Social History Research Foundation of Turkey

The Social History Research Foundation of Turkey (Türkiye Sosyal Tarih Araştırma Vakfı, TÜSTAV) is a non-profit foundation based in Istanbul dedicated to the collection, preservation, and publication of archival materials relating to the labour and left movements in Turkey. It was founded in 1992 by decision of the United Communist Party of Turkey (TBKP), which itself had been formed in 1988 through the unification of the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) and the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP). The founders were Nabi Yağcı, Ahmet Kardam, and Abdurrahman Atalay. TÜSTAV's initial mission was to gather, protect, make accessible, and publish all written, visual, and audio documents and archival materials of the TKP, TİP, and TBKP. From 1999 onward, the foundation broadened its scope to encompass the entire history of the labour and left movements in Turkey. In May 2006, its Board of Trustees reaffirmed this perspective, stating that the history of the TKP, TİP, and TBKP cannot be separated from the broader workers' and leftist movements. TÜSTAV operates a research centre, archive, and publishing house (Sosyal Tarih Yayınları) and organises public events such as book launches and panel discussions. Its website provides access to digital collections and news about its activities.

The Social History Research Foundation of Turkey (TÜSTAV) was established in 1992 following a decision taken at the First Annual General Congress of the United Communist Party of Turkey (TBKP). The TBKP itself had been formed in 1988 through the unification of the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) and the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP). The founding members of TÜSTAV were Nabi Yağcı, Ahmet Kardam, and Abdurrahman Atalay. The foundation's primary objective was to collect, preserve, make accessible, and publish all written, visual, and audio materials, archival documents, and museum objects belonging to the TKP, TİP, and TBKP. In January 1997, the Board of Directors issued an open invitation to all those who felt that 'this history belongs to me as well' to join the foundation as founding members. Many individuals and networks that had been active in the history of Turkey's left and labour movements responded and became involved in the foundation's work. Starting in 1999, TÜSTAV expanded its scope to embrace the entire history of the labour and left movements in Turkey. This broader perspective was formally emphasised by the Board of Trustees in May 2006, which stated that the history of the TKP, TİP, and TBKP cannot be separated from the history of the workers' and leftist movements in Turkey. Consequently, TÜSTAV has collected, classified, and made available to researchers a wide range of archival documents, including records of the trials of peace movements, leftist organisations, and labour movements. The foundation operates a research centre, archive, and publishing arm, Sosyal Tarih Yayınları, and continues to organise public events such as book launches and panel discussions.

• 2006

  Board of Trustees reaffirmed the broader perspective in May.

• 1999

  TÜSTAV expanded its scope to cover the entire labour and left movements in Turkey.

• 1997

  Board of Directors invited the public to join as founding members.

• 1992

  TÜSTAV founded by decision of the TBKP's First Annual General Congress; founders Nabi Yağcı, Ahmet Kardam, Abdurrahman Atalay.

• 1988

  United Communist Party of Turkey (TBKP) formed by unification of TİP and TKP.

A non-profit foundation and research centre preserving the social history of Turkey's labour and left movements.

• TÜSTAV Archive

  Collection of documents, periodicals, and audio-visual materials from TKP, TİP, TBKP, and broader labour/left movements.

• Sosyal Tarih Yayınları

  Publishing arm of TÜSTAV, producing books and bulletins on social history.

1. 1TÜSTAV - TÜRKİYE SOSYAL TARİH ARAŞTIRMA VAKFItustav.org
2. 2About TÜSTAV - TÜSTAVtustav.org
3. 3A Propos de TÜSTAV - TÜSTAVtustav.org
4. 4Social History Research Foundation of Turkey - Wikidatawikidata.org