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- October 17, 202614°
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- October 17, 202614°
A century of Türkiye–U.S. friendship, told in one remarkable volume
Former U.S. diplomat G. Lincoln McCurdy’s “A Chronicle of Turkish American Relations, 1923–2023” brings together 100 years of diplomacy, trade, culture and Turkish American life between the two countries in a richly illustrated 447-page book.
Ally Daily Editorial DeskUpdated:
For anyone who has ever tried to piece together the long story of Türkiye and the United States, G. Lincoln McCurdy has done the work. His “A Chronicle of Turkish American Relations, 1923–2023,” published in print at the end of September, traces the relationship from the founding of the Turkish Republic to its centennial.
The 447-page book is far more than a diplomatic timeline. Illustrated with photographs, documents and historical records, it follows the people, institutions and turning points that shaped the bond between the two nations, from diplomacy and commerce to education, culture, defense and the contributions of Turkish Americans. It does not shy away from the difficult chapters, giving readers an honest view of both the high points and the strains.
From state visits to the silver screen
Across 14 chapters, McCurdy catalogs the leaders of both countries and their visits, every Turkish and American ambassador, Turkish American elected officials and the figures who left a mark on the relationship. He traces the founding of key organizations, the history of diplomatic buildings in Ankara, Istanbul, Washington and New York, and the American schools and hospitals founded in the Ottoman era that carried on under the Republic. Trade and investment data sit alongside a list of American films and TV series shot in Türkiye, and the final chapter honors three Turkish women who shaped how Americans see Türkiye.
The book is full of memorable detail. Readers meet Eartha Kitt’s 1953 recording of “Uska Dara” and Hedo Türkoğlu’s NBA career, and learn how the United States acquired Istanbul’s historic Palazzo Corpi in 1907 through a game of poker, making it the first U.S. government-owned diplomatic building in Europe.
“I know of no comparable work that assembles this material with such breadth, clarity, and accessibility.” — Prof. Michael A. Reynolds, Princeton University, in the foreword
A lifetime of bridge-building
McCurdy brings more than four decades of experience to the project. He served as consul for commercial affairs at the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul in 1981, when it was still housed in Palazzo Corpi, and later led both the American-Turkish Council and the Turkish Coalition of America. In 2023, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presented him with the Friend of Türkiye Award.
He says he began the chronicle for the Republic’s 100th anniversary after realizing how little Americans, Turks and even Turkish Americans knew about their shared history, and hopes it will inspire young Turkish Americans to embrace their heritage and take part in civic life. First published online by the Assembly of Turkish American Associations, the work was turned into a book with support from Türkiye’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) and the Türkiye-U.S. Business Council (TAİK).
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