Cumhuriyet Arşivi Daire Başkanlığı Republic Archives Department (Directorate of State Archives of Türkiye)

Overview

The Republic Archives Department (Turkish: Cumhuriyet Arşivi Daire Başkanlığı) is the principal state repository in Turkey for official government documents produced since the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923. It operates under the Directorate of State Archives (Devlet Arşivleri Başkanlığı), which is affiliated with the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey.

History and Founding

The precursor to the Republic Archives traces its origins to 1922, when the Reservoir of Documents (Mahzen-i Evrak Mümeyyizliği) was established in Istanbul. The body evolved through several reorganisations in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1976, the Republic Archives Department was formally established as an autonomous unit under the Prime Ministry Undersecretariat. In 1984, the broader Directorate of State Archives was established to oversee both the Republic Archives in Ankara and the Ottoman Archives in Istanbul. Following a 2018 presidential decree, the Directorate was affiliated with the Presidential Office rather than the Prime Ministry.

Collections and Holdings

The Republic Archives holds documents relating to the governmental activities of the Turkish Republic since 1923, including records of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Turkish War of Independence era documents, and the administrative records of government ministries and institutions. The majority of the archive's holdings have been digitised and are accessible via computer terminals in the reading rooms. The catalogue is available online at katalog.devletarsivleri.gov.tr for registered researchers.

Access and Usage

The Republic Archives is located in the Yenimahalle district of Ankara. The reading room is open Monday–Friday 9:00–19:00 and Saturday 9:00–17:00. Researchers may register online to browse the catalogue in advance. Foreign researchers are advised to contact the Turkish Embassy in their home country to apply for a research visa before visiting.