The Introduction of the 1916-1917 Istanbul Telephone Directory and Its Significance Within the Ottoman Communications Network

Abstract

This study focuses on the historical development of telephone directories in the Ottoman Empire by examining the 1916-1917 Istanbul telephone directory, the directory's fifth edition. The first telephone directory in the world was published in New Haven in 1878, and over the following years, directories evolved in both content and form, establishing their place in the world of communication. In the Ottoman Empire, this tradition dates back to 1913. The Istanbul telephone directory examined here provides significant information about telephone usage, communication rules, and the subscription system in Istanbul during the period. The directory includes a telephone usage guide, company rules, and phone numbers of various subscribers ranging from the sultan and the royal family to state officials, ministries, and departments, as well as merchants, traders, and bankers. Additionally, the pages of the directory feature advertisements from contemporary businesses and brands, offering insights into commercial life in the period. The directory's publication in both Ottoman Turkish and French highlights the multilingual nature of the period and Istanbul's significance in international trade. This study aims to provide a detailed introduction to the directory and to highlight the contributions of Ottoman telephone directories to communications technology. The research covers regulations related to telephone subscriptions, telephone usage guides, advertisements and notices, and the system of organizing names in the directory. The content of the directory serves as a valuable resource for broader research on Istanbul's social and commercial structure, demographic layout, and street names. This study's presentation of the directory to experts in related fields promises to contribute to future studies on urban and socio-economic history. The study addresses the use of telephones globally and in the Ottoman Empire, followed by an analysis of the directory's content.