Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) has launched a new center that will leave its mark on research on the history of the Republic. IMM Republic History Research Center, which opened its doors in the historical Metrohan restored by IBB Miras, was founded by the late historian Prof. Dr. Zafer Toprak's huge personal archive, consisting of more than 103 thousand works, was put at the service of researchers.
Zafer Toprak Archive, established by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) on the 2nd floor of the historical IETT General Directorate Building Metrohan in Beyoğlu Tünel, was opened with a ceremony. Prof., one of Turkey's leading historians, who passed away in 2023. Dr. The opening of the center named after Zafer Toprak was attended by IMM Deputy President Nuri Aslan, IMM Secretary General Prof. Dr. Volkan Demir, IMM bureaucrats, the late Prof. Dr. Zafer Toprak's wife Binnaz Toprak and her family, Beyoğlu and Avcılar Deputy Mayors, Council members and many academics attended.
In Zafer Toprak Archive; There are a total of 103,649 works, including 40,996 books, 49,567 periodicals, 5,000 photographs, 6,868 documents, 595 theses, 196 posters, 327 postcards and 110 film reels. At the ceremony, which started with a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem, IMM Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat, Prof. Dr. Zafer Toprak's wife Binnaz Toprak, Beyoğlu Deputy Mayor Sefer Karaahmetoğlu and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan made a speech.
Speaking at the opening of the center, IMM Deputy President Nuri Aslan said, "We, as the children of the Republic, will continue to protect the Republic. I would like to wholeheartedly thank our President Ekrem, one of the beautiful children of the Republic, who paved the way with his vision in the realization of this great achievement, the Zafer Toprak family who entrusted this unique scientific heritage to Istanbul and our future, and all our colleagues."
Lion; "Young historians, students, researchers will come here and benefit from the magnificent archive of our teacher Zafer. This is a great pride for us. What bringing Zafer Toprak's archive together with researchers at Metro Han is exactly what the libraries we open in our neighborhoods are for us. In fact, we go to that neighborhood and bring the Republic together with the children of the Republic. Both of them are two sides, two realities of the egalitarian and enlightening idea of the Republic... We believe that every person sitting at the table in those neighborhood libraries today Our children will come tomorrow and become scientists who shape the future of the Republic in this research center in Metro Han. A century later, another child of the Republic will come and claim what they did, just like Zafer Toprak did, and they will open other Zafer Toprak libraries in other places.” He pointed out the importance of libraries. He commemorated Zafer Hodja with respect, mercy and gratitude.
IMM Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat said; "Of course, it is a special day for us. Because we have come to the final stage of a process based on labor. It is a very laborious but valuable project in terms of seeing the final product. While we were launching some of the projects of the 100th anniversary of the Republic, our dear President Ekrem İmamoğlu also launched the Republican Research Center as a 100th anniversary project and declared that a project to be built in this building at that time would be dedicated to this. This work will of course be completed in 2023. Unfortunately, while we were planning to write our own original sources, it coincided with the unfortunate loss of Zafer Hodja... My dear academic professors and friends among us know that we were actually actively working on a project with Zafer Hodja in those days.
Our main goal here was to underline and protect not only an archive of Istanbul, but also the value of the labor of an academician and an intellectual. "Knowing how bad it is that the life-long savings of academics in Turkey are suddenly wiped out after their death, we have opened the Center for Republican History Research in order to serve as a role model for other institutions." He also emphasized the importance of the commemorative conference to be held on September 27-28, with the participation of 27 academics.
“THIS STORY STARTED WITH EKREM İMAMOĞLU”
Prof. Dr. Zafer Toprak's life partner, Academician and 24th Term Turkish Grand National Assembly Deputy Binnaz Toprak also stated the following; "I'm really happy. Because this is an extraordinary place. It took a long time, a lot of people worked, but it really turned into a library beyond what I expected. The story of this place started with Ekrem İmamoğlu, with our beloved President Ekrem Bey... He came to Zafer's funeral. I said, 'I probably won't see it again.' He was so busy at that time... 'I can't see it again, so let me talk about Zafer's books while I see them.' I said, I mentioned. He said to me, 'Right away, of course.' he said and gave Mahir Bey's name. Mr. Mahir is an incredible person... Oh, I wish Zafer was alive to see this library, to see that his books are here.' I thought. Of course, if he were alive, he wouldn't give it! They were absolutely inseparable. Once upon a time, I asked, 'Zafer, if you were to die one day, where would you like to give it to?' He didn't think at all, because it was a very sudden death. "It was not clear why he died in his sleep at night... That's why he couldn't know, but if he thought something like this would really happen, he would be extremely happy and proud." He thanked all those who contributed.
REPUBLIC HISTORY RESEARCH CENTER
IMM Republic History Research Center, opened on the 2nd floor of the historical IETT building Metrohan, located in Taksim Tunnel Square in the heart of Istanbul and restored by IBB Miras, provides a qualified working environment that historians as well as researchers from different disciplines can directly benefit from for their personal and academic research. Operating in an area of 950 m2, the center has a working capacity of 90 people as well as a multi-purpose hall for interviews and meetings with a capacity of 50 people.
There are 40,996 books, 49,567 periodicals, 5,000 photographs, 6,868 documents, 595 theses, 196 posters, 327 postcards, 110 film reels in the Zafer Toprak Archive located at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Republic History Research Center. The archive is protected by sensitive security measures. Prof. Dr. Objects such as Zafer Toprak's typewriters, awards and plaques, desk and library are also preserved in a special room designed in the same way as the study room of the historian who died in 2023. Bringing together research resources on the history of the Republic, IMM Center for Republic History Research aims to expand its scope in the future and become a center where different studies on the history of the Republic come together with interviews and meetings.
