Who We Are? – AÇÖTOM

WHO WE ARE?

The Academic Rubbish Collecting Centre (AÇÖTOM, ARCC) is a non-governmental organization that collects ephemera that carries clues about the past of ordinary people. We were founded in 2008 by President-in-Chief Dr. Mehmet Timuçin Hastaş and Secretary-in-Chief Dr. Bekir Cantemir. We use ephemera such as letters, tickets, advertisements, posters, business cards, title deeds, receipts, and birth certificates, which have not been included in official archives, as one of the sources of history writing.

Why AÇÖTOM?

We believe that the historical material does not consist only of state archives.
We think everyone’s story is worth telling.
We trust in the power of ephemera.

What are we doing?

We collect ephemera: We collect the documents of everyday life that you throw away at your workplace or home.
Classification: We classify the ephemera we collect in such a way that they become subject-centred historiographical material.
Interpretation: We research and interpret the historical context of the ephemera.
We share We make ephemera accessible through publications and exhibitions.

How can you contribute?

Ephemera is a document describing various aspects of everyday life, the value of which can only be appreciated by careful eyes. By being aware of the value of ephemera and protecting your ephemera, you can accompany us in our efforts to illuminate this silent history.
By participating in our events and panels, you can support us in raising issues related to ephemera.

Dr. Mehmet Timuçin Hastaş (AÇÖTOM President)

Born in 1975 in Istanbul, Mehmet Timuçin Hastaş graduated from Saint Benoît French High School in 1994. In 1998, he graduated from Marmara University İ.İ.B.F. Department of Public Administration in French. In 2004, he received his master's degree from Boğaziçi University Institute of Atatürk's Principles and Revolution History with his thesis on Ahmet Samim: A Dissident Journalist in the Second Constitutional Monarchy. In February 2015, he joined the PhD program at Istanbul University Institute of Social Sciences, Department of History. In April 2021, he received his PhD degree with his thesis titled First Nihat Erim Cabinet and Public Opinion in the History of Turkish Democracy. In November 2014, he assumed the position of President of the Academic Garbage Collection Center (AÇÖTOM), which he still holds. He speaks French, English and Spanish and lives in Istanbul.

Dr. Bekir Cantemir (Secretary General of AÇÖTOM)

Born in 1975 in Çorum, Bekir Cantemir graduated from Yıldız Technical University, Department of Geodesy and Photogrammetry Engineering in 1999. In 2004, he received his master's degree from Boğaziçi University, Institute of Atatürk's Principles and History of Turkish Revolution with a thesis on The Changing of Conception of Time: Calendar and Clock From the Ottoman Empire to the Republic of Turkey. In 2013, he received his PhD degree from Marmara University Institute of Turciyat Studies, Department of History of the Republic with his thesis titled Istanbul's Spatial and Social Structure Transformation in the Transition to Multi-Party Life (1945-1960). He is currently the Secretary General of the Academic Garbage Collection Center (AÇÖTOM). Cantemir is interested in historiography through ephemera, an approach that focuses on writing the history of the citizen through the citizen's documents. He currently teaches “History of Turkish Press and Media” and “History of Urbanism and Zoning” at Fatih Sultan Mehmet Foundation University.

We believe that history is not only about wars, great events and great men; it is the story of all of us in all its details.

At AÇÖTOM, we trace the stories of ordinary people.

Contact

[email protected]
+90 (216) 428 11 00
Koşuyolu, Muhittin Üstündağ Cd. No: 11, 34718 Kadıköy/İstanbul
Foundation Office | Zeytinlik, Yakut Sk., Sinanoğlu Pasajı, Alt Çarşı, No: 9, 34140 Bakırköy/İstanbul
Beyoğlu Office | Asmalı Mescit, Nergis Sk., Tünel Geçidi İş Hanı, C Blok, No: 423 34430 Beyoğlu/İstanbul