The fundamental basis for ancient states to establish strong connections between their past and present—accepting the past as a reference while shaping their future and traditions—is undoubtedly the archives, inscriptions, and unwritten traditions and practices they possess.
One of the essential elements that unites nations and brings individuals closer together is the historical and national consciousness they share. What shapes this consciousness, keeps it alive, and ensures its transmission from generation to generation are the archives in which the historical documents and records belonging to the state are preserved.
Moreover, archival documents also reveal the successes of states in their administrative practices, their civilizational vision, and their diplomacy throughout history.
Archives form the foundation of the collective memory that enables states and nations to connect with their past. Indeed, archival documents constitute the most significant sources of information regarding the military, political, diplomatic, economic, legal, social, traditional, and cultural practices of states.
Today, in our country, various archives—foremost among them the Ottoman Archives of the Prime Ministry (Hazine-i Evrâk), the Archives of the General Directorate of Foundations, the Istanbul Mufti’s Office Sharia Records Archive, the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre Kuyud-ı Kadime Archive, and the Topkapı Palace Museum Archives—have survived to the present thanks to this understanding.
Domestic Institutional Archives
The Republic of Turkey Presidential State Archives Directorate
Its primary function is to identify, compile, preserve, and make available for research archival documents that constitute the memory of the state and society, in accordance with archival standards and developing technologies, thereby providing reliable, high-quality, and fast-access archival services to the public and ensuring effective management of public records. It operates with the vision of ensuring the centralized management of the nation’s archives and becoming a reference institution in the field of archival science worldwide.
You may access the State Archives Document Scanning System at: https://katalog.devletarsivleri.gov.tr/
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Ankara University Turkish Revolution History Institute Archive
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Presidential Archive
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State Archives Directorate (Ottoman and Republican Archives)
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic Archive
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General Directorate of Security Archive
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Turkish General Staff ATASE Department Archive
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Ministry of Interior Central Archive
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Gendarmerie General Command Archive
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General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre Archive Department
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Turkish Red Crescent Archive
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Turkish Historical Society Archive
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Grand National Assembly of Turkey Archive
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General Directorate of Foundations Archive
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Manuscript Works Institution Presidency Archive
Domestic City Archives
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Ahmet Piriştina İzmir City Archive and Museum
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Alanya Municipality City Archive
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Atılım University Ankara Digital City Archive
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Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality City Archive
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Bursa Metropolitan Municipality City Archive
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Çorum Municipality City Archive
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Denizli Metropolitan Municipality City Archive
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Nizip Municipality City Archive
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Osmaniye Municipality City Archive
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Ödemiş Municipality Yıldız City Archive and Museum
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Uluborlu City Archive
University/Institutional Archives
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Atılım University Institutional Archive
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Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University Institutional Archive
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Başkent University Records Management and Institutional Archive System
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Istanbul Galata University Institutional Archive
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Istanbul Medipol University Institutional Archive
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Istanbul Technical University Institutional Archive
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İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University Institutional Archive
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Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University Institutional Archive
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Manisa Celal Bayar University Institutional Archive
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Ondokuz Mayıs University Institutional Archive
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Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University Institutional Archive
(For additional institutions/universities to be included in the list, please send an email containing the link information to [email protected].)
Newspaper Archives
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Cumhuriyet Newspaper Archive
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Gaste Archive
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Gemlik Municipality Newspaper Archive
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Istanbul University “Looking at History Through Newspapers” Project
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Cyprus Turkish Newspaper Archive
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National Library Newspaper Archive
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Milliyet Newspaper Archive
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Ottoman Turkish Newspapers Archive
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Official Gazette
Domestic Private Archives
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Poster Archive
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Anadolu Agency Archive
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Ara Güler Archive and Research Center
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Boğaziçi University Archive and Documentation Center
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Ege University State Turkish Music Conservatory Visual and Audio Archive
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Eyüpsultan Research Center – Eyüp Archive
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İnönü Foundation Archive
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Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Atatürk Library Archive
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Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Women’s Library and Information Center Foundation Private Archives Collection
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Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Urban Planning Archive
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Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) Archive
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ITU Ottoman Period Maps Archive – Environmental and Urban Studies Research Center
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Kadriye Zaim Library – Ankara Digital City Archive
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Kundura Memory Cultural Heritage Preservation Association
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Ministry of Culture and Tourism "My Film Heritage" Archive
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NEY – Classical Works Musical Notation Archive
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Ottoman Bank Archive and Research Center
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Sakıp Sabancı Museum Archive and Research Center