Library totally 630 manuscripts are introduced (Ankara 1987).

8- TÜYATOK 14-18 (05/I-V): It was foreseen to publish this catalogue in five volumes, in the published first four volumes (14-05/I, 15-05/II, 16-05/III and 17-05/IV) namely, Amasya İl Halk Kütüphanesi Yazmaları Kataloğu(Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Public Library of Amasya Province), totally 2994 works / pamphlets are introduced. (Istanbul 1990 -1995). By the last fifth volume (TÜYATOK 18-05 / V) which is being published at the printing house of Faculty of Literature Istanbul University 1190 more books / pamphlets will be introduced.

9- TÜYATOK 19 (34/IV): This catalogue, in which 1155 works / pamphlets are introduced, covers the manuscripts in the collection Mustafa Aşir Efendi Koleksiyonu in İstanbul Süleymaniye Library (Ankara -Printing house of National Library, 1994).

10- TÜYATOK 20 (03): In this volume published under the name of Afyon ili Yazmaları (Manuscripts of Afyon Province) totally 1952 works / pamphlets, (1938 works from Afyon Gedik Ahmet Paşa Public Library 12 works from Afyon Province Museum, 2 works from Dinar District Public Library) are introduced under 1185 principal titles (with catalogue serial numbers) (Ankara, Printing house of National Library 1996).

11- TÜYATOK 21 (10): In this catalogue, published under the name of Balıkesir İli Yazmaları Kataloğu (catalogue of the Manuscripts of Balıkesir Province) totally 2715 works / pamphlets i.e 2439 works in Balıkesir Province Public Library, 185 works in Dursun Bey District Public Library, 91 works in Edremit. District Public Library, are in traduced under 1246 principal titles. (With catalogue serious numbers) (Ankara, Printing-house of National Library, 1997).

12- TÜYATOK 22 (18) : In this catalogue published under the name of “Çankırı İl Halk Kütüphanesi Yazmaları kataloğu” (Catalogue of the Manuscripts in Çankırı Province Public Library), totally 1076 works / pamphlets are introduced under 683 principal titles. (Ankara, Printing-house of National Library, 1998).

13- TÜYATOK 23 (32) (Ankara, Printing House of National Library, 2000).

14- TÜYATOK 24 (15) (Ankara, Printing House of National Library, 2000).

Valuable manuscripts, previously in the province and district Libraries of Isparta and Burdur and later handed over to Konya Bölge Yazmaları Kütüphanesi (Library of Regional Manuscripts in Konya) in 1994 are catalogued within the scope of TÜYATOK and published under the names of Türkiye Yazmaları Toplu Kataloğu Burdur I, II and Türkiye Yazmaları Toplu Kataloğu Isparta (Collected catalogue of Manuscrupts of Turkey, Burdur I, II and Collected catalogue of Manuscripts of Turkey, Isparta). These catalogues were published within the scope of activities related with Osmanlı Bilim ve Kültür Mirasının 700. Yıldönümü Anma Etkinlikleri i.e Activities for Commemoration of the 700th Anniversary of Ottoman Empire´s Cultural Inheritance). The content of the catalogues covers the following works.

1687 volumes of manuscripts and 3100 books / pamphlets in Burdur Province Public Library,
795 volumes of manuscripts and 1263 books / pamphlets in Isparta Halil Hamit Paşa Public Library,
474 volumes of manuscripts and 1080 books / pamphlets in Uluborlu District Alaaddin Keykubat Public Library.
247 volumes of manuscripts and 516 books / pamphlets in Yalvaç District Ali Rıza Efendi Public Library,
109 volumes of manuscripts and 260 books / pamphlets in Şarkikaraağaç District Public Library,
3 volumes of manuscripts and 11 books / pamphlets in Senirkent District Public Library.
1 volume of manuscript and one book / pamphlet in Aydoğmuş District Public Library.

All these catalogues cover totally 3316 volumes of manuscripts, 6231 books / pamphlets and 3594 principal titles.

Contact

Milli Kütüphane Baskanligi
Bahcelievler son durak 06490
Ankara/Turkey
Tel : + 90 312 222 41 48 / + 90 312 222 38 12
PBX : + 90 312 212 62 00
Fax : + 90 312 223 04 51

Source: Turkish National Library

Named after the great Abbasid dynasty library established in 832 and destroyed in the last invasion of Baghdad by the Mongols in 1258, the House of Wisdom had been installed in 1995 in one of the few surviving 13th century Abbasid structures in Baghdad. This building was the site of the first Iraqi parliament. The institution had a small collection of 100 manuscripts but these included a 9th century Koran and an Ibn Sina text of philosophy. The institution possessed a 5,500-volume set of documents from the British foreign office, US congressional documents concerning the 1940 coup in Iraq, a number of documents concerning the Jewish community in Baghdad, as well as Ottoman property registrations and court documents. Although these collections were all copies, the originals were held in the National Library and may have burnt.

On April 11, the facilities were looted. An Ottoman costume exhibit was looted in addition to furniture and moveable parts of the building. The looters retuned the next day, stealing the library’s most valuable manuscripts and books. The facility was then torched. Witness have reported that the arsonists \”were instigated,\” according to Al-Tikriti’s report, which does not indicate by whom. Books from the collection have been seen for sale on the streets of Baghdad.

Source: http://oi.uchicago.edu/OI/IRAQ/mela/melairaq.html

The semi-private al-Awqaf Library, founded in 1920, is the oldest heritage institution in Iraq. It is situated near the Ministry of Health in Baghdad. It contained 45,000 rare printed books of which 6,000 were in the Ottoman script as well as a number of special collections. The staff was able to put 5,250 of 7, 000 in safekeeping, including a collection of Korans.

Spurr’s report does not contain a comprehensive description of the horrible fate of this institution, but the Middle East Library Association has published on its web site an earlier report by University of Chicago graduate student Nabil Al-Tikriti in June 2003 and another report written a year later by the Iraqi archivist Zain Al-Naqshbandi.

On April 13 or 14, 2003, arsonists completely destroyed the library. All of the 45,000 books, including Ottoman manuscripts and a collection of rare medical texts, were burnt, and much of the library’s equipment such as Xerox machines, air conditioners, and bookbinding materials appears to have been looted previously (looting of equipment was the rule for other libraries as well). The 5,250 manuscripts remain undamaged.

The US military bears responsibility for the destruction of another 1,744 manuscripts. These had been removed before the fire and placed under armed guard at the Qadiriyya Mosque complex. Operating under a policy to shoot armed Iraqis on sight, US forces killed the guard on April 13. The al-Awqaf staff returned these manuscripts to the library, now unguarded because of the American \”rules of engagement.\” These manuscripts were either looted or incinerated.

The arson itself bears a particularly suspicious and notorious character in Iraq. According to Al-Tikriti’s report and press accounts at the time, approximately 15 Arab males using an incendiary substance systematically burned the library. Two other men from this group videotaped the arson.

Many Iraqis believe, as the American press has also reported, that the arsonists, based on the dialect they were overheard using, were Kuwaitis. This supposition, however, remains unproven.

No international agency appears to have come to the assistance of this library.

Source:http://oi.uchicago.edu/OI/IRAQ/mela/melairaq.html

The Iraqi National Library and Archive contained 12 million documents. In addition to a substantial book library, it may have had the largest collection of Arabic newspapers in the world. It housed documents from the period of the Hashmenite monarchy (1920-1958) and the Turkish Ottoman period (1534-1918) as well as documents from the Republican period after 1958 to recent times.

Shortly before the invasion in 2003, staff members and Shia clerics removed nearly 40 percent of the book collection and some of the documents for safekeeping. Clerics also had a steel door to one of the collections welded shut and it remained safe.

An entire wing of the library, the Old Library, was almost completely destroyed. This area housed documents from the Republican era, which may have been the reason for the fires.

Also completely destroyed was the microfilm collection of periodicals and other documents. Dr. Saad Eskander, the library’s Director-General, estimates that 60 percent of the Hashmenite documents were destroyed.

A portion of the documents that were removed by the Islamic clerics faced another disaster. These were stored in the basement of the Board of Tourism, which was deliberately flooded by looters.

Dr. Saad B. Eskander, Director General of the Iraq National Library and Archive, has described the events of mid-April, 2003 as a “national disaster beyond imagination.”

Source:http://oi.uchicago.edu/OI/IRAQ/mela/melairaq.html

The library was opened to the public on 20 July 1984 by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The foundation goal was to gather valuable manuscript collections around the country. Its complex consists of three stories which include 14 bureau, 3 depots and 4 reading halls. The usable field is 723 m2.

YUSUFAĞA MANUSCRIPTS LIBRARY

It was built by Yusufağa, the steward of Mihri Şah Sultan, Selim III’s mother. It is owned today by the General Directory of the Pious Foundations (Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü) in Ankara. Its complex consists of a single story with a dome. The usable field is 110 m2. It is bound to the Bölge Manuscripts Library.

MAKING USE OF BÖLGE (DISTRICT) MANUSCRIPTS LIBRARY COLLECTIONS

Directly From the Books: Researchers, after scanning the catalogues (on Dewey system) and filling in a request form, can see the books they are looking for. They should fill in a separate form for each book they are interested in it. After this process, the book is made ready in front of them. However it should be noted that except studying on different copies of a certain book, it is not possible to see all the books they want to see at once; only one book can be delivered on a certain time. The books are checked by the employee (who is in charge of delivering it) before the delivery. And they are checked when researchers submit them back to make sure that no harm is done to the books. The check includes miniatures, pages, in fact any small details on/in the books. Researchers can use their laptop computers if it does not have a camera.

The request forms should be submitted between 8.00 and 12.00 in the morning, and between 13.30 and 16.30 in the evening. The books which are being repaired cannot be delivered for study. In this case, a CD or microfilm of the book can be presented for the study if there is one. Book delivery times can be changed by the Governorship of Konya when necessary. The Library is also open on Saturdays.

Previously, foreign researchers needed to be in possession of valid “study permission” obtained via the representatives Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in their homeland, and for short-term researches the library administration is authorized to give such permission. But according to a Karar (decision) issued on the Resmi Gazete (Official Newspaper) dated 10 November 2003 (karar no. 2003/6270), the library administration is authorized to give short as well as long term permisssions of study for foreign researchers. So, foreign researchers no longer need to have a “study permission” obtained via Turkey’s representatives of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in their homeland.

To be able to make use of library collections, a researcher:should leave a valid ID card to the information desk at the entrance, while studying the books, should put them on the table; not take it at hand or put it on knees, should not lean on the books, should not write down on the books, should not copy in any form, should not touch pages directly; should place a paper under her/his fingers during the reading, should not get her/his finger wet during turning the pages, should use only soft pencils during the whole study. Pen is not allowed.

To be able to get CD or micro film, a researcher should apply to the directorate of the library with a form in which he/she fills in:

- Register number of the book he/she wants to study on,

- His/her name and surname

- Page numbers she/he wants to obtain a copy,

- Purpose of the study

It is important to note here that the researcher should make a written agreement that in case his/her study in which a collection from the library used is published, he/she will deliver a copy of it to the library. The agreement should be accompanying of a copy of his/her ID card.

In case the library directory sees it appropriate, the CD or microfilm is submitted to the researcher following the payment of the necessary fees according to “the rules and regulations on making use of works belong to public institutions” issued on the Resmi Gazete (Official Newspaper) dated 16 October 1986 and numbered 19253. For the foreign researchers the same procedure is to be applied.

MAKING USE OF YUSUFAĞA LIBRARY COLLECTIONS

To be able to study at Yusufağa Manuscripts Library, researchers should make an appointment with the Bölge Manuscripts Library as it is attached to this main library. Bölge Manuscripts Library’s telephone numbers are as follows: +90.332.3511216, and Telephone and Fax:+90.332.3507225. Other procedures are the same as in the Bölge Manuscripts Library. There is further possibility of using our computers while making use of the CD’s of the works located in Yusufağa Manuscripts Library.

CULTURAL SERVICES

At the Bölge Manuscripts Library complex, calligraphy and Ebru (the Turkish Painting Art) courses are being organized for more than a decade. Its halls can be used for some cultural and artistic activities and expositions as well. Many artists use its hall as location for their expositions.

Konya Bölge (District) Manuscripts Library
Adress: Bahçelievler Mah., Yavuz Selim Cad. No.152 Meram/KONYA/TURKEY
Tel:+90.332.3511216 Fax:+90.332.3507225

Source: Konya Bölge (District) Manuscripts Library

As the main scientific library of the Republic of Austria, the Austrian National Library (ANL) can look back on a history rich in tradition dating to the 14th century. (more…)

by Olga Vasilieva, Curator of the MS Department Oriental Collection.

Imperial Public Library started acquiring manuscripts in oriental languages as soon as it was established in 1795. By the time it was officially inaugurated in 1812 it had accumulated 183 such manuscripts, 103 of them being from P.P. Dubrovsky’s collection. (more…)

Notable Museums:

Turkish and Islamic Works Museum is the first Turkish museum covering the Turkish and Islamic art works wholly. The establishment works that have been started at the end of 19th century have been completed in 1913 and the museum has been opened for visit in the soup kitchen building located in Süleymaniye Mosque complex, which is one of the most important works of Mimar Sinan, with the name of “Evkaf - ı İslamiyet Müzesi” (Islamic Foundations Museum). After the announcement of the republic, it has taken the name “Turkish and Islamic Works Museum”. (more…)

This library has one of the oldest (established in 861 AH/1457 CE) collection of Islamic manuscripts in the Muslim world and the most important in Iran.It has about 29,000 manuscripts in Arabic, Persian and Turkish. Of the 29,000 manuscripts it possess, 11,000 are manuscripts of the Qur’an, thus making it the largest Qur’anic manuscript collection in the world. It is also important in that it contains a large number of magnificent, old and illuminated Qur’anic manuscripts, including several old Kufic Qur’anic manuscripts written on deer skin, other with marvellous illuminations from 3rd century hijra (9th century CE) onwards, and some written by famous calligraphers. The manuscripts are catalogued in various publication as can be seen in the reference below.

[1] G. Roper (ed.), World Survey Of Islamic Manuscripts, 1992, Volume I, Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation, London, pp. 481-486.

The manuscript collection in Dar al-Kutub is regarded as one of the largest and most important in the world. The total number of manuscripts in this library are 50,755 out of which 47,065 are in Arabic, 996 in Persian and 2,150 in Turkish. (more…)

The Great Mosque of San`a’, established in 6th year of hijra when the Prophet(P) entrusted one of his companions to build a mosque. It is considered to be the first mosque in Yemen and among the oldest in Islamic world. The mosque was extended and enlarged by Islamic rulers from time to time. The manuscript collection (ca. 7,000) of the Great Mosque is housed in three libraries in the mosque complex. (more…)

The history of the St. Petersburg Branch of the Institute of Oriental Studies can be traced back to 1818, when the Asian Museum of the Imperial Academy of Sciences was founded in St. Petersburg. The Museum was keeping the Eastern antiquities and books of the famous collection of the Russian Tsar Peter the Great. The collection was enhanced during the XIX century through the voluntary donations of the personal libraries and archives of envoys, travellers, statesmen, merchants and scholars. In 1930 the Institute of Oriental studies was organized on the base of the Museum, in 1951 it moved to Moscow, keeping the Branch in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg. From 1996 to 2003 St. Petersburg Branch of the Institute of Oriental Studies was headed by a famous specialist on history of China and Central Asia Professor Evgeny I. Kychanov. (more…)

The Skilliter Centre for Ottoman Studies supports research into the history, literature and culture of the Ottoman Empire. It seeks to encourage knowledge and understanding of a major Muslim empire with large European and Mediterranean territories, and to assist scholars from many disciplines in exploring connections between their own work and Ottoman studies. It is the only research centre devoted purely to Ottoman Studies in the UK and Western Europe and has an international profile. The Skilliter Centre, which has no political affiliations or agenda, is administered by Newnham College, Cambridge, and receives support from a generous legacy from Dr Susan Skilliter, formerly University Lecturer in Turkish. (more…)

Notable Museums:

Turkish and Islamic Works Museum is the first Turkish museum covering the Turkish and Islamic art works wholly. The establishment works that have been started at the end of 19th century have been completed in 1913 and the museum has been opened for visit in the soup kitchen building located in Süleymaniye Mosque complex, which is one of the most important works of Mimar Sinan, with the name of “Evkaf - ı İslamiyet Müzesi” (Islamic Foundations Museum). After the announcement of the republic, it has taken the name “Turkish and Islamic Works Museum”.

The museum has been moved to İbrahim Pasha Palace from the soup kitchen building in 1983. Ibrahim Pasha Palace, which is one of the most important samples of 16th Century Ottoman civil architecture samples is on the stages of the historical hippodrome, the history of which goes back to the Roman Period. This building, the precise construction reason and date are not known, has been presented to İbrahim Pasha by Kanuni Sultan Süleyman in 1520, who would be his grand vizier for 13 years. (more…)