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Vehbi Koç and Ankara Research Center (VEKAM);

      Founded in 1994, the Vehbi Koç and Ankara Research Center’s activities are organized around two main themes. The first of these is to collect visual and textual documents on Vehbi Koç, the founder of the Vehbi Koç Foundation, to classify these documents and to prepare them for presentation to researchers. The second is to carry out research on the historical and cultural development of the city of Ankara and its environs; to collect, compile and publish relevant documents and audio-visual materials, and thereby contribute to scientific understanding of the region.

History

The Vehbi Koç and Ankara Research Center (VEKAM) is situated in Ankara’s Keçiören district, in one of the last orchard houses of the city. Purchased in 1923 by Vehbi Koç’s father, Koçzâde Hacı Mustafa Efendi from Field Marshal Fevzi Çakmak, the house served as the Koç family residence for many years. Vehbi Koç spent many years of his life in Ankara at this orchard house and all his children were born there. The orchard house is a cultural heritage building of the first degree and was renovated in 1992-1993.


From orchard house to research centre…
 
     The building’s upper level hosts the Vehbi Koç Hall, where documents and the personal belongings of Vehbi Koç are exhibited, the Main Library that was borne of Vehbi Koç’s library and holds 5000 books, periodicals, articles and theses on Ankara and its environs, and the Ali Esat Bozyiğit Collection that contains 5000 volumes donated by the Bozyiğit family. Also on this floor is the Archive Room, home to 3500 original photographs and postcards, 100 films, 155 plans and maps, various historical documents, and the recordings of 450 Ankara folk songs and dances.

     Exhibitions on Ankara’s cultural heritage and history are held in the Main Exhibition Room and the Sevgi Gönül Room located on the lower floor. The 50-person capacity multipurpose Culture Hall hosts panel discussions, seminars, conferences, workshops and documentary screenings.
Aims
VEKAM aims to become the primary source of reference on Ankara for researchers everywhere
Archives
     The Centre owns a significant specialty library of books, articles and journals on Ankara and two separate archive collections. The VEKAM library and archives are open to all interested students and researches

     The Vehbi Koç Collection…

     This collection is an archive of documents, photographs, films, audio recording, magazine and press clippings concerning Vehbi Koç’s business and personal life as well as a number of his personal belongings.   

     Ankara Collection...

      This archive consists of a collection of original documents pertaining especially to Ankara’s early Republican era, constituting an important part of the city’s “collective memory” and thus an important legacy for future generations.    

       The “Age of Reason” Collection

      The “Age of Reason” project was initiated by VEKAM in collaboration with TEV, the Turkish Educational Foundation, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. The collection focuses on the foundation years of the “Educational Union”.  

Semahat-Nursel Arsel Ankara Orchard House

       The “Ankara Orchard House” – formerly Gedikoğlu Orchard – was opened to the public on 3 November 2007 as part of the VEKAM complex. The building was acquired by Semahat Arsel and donated by her to the Vehbi Koç Foundation in order to help protect Ankara’s cultural heritage. It is registered as a cultural monument of the first degree and has been carefully restored and furnished as a typical Ankara orchard house and as such today serves the scientific, culture and arts community.

 
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