Cin Ali Museum

The Cin Ali Museum was established to preserve the cultural legacy of the Cin Ali Story Books, created by teacher Rasim Kaygusuz in 1968 to instill reading habits in children, and to introduce his pedagogical approach in this field. The museum aims to convey to visitors the character of Cin Ali and Rasim Kaygusuz’s educational philosophy.

Cin Ali Museum (Anadolu Agency)

Foundation and Purpose

The Cin Ali Museum was opened in 2019 by Rasim Kaygusuz’s daughters, Nevin Kaygusuz Apaydın (Suna) and Nesrin Kalaycıoğlu (Selma). It was realized as a result of the activities of the Cin Ali Education and Culture Foundation, established in 2016. The museum’s purpose is to introduce the intellectual foundation behind the Cin Ali books and to carry forward the techniques of learning through play from the past to the present.

Cin Ali and Rasim Kaygusuz

Cin Ali is a story character created by Rasim Kaygusuz to facilitate and encourage literacy among children. The illustrations for the Cin Ali books, first published in 1968, were done by Selçuk Seğmen. The books quickly reached a wide readership and left a lasting mark on Turkey’s educational history.

Cin Ali Museum (Anadolu Agency)

Museum Collection and Sections

The museum’s collection is organized to present the educational approach of Cin Ali and its historical context in a multifaceted manner. The representative classroom section displays educational materials from the era, such as blackboards, wooden benches, and black aprons. Another section features personal belongings of Rasim Kaygusuz and provides information about his life story and pedagogical philosophy. The museum also houses rare publications, including the first editions and signed copies of the Cin Ali books. Educational toys and tools illustrating learning-through-play techniques form another notable section of the museum. In addition, a multimedia area enriched with Cin Ali films, visual representations of Ankara during that period, and various objects related to the character is also presented to visitors.

Cin Ali Museum (Anadolu Agency)

Cultural Legacy and Impact

The museum emphasizes that the character of Cin Ali is not merely an educational tool but also a figure firmly embedded in Türkiye’s cultural memory. The Kaygusuz family defines the meaning Cin Ali acquired within Turkish society as a “cultural heritage” and affirms the necessity of preserving this heritage.