Preserving Our Memory for Eternity

An institution’s archive is the silent witness to its journey from past to present.

The İzmir Özel Türk Koleji Archive is our strongest collective memory, carrying our roots, historical development, and the values that define who we are into the future.

From the very first step taken with the vision of our founder Bahattin Tatış to today, every document, photograph, and record brought together in our archive is a living witness not only to İTK, but also to İzmir and the history of the Republic.

Every item in our archive reflects our achievements, our perseverance in the face of challenges, and our determination to remain a “Pioneering School.” While this archive enables us to stay connected to the past, it also keeps our ideals for the future alive.

A Collection Bearing Witness to the History of the Republic

What can be found in our archive? Not only school records, but the memory of a city is preserved. Photographs taken during official ceremonies held at Konak Cumhuriyet Square on October 29, Republic Day, reveal İzmir’s transformation over time.

From the opening ceremonies of academic years to graduation ceremonies, from Talaş Böreği Nights to Teachers’ Day celebrations, the cornerstones of our institutional culture are carefully preserved here. The first excitement of our artists who first took the stage at İTK and later became internationally renowned, letters of gratitude written to our founder, and much more…

All these traces reveal the value created by İTK.

A Major Digital Transformation That Began in the 75th Year

In the 2024–2025 academic year, with the comprehensive initiative we launched in honor of our 75th anniversary, we are organizing our physical archive and transferring it into the digital world. Our goal is to free İTK’s collective memory from the constraints of time and space and carry it into eternity.

Photo Album from the İzmir Özel Türk Koleji Archive

The current results of this major operation are a source of pride:

• Nearly 100,000 materials (yearbooks, educational annuals, school newspapers, etc.) have been scanned.
• Nearly 500,000 visual contents (photographs and videos) have been classified and archived.
• Nostalgic formats (CDs, VHS tapes) are being converted into current digital formats.

As our work continues at full speed, we anticipate that these numbers will increase exponentially.

Our “Günden Güne” Publication

An Open Call to Our Alumni: Your Memories Are Entrusted to Us

One of the most valuable parts of our archive is you. Materials kept in the personal archives of our alumni and staff allow us to shed light on different periods of our institution “through the eyes of students.”

Photographs, documents, emblems, badges, or uniforms preserved in your keepsakes are invaluable pieces of cultural heritage for us.

If You Would Like to Support Us: If you would like to share your İTK memories from your personal archive and become a part of this great digital memory, you can contact us via email at kurumsaliletisim@itk.k12.tr
by writing “Digital Archive” in the subject line.

As the İTK family, always aiming to “Exist in Tomorrow,” we are strengthening our roots and moving forward with confidence toward our 100th year.