First term Following a meeting of the
Young Turks, the Turkish nationalists, on 3 July 1911, the
NGO was officially founded in
Istanbul on 25 March 1912. According to the statute of Turkish Hearths, the activities were mostly concentrated on culture and education, raising the social, economic and intellectual level of the Turkish people for the perfection of the
Turkish language and race. It published books and magazines, offered courses to raise the
Turkish nationalist heritage, founded clubs and organized literary and artistic performances. It also supported students with lodging and health care. After the
Russian revolution in 1917 the president of the Turkish Hearths,
Hamdullah Suphi Tanrıöver, also welcomed refugees of
Turkic origin. During the
Turkish War of Independence (1919–1923), Turkish Hearths supported the meetings held in Istanbul against the
occupation of Istanbul. Some members of the organization were arrested by the
Allies of World War I, and the activities of the Turkish Hearths were suspended. After the War of Independence, the Turkish Hearths resumed its former activities with the support of the newly founded Turkish Republic. They were re-established in 1924, and the number of its branch offices increased from 135 in 1925 to 255 in 1930. These branches provided
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk with locations for his speeches when he was on tour in the country. Its first task was to publish a book "General Themes of Turkish History" (
Türk Tarihinin Ana Hatlari) which influenced the development of the
Turkish History Thesis.
Second term On 10 May 1949, the organization was reestablished with non-political character. Although the Turkish Hearts was not as active as in the previous term, beginning by 1954, it increased its activities. After a compulsory pause during the military rule, it continued after 1984. ==Activities==