Rashid Efendi Manuscripts Library
Cultural heritage is a treasure that tells the members of a society about their common past and strengthens the sense of solidarity and unity among them. As the Erciyes College family, we owe ourselves to protect our cultural and historical heritage in the Kayseri region. For this reason, we have come to the Raşit Efendi Library, one of the important historical buildings of Kayseri.
Abdulhamid I and III. Mehmet Raşid Efendi, one of the well-known statesmen during the Selim period, was born in 1753 in Isbıdin Village of Gesi District of Kayseri. Raşid Efendi was a clerk who was intelligent, cultured, dignified, benevolent, well-known for his truthfulness and honesty, had a special position and prestige among the statesmen of the time, and was adept at writing fast.
Mehmet Rashid Effendi, Sultan III. During the reign of Selim, he remained in the office of Reîsulküttâb, which was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at that time, for eight years. He is also a man of culture who has served the printing business by purchasing İbrahim Müteferrika's printing house, which is about to be dissolved, with Vakanüvis Vasıf Efendi.
Mehmed Raşid Efendi had the library building built in the courtyard of Cami-i Kebir, also known as Kayseri's conquest mosque, under the supervision of his uncle Koca Ağa, in 1796. Mehmed Raşid Efendi donated 943 volumes of valuable books, including 925 manuscripts and 18 volumes of İbrahim Müteferrika edition, to the library where he spent 25,000 kuruş.
All of these books are bound and placed in special covers. Various parts of the books are sealed with the seal of the foundation. Although Raşid Efendi Library is the last of the libraries opened in Kayseri during the Ottoman Period, it is important in that it has the first "detached library building".
Previously in Kayseri; There were Bedreddin Mahmut Kadı Library, Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha Library, Hacı Halil Efendi Library and Erkiletli Nişancı Mehmed Library. After the Raşid Efendi Library was opened, the works in the aforementioned libraries were transferred here. The Library building has stood with all its grandeur since its establishment and provides a peaceful environment for researchers.
Abdulhamid I and III. Mehmet Raşid Efendi, one of the well-known statesmen during the Selim period, was born in 1753 in Isbıdin Village of Gesi District of Kayseri. Raşid Efendi was a clerk who was intelligent, cultured, dignified, benevolent, well-known for his truthfulness and honesty, had a special position and prestige among the statesmen of the time, and was adept at writing fast.
Mehmet Rashid Effendi, Sultan III. During the reign of Selim, he remained in the office of Reîsulküttâb, which was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at that time, for eight years. He is also a man of culture who has served the printing business by purchasing İbrahim Müteferrika's printing house, which is about to be dissolved, with Vakanüvis Vasıf Efendi.
Mehmed Raşid Efendi had the library building built in the courtyard of Cami-i Kebir, also known as Kayseri's conquest mosque, under the supervision of his uncle Koca Ağa, in 1796. Mehmed Raşid Efendi donated 943 volumes of valuable books, including 925 manuscripts and 18 volumes of İbrahim Müteferrika edition, to the library where he spent 25,000 kuruş.
All of these books are bound and placed in special covers. Various parts of the books are sealed with the seal of the foundation. Although Raşid Efendi Library is the last of the libraries opened in Kayseri during the Ottoman Period, it is important in that it has the first "detached library building".
Previously in Kayseri; There were Bedreddin Mahmut Kadı Library, Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha Library, Hacı Halil Efendi Library and Erkiletli Nişancı Mehmed Library. After the Raşid Efendi Library was opened, the works in the aforementioned libraries were transferred here. The Library building has stood with all its grandeur since its establishment and provides a peaceful environment for researchers.
Erciyes College Social Studies Department
Note: Generations Gathering Project has been carried out since 2016 by the secondary school social studies department and students, as a unique work for Erciyes College. You can click to watch the video narration of this project with the comments of our students.