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I thought he died 2 or 3 years ago. 
Turkish Daily News, Turkey
April 28, 2007
First Armenian with access to Ottoman Archives
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Prof. Dr. Pars Tuglaci, born Parsegh Touglajian, is one of the rare
historians to have the chance of examining the archives of the
Ottoman Empire
Whether to open the Ottoman archives or not has created discussions
through different periods. One rare academic to get the chance has
been historian and linguist Prof. Dr. Pars Tuğlacı, born Parsegh
Touglajian, who has a special permit to examine the archives, granted
by Fahri Koruturk when he was president of the Turkish Republic in
the 1970s. While preparing the most comprehensive Turkish dictionary
of the new Turkish Republic, "Ocean Encyclopedic Turkish Dictionary,"
Tuğlacı was invited to the presidential palace at Cankaya by President
Fahri Koruturk in 1974. Koruturk asked him how they could help him
with his work, and Tuğlacı said "For a nation's history to be written
without mistakes or omittance, the state archive of the country of
which that nation is member must to be scanned through.
For this, I want the permission from you to scan through the Ottoman
State Archive."
Pars Tuğlacı mentions that the studies he did in the Ottoman archives
have an inestimable importance for him. Tuğlacı also compared the
information he obtained from the archives with the archives of other
countries to publish the 25 volume Great Turkish Encyclopedia, which
covers the history and culture of Turkey before and after 1071.
Pars Tuğlacı is "Honorary Professor" of the Paris International
Relations Institute, has a "life time honorary professorship" with
the American International Bibliography Institute, and is a lifetime
member of Cambridge International Biography Association. He also
has many titles and memberships worldwide, including "Buenos Aires
Diplomacy Academy Member" and "USA Biography Institute Research
Association Management Assignee."
Tuglaci began his dictionary and encyclopedia work right after he
graduated from Michigan University English Literature Department
in 1960. Known as 'Master of Dictionary,' Tuğlacı's first work in
this area is the 'English-Turkish Idioms Dictionary.' Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk's close friend and one of the eminent names of the Turkish
Literature, Halide Edip Adıvar, sent a 'Certificate of Appreciation'
to Tuğlacı for the dictionary published in 1960.
History can't be without documents; the historian has to be candid:
Tuğlacı said, "History can't be without source or documents. Equity
should be the mission of the historian. In my works, I tell about what
happened, I attach its document next to it; there is no interpretation
in history."
Having done research in many countries including Egypt, Syria, Lebanon
and the former Soviet Union, Tuğlacı is fluent in Armenian, Turkish,
English and French.
The Ottoman Empire has great significance in world history, Pars
Tuğlacı said, with all ethnic components within its boundaries coming
together to form the conscience of being Ottoman. In his historical
research, he looks at the concept of being Ottoman as a whole, he said.
So far, thirty five of Tuğlacı's works have been published. Besides
the more eminent ones such as the Ottoman Empire History, English,
French and Turkish dictionaries, there are works including "Woman
in Turkey - Women of Istanbul in Ottoman Times," "The Ottoman Palace
Women," "The Role of the Balyan Family in the Ottoman Architecture,"
"Armenian Churches Of Istanbul," "Western Armenians Throughout
History," "Istanbul Islands Throughout History" and "Cırağan Palace."
Except for "Western Armenians," all the books have been published in
English and Turkish. The comprehensive encyclopedia on the history
of Western Armenians will be translated into English shortly.
World Peace is just a Utopia:
Among the works of Tuğlacı, who said he has many works ready to be
published, is the comprehensive work he prepared on İsmet İnonu, and
"Three Chronological Period Histories of Istanbul." The chronological
historical ordering of five volumes, starting from the East Roman
Empire Period, covers Byzantine and Ottoman history. Tuğlacı, having
attended the "International Science, Culture and Art Congress"
representing Turkey for seventeen years, will represent Turkey with
the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the conference to
be held in the first week of July in the United States, which will
be attended by scholars from around the world.
Pars Tuğlacı summarized his opinions on language and history as
follows: "Language is the object forming the relationships between
people; history is the reason of a nation to exist. The one who
doesn't know about his own history cannot like his nation."
Touching upon recent political and social developments, Tuğlacı thinks
peace in the world is just a utopia now.
Turkish Daily News, Turkey
April 28, 2007
First Armenian with access to Ottoman Archives
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Prof. Dr. Pars Tuglaci, born Parsegh Touglajian, is one of the rare
historians to have the chance of examining the archives of the
Ottoman Empire
Whether to open the Ottoman archives or not has created discussions
through different periods. One rare academic to get the chance has
been historian and linguist Prof. Dr. Pars Tuğlacı, born Parsegh
Touglajian, who has a special permit to examine the archives, granted
by Fahri Koruturk when he was president of the Turkish Republic in
the 1970s. While preparing the most comprehensive Turkish dictionary
of the new Turkish Republic, "Ocean Encyclopedic Turkish Dictionary,"
Tuğlacı was invited to the presidential palace at Cankaya by President
Fahri Koruturk in 1974. Koruturk asked him how they could help him
with his work, and Tuğlacı said "For a nation's history to be written
without mistakes or omittance, the state archive of the country of
which that nation is member must to be scanned through.
For this, I want the permission from you to scan through the Ottoman
State Archive."
Pars Tuğlacı mentions that the studies he did in the Ottoman archives
have an inestimable importance for him. Tuğlacı also compared the
information he obtained from the archives with the archives of other
countries to publish the 25 volume Great Turkish Encyclopedia, which
covers the history and culture of Turkey before and after 1071.
Pars Tuğlacı is "Honorary Professor" of the Paris International
Relations Institute, has a "life time honorary professorship" with
the American International Bibliography Institute, and is a lifetime
member of Cambridge International Biography Association. He also
has many titles and memberships worldwide, including "Buenos Aires
Diplomacy Academy Member" and "USA Biography Institute Research
Association Management Assignee."
Tuglaci began his dictionary and encyclopedia work right after he
graduated from Michigan University English Literature Department
in 1960. Known as 'Master of Dictionary,' Tuğlacı's first work in
this area is the 'English-Turkish Idioms Dictionary.' Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk's close friend and one of the eminent names of the Turkish
Literature, Halide Edip Adıvar, sent a 'Certificate of Appreciation'
to Tuğlacı for the dictionary published in 1960.
History can't be without documents; the historian has to be candid:
Tuğlacı said, "History can't be without source or documents. Equity
should be the mission of the historian. In my works, I tell about what
happened, I attach its document next to it; there is no interpretation
in history."
Having done research in many countries including Egypt, Syria, Lebanon
and the former Soviet Union, Tuğlacı is fluent in Armenian, Turkish,
English and French.
The Ottoman Empire has great significance in world history, Pars
Tuğlacı said, with all ethnic components within its boundaries coming
together to form the conscience of being Ottoman. In his historical
research, he looks at the concept of being Ottoman as a whole, he said.
So far, thirty five of Tuğlacı's works have been published. Besides
the more eminent ones such as the Ottoman Empire History, English,
French and Turkish dictionaries, there are works including "Woman
in Turkey - Women of Istanbul in Ottoman Times," "The Ottoman Palace
Women," "The Role of the Balyan Family in the Ottoman Architecture,"
"Armenian Churches Of Istanbul," "Western Armenians Throughout
History," "Istanbul Islands Throughout History" and "Cırağan Palace."
Except for "Western Armenians," all the books have been published in
English and Turkish. The comprehensive encyclopedia on the history
of Western Armenians will be translated into English shortly.
World Peace is just a Utopia:
Among the works of Tuğlacı, who said he has many works ready to be
published, is the comprehensive work he prepared on İsmet İnonu, and
"Three Chronological Period Histories of Istanbul." The chronological
historical ordering of five volumes, starting from the East Roman
Empire Period, covers Byzantine and Ottoman history. Tuğlacı, having
attended the "International Science, Culture and Art Congress"
representing Turkey for seventeen years, will represent Turkey with
the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the conference to
be held in the first week of July in the United States, which will
be attended by scholars from around the world.
Pars Tuğlacı summarized his opinions on language and history as
follows: "Language is the object forming the relationships between
people; history is the reason of a nation to exist. The one who
doesn't know about his own history cannot like his nation."
Touching upon recent political and social developments, Tuğlacı thinks
peace in the world is just a utopia now.
(which is so inaccurate as to make the English one appear almost perfect) it seems he is still alive.
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