Çelik Gülersoy

Çelik Gülersoy (September 23, 1930 in Hakkâri – July 6, 2003 in Istanbul) was a Turkish lawyer, historical preservationist, writer and poet. He is best remembered for the heritage conservation works he carried out on historical sites during his long-time tenure as director general of the Touring and Automobile Club of Turkey (TTOK).

He was born in Hakkâri, Turkey's most southeasterly city, where his father was working as a gendarmerie officer but the family moved to Istanbul in 1933. After completing his education in Istanbul, Gülersoy attended Istanbul University and graduated from its Law School. Following his military service in 1959–1960, he started work as a legal consultant to the TTOK in 1961, having already held several posts there since 1947.

In 1966, Gülersoy became director general of the TTOK, a position he held for 38 years until his death. During this time he reorganised the TTOK to bring in new and much-needed services. He published numerous books on historic sites, mainly in Istanbul, and contributed greatly to the redevelopment of such touristically important areas as Söğükçeşme Sokağı in Sultanahmet and the historic parks such as Emirgan and Yıldız.

Çelik Gülersoy died of pancreatic cancer on July 6, 2003 during a classical music concert at the Fabiato Köşkü (Mansion) on Büyükada. He was buried next to his mother's grave in Demirciköy Cemetery in Sarıyer following a funeral service in Teşvikiye Mosque. He left all his assets to the Çelik Gülersoy Foundation which still operates a library on Söğükçeşme Sokağı, behind Ayasofya.

Notable historical preservations

 * Chora Church environs (1977)
 * Çamlıca Hill (1980)
 * Malta and Çadır pavilions, Yıldız Park (1982)
 * Yellow, Pink and White pavilions, Emirgan Park (1979-1983)
 * Hotel Yeşil Ev, Sultanahmet (1984)
 * Khedive Palace, Çubuklu (1984)
 * Soğukçeşme Street, Sultanahmet (1985-1986)
 * Kameriye, Feneryolu (1989)
 * Fenerbahçe Park, Fenerbahçe (1990)

Recognitions

 * 1976 - Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
 * 1979 - Ordre national du Mérite of France
 * 1980 - "Plaque of Honor" by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey
 * 1986 - Honorary Doctor of the Black Sea Technical University, Trabzon
 * 1986 - Honorary Doctor of the Boğaziçi University, Istanbul
 * 1998 - Honorary Doctor of the Anadolu University, Eskişehir
 * 2000 - "Grand Award of Culture and Arts" by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey

Biography

 * İbrahimhakkıoğlu, Uğur. Çelik Gülersoy Senfonisi, İstanbul Kitaplığı, 561 pp. ISBN 9789757512370