Inventory of the Turkish political posters collection, 1945-1978 and undated.

Abstract

Collection comprises 97 political posters, including one duplicate. There are four series of posters: Korean War, NATO, Historical Significance, and Leftist series. In the first, fourteen posters extoll the achievements of the Turkish Armed Forces command or Turkish Brigade in the Korean War between November 1950 and July 1953. In the second series, one poster represents Turkey's relationship to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and another reflects the naval and air force maneuvers of NATO's Southern Command, Greece, and Turkey at Weld Fast in 1953. The third series includes 17 posters that celebrate events of historic national significance and depict international political figures together with Turkish leaders. The final series contains 63 leftist political posters with political slogans, as well as calls for meetings and demonstrations; most of them date from the second half of the 1970's.

Descriptive Summary

Repository: David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
Title: Turkish political posters collection, 1945-1978 and undated
Language of Material: Turkish
Extent: 7.0 Linear Feet, 97 Items
Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Series Quick Links

Korean War Series, 1950-1953
NATO Series, 1953
Historical Significance Series, between 1945-1960
Leftist Series, 1970-1978

Collection Overview

Collection comprises 97 Turkish political posters, including one duplicate. There are four series of posters: Korean War, NATO, Historical significance, and Leftist. In the first, fourteen posters extoll the achievements of the Turkish Armed Forces command or Turkish Brigade in the Korean War between November 1950 and July 1953. These posters show battle scenes and portraits of Brigadier General Tahzin Yazıcı and assistant Brigade commander Celâl Dora. Another shows an American officer, General Walker, decorating Yazıcı with the Silver Star. Nine of these posters are signed by graphic artists, including M. Işık, Cemal Baki, and Mehmet Tekdal; the remainder are unsigned.

In the second series, one poster represents Turkey's relationship to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and another reflects the naval and air force maneuvers of NATO's Southern Command, Greece, and Turkey at Weld Fast in 1953, which were designed to test the training and co-operation of their forces. Individuals represented in the second poster include military leaders Nurettin Baransel, Willard G. Wyman, Stylianos Kitrilakis, and Alezandros Karadimitropoulos.

The third series includes 17 posters that celebrate events of historic national significance and depict international political figures together with Turkish leaders. Within the series, there are six posters celebrating the annexation of Hatay State into Turkey as Hatay province, one depicting Atatürk and Mustafa İsmet İnönü on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Revolution, one showing U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower shaking hands with Celâl Bayar, and another image of Winston Churchill shaking hands with İnönü. Within this series, 11 posters are signed by artist Mehmet Bakı (some M. Bakı); the others are not signed.

The final series contains 63 leftist political posters (plus one duplicate) with political slogans, as well as calls for meetings and demonstrations. Most date from the second half of the 1970's, a period when the political climate was influenced by inflation, unemployment, and political violence. The slogans attack "fascist" and capitalist politics and denounce poverty. One poster contains a portrait of the Luis Corvalá́n, the former general secretary of the Communist party of Chile. Three others promote "Health Week 1977," which was organized by the Istanbul Tabip Odasi (Istanbul Medical Chamber). Political organizations named on the posters include, but are not limited to, Türkiye Isçi Partisi, Türkiye Sosyalist Isçi Partisi (TSIP), Türkiye Sağlık Işçileri Sendikası. One poster shows a portrait of Ibrahim Kaypakkaya, a well-known political prisoner active in the Communist movement, together with a portrait of of Aşık Emekçi, a singer. In this series symbols such as raised fists, fists smashing a svastika, broken chains, and silhouettes of workers' faces abound.

Administrative Information

A majority of collections are stored off site and must be requested at least 24 business hours in advance for retrieval. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.

Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Contents of the Collection

Browse List of Series

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Korean War Series, 1950-1953

(1 folder)

Fourteen posters extoll the achievements of the Turkish Armed Forces command or Turkish Brigade in the Korean War between November 1950 and July 1953. These posters show battle scenes and portraits of Brigadier General Tahzin Yazıcı and assistant Brigade commander Celâl Dora. Another shows an American officer, General Walker, decorating Yazıcı with the Silver Star. Nine of these posters are signed by graphic artists, including M. Işık, Cemal Baki, and Mehmet Tekdal; the remainder are unsigned.

Korean War posters

(14 posters)

Folder 1

NATO Series, 1953

(1 folder)

One poster represents Turkey's relationship to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and another reflects the naval and air force maneuvers of NATO's Southern Command, Greece, and Turkey at Weld Fast in 1953, which were designed to test the training and co-operation of their forces. Individuals represented in the second poster include military leaders Nurettin Baransel, Willard G. Wyman, Stylianos Kitrilakis, and Alezandros Karadimitropoulos.

NATO posters

(1 poster)

Folder 2

Historical Significance Series, between 1945-1960

(1 folder)

Seventeen posters celebrate events of historic national significance and depict international political figures together with Turkish leaders. Within the series, there are six posters celebrating the annexation of Hatay State into Turkey as Hatay province, one depicting Atatürk and Mustafa İsmet İnönü on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Revolution, one showing U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower shaking hands with Celâl Bayar, and another image of Winston Churchill shaking hands with İnönü. Within this series, 11 posters are signed by artist Mehmet Bakı (some M. Bakı); the others are not signed.

Historical Significance posters

(17 posters)

Folder 3

Leftist Series, 1970-1978

(1 folder)

Sixty-three leftist political posters (plus one duplicate) with political slogans, as well as calls for meetings and demonstrations. Most date from the second half of the 1970's, a period when the political climate was influenced by inflation, unemployment, and political violence. The slogans attack "fascist" and capitalist politics and denounce poverty. One poster contains a portrait of the Luis Corvalá́n, the former general secretary of the Communist party of Chile. Three others promote "Health Week 1977," which was organized by the Istanbul Tabip Odasi (Istanbul Medical Chamber). Political organizations named on the posters include, but are not limited to, Türkiye Isçi Partisi, Türkiye Sosyalist Isçi Partisi (TSIP), Türkiye Sağlık Işçileri Sendikası. One poster shows a portrait of Ibrahim Kaypakkaya, a well-known political prisoner active in the Communist movement, together with a portrait of of Aşık Emekçi, a singer. In this series symbols such as raised fists, fists smashing a svastika, broken chains, and silhouettes of workers' faces abound.

Leftist posters

(63 posters)

Folder 4