The National Library Projects in the Early Republican Era

Müşerref Avcı

Article Details

The National Library Projects in the Early Republican Era

Authors:

Müşerref Avcı

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Kütüphane Çalışmaları

Journal:

Bilgi Yönetimi Vol.8 Issue 1, pp.161-185

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348232

pISSN:

2636-8544

Keywords:

Abstract:

 The aim of this article is to investigate the reasons why the steps taken for the establishment of the National Library, which has remained in the preparation phase since the final years of the Ottoman Empire, were left at the project stage during the Early Republican Era. The historical method, which is employed to uncover past events or analyze the relationship between an issue and its historical context, was adopted as the primary approach. Archival research and literature review were utilized as data collection techniques. According to the findings of the article, following Ankaras declaration as the capital during the Early Republican Era, a large-scale planning process began, encompassing the construction of public institutional buildings to support the citys development. While the physical and social structure of the new capital was constructed on cultural and national foundations, cultural heritage was also prioritized in this process. In this context, as part of Ankaras urban planning, prominent architects were commissioned to design projects for the National Library, locations were identified, and budgets were allocated. The National Library project, first brought to the agenda by the Ministry of Education in 1925 and designed by Architect Kemalettin under the influence of the First National Architectural Movement, was envisioned alongside the National Library, National Museum, and National Academy Complex, which was designed in 1933 by Eckhard Unger and Ernst Egli to reflect a new and modern identity. However, in the end, it appears that neither designs advanced beyond the project stage. Studies conducted to date are generally been museum-related research produced by arthitecture faculties. This article aims to compile and collect these projects, which are important for the history of librarianship, in an independent study. The study can be considered as one of the first studies to address the library dimension of the National Library, National Museum, and National Academy Complex.

 The aim of this article is to investigate the reasons why the steps taken for the establishment of the National Library, which has remained in the preparation phase since the final years of the Ottoman Empire, were left at the project stage during the Early Republican Era. The historical method, which is employed to uncover past events or analyze the relationship between an issue and its historical context, was adopted as the primary approach. Archival research and literature review were utilized as data collection techniques. According to the findings of the article, following Ankaras declaration as the capital during the Early Republican Era, a large-scale planning process began, encompassing the construction of public institutional buildings to support the citys development. While the physical and social structure of the new capital was constructed on cultural and national foundations, cultural heritage was also prioritized in this process. In this context, as part of Ankaras urban planning, prominent architects were commissioned to design projects for the National Library, locations were identified, and budgets were allocated. The National Library project, first brought to the agenda by the Ministry of Education in 1925 and designed by Architect Kemalettin under the influence of the First National Architectural Movement, was envisioned alongside the National Library, National Museum, and National Academy Complex, which was designed in 1933 by Eckhard Unger and Ernst Egli to reflect a new and modern identity. However, in the end, it appears that neither designs advanced beyond the project stage. Studies conducted to date are generally been museum-related research produced by arthitecture faculties. This article aims to compile and collect these projects, which are important for the history of librarianship, in an independent study. The study can be considered as one of the first studies to address the library dimension of the National Library, National Museum, and National Academy Complex.

 The aim of this article is to investigate the reasons why the steps taken for the establishment of the National Library, which has remained in the preparation phase since the final years of the Ottoman Empire, were left at the project stage during the Early Republican Era. The historical method, which is employed to uncover past events or analyze the relationship between an issue and its historical context, was adopted as the primary approach. Archival research and literature review were utilized as data collection techniques. According to the findings of the article, following Ankaras declaration as the capital during the Early Republican Era, a large-scale planning process began, encompassing the construction of public institutional buildings to support the citys development. While the physical and social structure of the new capital was constructed on cultural and national foundations, cultural heritage was also prioritized in this process. In this context, as part of Ankaras urban planning, prominent architects were commissioned to design projects for the National Library, locations were identified, and budgets were allocated. The National Library project, first brought to the agenda by the Ministry of Education in 1925 and designed by Architect Kemalettin under the influence of the First National Architectural Movement, was envisioned alongside the National Library, National Museum, and National Academy Complex, which was designed in 1933 by Eckhard Unger and Ernst Egli to reflect a new and modern identity. However, in the end, it appears that neither designs advanced beyond the project stage. Studies conducted to date are generally been museum-related research produced by arthitecture faculties. This article aims to compile and collect these projects, which are important for the history of librarianship, in an independent study. The study can be considered as one of the first studies to address the library dimension of the National Library, National Museum, and National Academy Complex.

 Makalenin amacı, Osmanlı Devletinin son dönemlerinden itibaren hep hazırlık aşamasında kalan Milli Kütüphanenin kuruluşunun Erken Cumhuriyet Döneminden itibaren gerçekleştirilmesi için atılan adımların proje aşamasında kalmasının nedenlerinin araştırılmasıdır. Yöntem olarak; geçmişte yaşanmış olayların ortaya konulması veya bir sorunsalın geçmişle olan ilişkisinin irdelenmesinde başvurulan tarihî yöntem benimsenmiş, veri toplama tekniği olarak arşiv araştırması ve literatür taraması kullanılmıştır. Makale bulgularına göre; Erken Cumhuriyet Döneminde Ankaranın başkent ilan edilmesinin ardından kentin imarı için kamu kurum binalarının inşasına kadar geniş çaplı bir projelendirme başlamıştır. Yeni başkent Ankaranın fiziksel ve toplumsal yapısı kültürel ve ulusal unsurlar üzerine inşa edilirken bu inşa sürecinde kültürel miras da önemsenmiştir. Bu kapsamda Ankara şehir planları hazırlanırken milli kütüphane için de önemli mimarlardan projeler istenmiş, yer belirlenmiş, ödenekler çıkarılmıştır. Maarif Vekâleti tarafından ilk olarak 1925 yılında gündeme gelen ve dönemin şartları gereği I. Ulusal Mimarlık Akımının etkisiyle Mimar Kemalettin tarafından çizilen Milli Kütüphane projesi ile 1933 yılında Eckhard Unger ve Ernst Egli tarafından yeni ve modern bir kimlik anlayışına göre projelendirilen Milli Kütüphane, Milli Müze ve Milli Akademi Kompleksi tasarlanmıştır. Ancak sonuç olarak her iki tasarının da projeden öteye geçemediği görülmektedir. Bugüne kadar yapılan çalışmalar genel itibariyle mimarlık fakültelerinin müze araştırmalarına yönelik çalışmalarıdır. Bu makalede kütüphanecilik tarihi için önemli olan bu projelerin müstakil bir çalışmada derlenip toplanması hedeflenmiştir. Çalışma, Milli Kütüphane, Milli Müze ve Milli Akademi Kompleksinin kütüphane boyutunu ele alan ilk çalışmalardan biri olarak kabul edilebilir.

Article Details

The National Library Projects in the Early Republican Era

Authors:

Müşerref Avcı

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Kütüphane Çalışmaları

Journal:

Bilgi Yönetimi Vol.8 Issue 1, pp.161-185

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348232

pISSN:

2636-8544

Early Republican Era

National Library

Library ProjectsErken Cumhuriyet Dönemi

Milli Kütüphane

Kütüphane Projeleri

Issues

Article Details

The National Library Projects in the Early Republican Era

Authors: Müşerref Avcı

Publisher: Ankara University

Main Topics: Kütüphane Çalışmaları

Journal: Bilgi Yönetimi Vol.8 Issue 1, pp.161-185

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001348232

pISSN: 2636-8544

Early Republican Era

National Library

Library ProjectsErken Cumhuriyet Dönemi

Milli Kütüphane

Kütüphane Projeleri

Issues

Authors:

Müşerref Avcı

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Kütüphane Çalışmaları

Journal:

Bilgi Yönetimi Vol.8 Issue 1, pp.161-185

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348232

pISSN:

2636-8544