Türkiye’nin Amerikalı Dostları Cemiyeti’nin Kuruluşu ve Faaliyetleri
The Founding and Activities of American Friends of Turkey

Summary/Abstract: American Friends of Turkey Association one of the few western originated organization tried to assist and provide support to Turkish modernization after very proclamation of the Turkish Republic. Founders of the Association were Admiral Bristol who was US High Commissioner in Istanbul and Asa K. Jennings who was field representative of YMCA in İzmir city. When Greek invasion on İzmir came to an end Jennings first engaged with evacuation of Rum migrants and later by Bristol’s advice and encouragement engaged with providing support to Turkish modernization and education system. Donors who affording funds for social services and educational works in Turkey at the beginning assembled under different named organizations. Beginning with 1925 to gather donors and cooperate works under a single association, American Friends of Turkey has been established. The activities during the first years of Turkish Republic afforded master contributions to the Turkish modernization process which they started soon after the proclamation of the Republic. They were mostly restricted by İzmir, capital Ankara and later İstanbul cities. The Association after its official endorsement in the year of 1930 continued its active works until the year of 1934. Economic crisis and devaluation of dollar had negative effects on works hitherto after 1935 the Association decided a gradual transfer of her field works to the relevant Turkish authorities and minimize budget spending focus publicizing of Turkey in US and grant tuitions to eligible Turkish students. This paper will examine Bristol archive papers which they are in US Congress Library Manuscript Division and tackle with the foundation and works of American Friends of Turkey.

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