Brutalist architecture meets academic dedication. This is the Aptullah Kuran Library. It stands as a testament to both architectural style and a historian’s legacy. Aptullah Kuran was a famous historian of architecture. He is well known for his administrative and academic work. His fields were architectural history and education in Turkey.
The Aptullah Kuran Library is located within Boğaziçi University. You can find it at Rumeli Hisarı. The library bears the name of Aptullah Kuran to honor him. He was the founding president of Boğaziçi University in 1971. Before that in 1968, he was the vice-principal at Robert College. From 1981 to 1994, he chaired the Department of History.
The library’s story began long before its current building existed. Robert College was founded in 1863 by Dr. Cyrus Hamlin. Initially, it was housed in an old building in Bebek. That marked the start of the library’s collection. Harvard University donated 200 books. Rev. Henry Albert Schauffer added more books. By 1871, the collection grew to 5,000 books. The college moved to Hamlin Hall. The books were scattered across different faculty rooms. There was no central library in the traditional sense.
In 1897, Kaspar Tüygil became the librarian. He expanded the collection and created the first official library. It was located on the ground floor of Albert Long Hall. The library remained there until 1932. Van Millingen Hall was originally built for the library. However, it also served other purposes. It housed the president’s office and a faculty meeting room. The library was named after Alexander van Millingen. He was a history professor at Robert College. He was famous for his books on Byzantine monuments. Van Millingen bequeathed his books to the library. These books became the foundation of the Near East Collection.
The construction of Van Millingen Hall began in 1931. It finished in 1932. The library cost $75,000. Mrs. John S. Kennedy donated half of the money. The five-story building had two floors above campus level. Three floors were below. The entrance was on the third floor.
By 1952, the collection had grown to 40,000 books. In 1971, Boğaziçi University was established. The library’s collection exceeded 100,000. A new library building was needed. Sevinç Hadi and Şandor Hadi designed the new Aptullah Kuran Library. Its construction finished in 1979. The library moved to the new building in 1984.
Today, the Aptullah Kuran Library stands as a center of knowledge. It is a place where students and researchers explore the depths of history. The Aptullah Kuran Archive is held in the Boğaziçi University Museum Building. It contains books, notes, letters, and documents. It also holds 4602 photographs, 357 sketches, and 353 replica plans. There are also 180 cassettes and 4280 slide films. The Aptullah Kuran Library is more than just a building. It represents a legacy of learning and dedication.