People's Houses

Halkevleri were institutions that embodied the populist cultural policies adopted during the early period of the Republic of Türkiye (1932–1951). Operating as public-benefit associations, the Halkevleri were inaugurated on 19 February 1932 in 14 provincial centers under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and later expanded to many regions of Türkiye, engaging in cultural activities such as education, health care, housing, environmental protection, and the defense of women’s rights. Following the Democratic Party’s rise to power after the elections of 14 May 1950, Law No. 5830, proposed on 8 August 1951, was adopted by the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, leading to the closure of all Halkevleri nationwide and the transfer of their assets to the treasury^【1】.

Historical Background and Founding Objectives

Ankara Halkevi, 1930s (Presidential Archives of the Republic of Türkiye)

The Halkevleri realized one of the six foundational principles of the Turkish Constitution: “Populism.” Their primary aim was initially to construct a national culture in Anatolia. Secondly, they sought to bridge the gap between the intellectual elite and the general public by teaching the foundational values of civilization and the nationalist, secular ideals of the Republican regime. In essence, the Halkevleri entered social life as representatives of the new regime, whose mission was to familiarize the masses with Republican thought. Thus, the Halkevleri served as democratic and populist gateways born from the Republic’s passion for enlightenment, facilitating processes of socialization and nation-building.

The Halkevleri were envisioned as nurturing environments that gathered and united youth while shielding them from harmful ideologies. The knowledge and education provided in these popular education centers were designed to align with the spirit of the existing regime, thereby eliminating any risk of moral corruption among the young. According to İsmail Hakkı Baltacıoğlu, no family, friendship circle, or club in Türkiye possessed the capacity to impart a national and modern culture to Turkish youth. In contrast, the Halkevleri, in terms of both organization and ethos, were highly suited for this task, and all young people should have been enrolled in them, with all education outside school taking place within their walls^【2】.

Organization and Areas of Activity

Although structured in a centralized manner, the Halkevleri established an extensive network of public engagement through local branches. Initially established in 14 provinces, by 1950 they operated 478 branches—including 67 provincial centers and 388 district and subdistrict units—and 432 People’s Halls. These institutions were subordinate to the Central Committee of the Republican People’s Party, but daily operations were managed by local administrators, teachers, civil servants, and volunteer intellectuals.

The Second Regional Medical Congress held at Manisa Halkevi in 1938 (State Archives)

Structural Organization

Each Halkevi was managed by a council consisting of a president, a secretary, and branch chairpersons. Branches were established separately for each area of activity, and their management was typically assumed by volunteer local intellectuals, teachers, or public officials. Central administration played a coordinating, supervisory, and directive role.

Institutionally, the Halkevleri:

• Functioned as an extension of the Republican People’s Party,
• Operated in collaboration with municipal authorities at provincial and district levels,
• Conducted their activities in their own buildings as well as in schools, cinema halls, and reading rooms.

Activity Branches

The nine main activity branches of the Halkevleri were defined in the Halkevleri Regulations as follows: Language, History and Literature Branch; Fine Arts Branch; Performance Branch; Sports Branch; Social Assistance Branch; People’s Classes and Courses Branch; Library and Publishing Branch; Village Branch; and Museum and Exhibition Branch.

1. Language, History and Literature Branch: The primary goal of this branch was to simplify the Turkish language, develop awareness of national history, and collect folk literature. Oral history projects were undertaken, collections of folktales and folk songs were compiled, and regional dialects were studied. Notably, the Halkevleri of Afyonkarahisar and Sivas carried out exemplary work in this field.
2. Fine Arts Branch: Courses in painting, sculpture, music, and handicrafts were opened to nurture amateur artists. Art galleries were established in some Halkevleri. Ankara, Istanbul, and İzmir Halkevleri emerged as leaders in this area.
3. Performance (Theater) Branch: Theater was seen as a tool to introduce the public to the ideals of the revolution, combining educational and entertaining functions. The Halkevleri established amateur theater groups and presented both local and Western classical works to the public. Village folk plays were modernized and adapted for the stage.
4. Sports Branch: Sports clubs were formed in disciplines such as gymnastics, wrestling, athletics, and football, aiming to instill discipline and solidarity among youth through physical education. Istanbul and Bursa Halkevleri were pioneers in this field.
5. Social Assistance Branch: Aid was provided to orphaned children, support was extended to war victims, and relief campaigns were organized during natural disasters. During the years of the Second World War, the Halkevleri played an active role in securing food and clothing.
6. Library and Publishing Branch: Libraries were established within the Halkevleri, book campaigns were organized, and various brochures and local bulletins were published. Through these efforts, reading habits were cultivated, and Atatürk’s principles and reforms were disseminated to the public through written culture.
7. People’s Classes and Courses Branch: Courses in literacy, sewing and embroidery, accounting, typing, foreign languages, and the arts were offered. These classes particularly encouraged the social participation of women and youth. The Halkevleri of Kastamonu and Tokat were pioneers in women’s courses.
8. Village Branch: With cooperation from village teachers, health officials, and volunteer intellectuals, excursions to villages were organized, agricultural techniques were taught, and cooperatives were promoted. These activities were in direct interaction with the Village Institutes. The Halkevleri of Eskişehir and Kırklareli conducted pioneering work in this area.
9. Museum and Exhibition Branch: Local historical and ethnographic materials were collected to establish museum corners, and exhibitions of paintings and handicrafts were organized. This branch also contributed to the preservation of local heritage.

Ülkü Halkevleri ve Halkodaları Dergisi, December 1949 (Turkish Historical Society Library)

Ülkü Magazine

Ideal, published by Ankara Halkevi, appeared in three periods between February 1933 and August 1950, totaling 272 issues. During the first period, which lasted until August 1941, it was edited by Nusret Kemal Köymen and Necip Ali Küçüka. From issue 41 in July 1936, the editorial direction was assumed by Mehmet Fuat Köprülü. It was published monthly, with 102 issues released in this phase. On 1 October 1941, it resumed publication under the editorship of Ahmet Kutsi Tecer, in a new format and size, appearing twice a month—on the first and sixteenth of each month—until 16 December 1946, when 126 issues had been published. In the third period, from January 1947 to August 1950, under the management of H. Tahsin Banguoğlu and Mehmet Tuğrul, the magazine resumed numbering from issue one and published an additional 44 monthly issues before ceasing publication.