Preservation approaches conducted by foundations: a cross-cultural comparative analysis of Turkey and the United States

Abstract

Cross-cultural comparative approaches have been used in the field of historic preservation mostly to make comparative analyses between Europe and the United States, yet to date there is not a specific cross-cultural study of the contributions of foundations to preservation field in Turkey and in the United States. Hence, this study examines foundation archives and case-study foundation deeds, official web sites of related organizations and a literature survey on the role of foundations in preservation aiming to fill this gap, at least partially. The parameters used as cross-cultural comparison are basic preservation terminologies, organizational structures, and historic preservation legislation. The major conclusion of the study is that the waqf system in Turkey, directed by governmental organization, does have certain organizational characteristics with deep-rooted historic, religious, and socio-cultural values differentiating it from foundations in the United States and there are certain transfer values of both countries to learn from each other.