Folklorist and poet (b. 10 December 1941, Kavacık village / Araç /
Kastamonu). He attended Kastamonu Abdülhakhamit Primary School (1953) and
graduated from Göl Teacher Training School (1959), Abdurrahman Paşa High School
(1960), Bursa Education Institute, Literature Department (1990), the Institute
of Turkey and Middle East Public Management, the National Security Academy and
the Anatolian University, Turkish Language and Literature Department (1988). He
worked as teacher and director at primary schools in Van and Kastamonu
(1962-68), as assistant director at the Institute of National Folklore at the
Ministry of National Education (1970-73). He worked in various jobs as a
research manager at the National Folklore Department at Ministry of Culture (1973-78,
1979-84), as an assistant to the General Director of Fine Arts (1984-88), as a
specialist advisor to the Ankara State Folk Music Chorus (1988-97) and as the
General Director of Folk Culture Research and Development (1997-98). He
officially retired in 1998. He continued his services as a specialist at the
Turkish Language Association after 1998.
His first poem, Karanlıklar (Dark) was published in the journal Şiir Dergisi (April 1961, İstanbul). He
published more than 500 articles and his other works in the journals Hisar, Türk Kültürü, Türk Dili, Türk
Edebiyatı, Çağrı, Türk Folklor Araştırmaları, Türk Folkloru, Sivas Folkloru,
Karınca, Tarla, Türk Kültürü, Kültür ve Sanat, Sanat Dünyamız, Türkiyemiz,
Sanat, Sanat Çevresi, Erciyes, Güneyde Kültür, İçel Kültürü, Musiki Mecmuası,
Millî Kültür, Sümerbank, Millî Eğitim, Kemalist Ülkü, TÜRSAB, TÜRKSOY, Bilge,
Erdem, Size, Çevren, Anadolu Folkloru etc.
Other than his original published works, he did research for the books
by Ministry of Culture such as Atatürk
Albümleri (Albums of Atatürk), Cephelerden Kurtuluş Savaşına (From the Fronts to the Independence War), Türkiye Cumhuriyeti 1923-1938, İnönü
Albümü (1923-1938 The Turkish
Republic Album of İnönü), 75.
Yıldönümünde Lozan (Lausanne on
the 75th Anniversary),
Vatan Millet ve Bayrak Sevgisi (Love
of Homeland, Nation and Flag),
Türkiye'nin Şaheserleri (Masterpieces
of Turkey), Ankara Albümü (Album of Ankara). He prepared the
“Revolutions” section of Anıtkabir Atatürk ve Kurtuluş Savaşı Müzesi (Museum of Anıtkabir (Atatürk’s Grave Monument in Anakara), Atatürk and
the Independence War). He received the İhsan Hınçer Service
to Turkish Folklore Award in 1981.
His radio programs such as Bir Bulut Yakalayalım (Let’s Catch A Cloud,
1989), Vasiyet (Will, radio
serial, 1990), Sepetçioğlu Osman Efe (1989), Üçpınar
Köyünün Sırları (Secrets of Üçpınar Village, radio serial, 1988) were broadcast by the Turkish Radio and
Television Corporation. An honorary doctorate was given to Nail Tan by
Bakü Asya University and two different honorary doctorates by the VEKTOR Science Production Association. He is a member of the Professional Association of Scientific and
Literary Work Owners of Turkey and the Writers Union of Azerbaijan.
WORKS:
RESEARCH-STUDY: Evliya Çelebi
Seyahatnamesi Folklorik Dizin Denemesi (A Essay on the Folkloric Guide of
Evliya Çelebi Travel Book, 1974), Borlu
Kemalî Baba (Borlu Kemali Father, with Tevfik Özkubat, 1975), Türk Çocuklarına Yanıltmacalar (Tongue
Twisters for Children, 1975), H. Cahit
Öztelli Kaynakçası (Bibliography of H. Cahit Öztelli, with İ. Ünver, 1979), Atatürk ve Türk Folkloru (Atatürk and
Turkish Folklore, 1981), Ayhan İnal'ın
Şairliği (Poetry of Ayhan İnal, 1981, new edition, with the name “Ayhan
İnal in his 50th Year in Art”, 2001), Çocuklarımıza Folklor Hazinemizden Seçmeler (Selections from Our
Folklore Treasure for Children, 1981),
Âşık Tahirî Bibliyografyası (Bibliography of Minstrel History, with H.
İvgin, 1983), Karınca Dergisi
Kooperatifçilikle İlgili Bibliyografya (Bibliography Related to the
Cooperative of Karınca Journal, with
H. İvgin and İ.Ü. Nasrattınoğlu, 1984),
Folklor (Folklore) Genel Bilgiler (General
Information, 1985, 6th edition in 2003), Folklorumuzda Ölçülü Sözler (Verse Meter in Our Folklore, 1985), Türk Halk Ezgileri (Turkish Folk
Melodies, with M. Özbek and Y. Doruk, 3 fascicules, 1988-90), Türk Halk Oyunları Kataloğu (Catalog
of Turkish Folk Dance, 1st book: 1991, 2nd book: with A.
Çakır, 1997, 3rd book: with A. Çakır, 1999), 21. Yüzyılın Eşiğinde Örf ve Âdetlerimiz (Our Customs and Habits
at the Beginning of the 21st Century, collaborative work, 1991), Folklorik Türk Kıyafetleri (Folkloric
Turkish Dress, with M. Özel, 1992),
Kayseri Albümü (Album of Kayseri, with A. Satoğlu and A. Yeğen, 1995), Bayburt Musiki Folkloru (Bayburt
Traditional Turkish Music Folklore, with S. Turhan, 1996), Ankara Halk Müziği (Folk Music of Ankara, with S. Turhan, 1998), Çankırı Halk Müziği (Folk Music of
Çankırı, with S. Turhan, 1999), Divan ve
Halk Edebiyatımızda Lâedrî ve Ölçülü Sözler (Anonymous Authors and Verse Meter in Divan* and Folk
Literature, 1999), Sepetçioğlu
Osman Efe (Sepetçioğlu Osman Efe, study,
1999), Folklorumuzda Politik Fıkralar (Political
Anecdotes in Our Folklore, 1999),
Cumhuriyetin 75. Yıldönümünde Kooperatifçilik Kurumu (Cooperation
Foundations on the 75th Anniversary of the Republic, with İ. Kayacan
and İ. Ünver, 1999), Atatürk ve Türk Halk
Kültürü (Atatürk and Folklore, 2000),
Kırıkkale Halk Müziği (Folk Music of Kırıkkale, with S. Turhan, 2000), Kırşehir Halk Müziği (Folk Music of
Kırşehir, with S.
Turhan,and M. Kara, A. Gündüz, 2000), Uşak Türküleri (Folk Songs of Uşak,
with S. Turhan, 2001), Kastamonulu İki
Yazar: Oğuz Atay - O. Anbarcıoğlu (Two Writers From Kastamonu: Oğuz Atay-
O. Anbarcıoğlu, 2001), Van Halk Müziğine
Giriş (Introduction to the Folk Music of Van, with S. Turhan, 2001), Kuruluşunun 50. Yıldönümünde TDK (The
Turkish Language Association on its 50th Anniversary, 2001), Artvin Halk Müziğine Giriş (Introduction
to the Folk Music of Artvin, with S. Turhan, 2001), Kastamonulu İki Ünlü Şair ve Yazar: Orhan Şaik Gökyay - M. Behçet
Necatigil ve Yaşayan Şairlerimizden Bir Bölümü (Two Famous Writers from
Kastamonu: Orhan Şaik Gökyay-M. Behçet Necatigil and Some of Our Living Poets,
2002), Isparta Türküleri (Folk Songs
of Isparta, 2002), Kastamonulu İki Şair,
Araştırmacı, Hikâyeci ve Oyun Yazarı - Hakkı Kâmil Beşe ve Halil Erdoğan (Two
Writers, Researchers, Story and Play Writers from Kastamonu - Hakkı
Kâmil Beşe and Halil Erdoğan, 2003),
Cumhuriyet Dönemi Kültür Çalışmalarının Dünü, Bugünü, Yarını (Past, Present
and Future of Cultural Studies in the Republic Period, 2003), Orhan Şaik Gökyay I-II-III (Orhan Şaik Gökyay I-II-III with H. Rıdvan Çongur, 2004), Kastamonulu Ünlü Sahne Sanatçıları (Famous
Stage Artists from Kastamonu, 2004), Gurur
Kaynağımız Kastamonulular (People from Kastamonu Who Are Our Reason to be
Proud, 2004).
POETRY: Acaba Biraz Maviniz Biraz
Yeşiliniz Var mı? (Excuse me, Do You Have Some Blue and Some Yellow?, 1990), Gelince Gözlerine Bahar (When Spring
Comes into Your Eyes, 2002), Divarların
Arasındaki Gökyüzü (Sky between the Walls, 2004).
PLAY: Böyle Daha Güzel, Kim? (Who Is More Beautiful Than This?, play-folk tale, 1999), Sepetçioğlu Osman Efe (Sepetçioğlu Osman Efe with Sabahattin Engin, 2001), Sabretya-Plaketya (Sabretya-Plaketya, 2002).
REFERENCE: M. Şakir Ülkütaşır / E. Çelebi Seyahatnamesi Folklorik Dizin Denemesi (Türk Folklor Araştırmaları, Ekim 1974Tahir Kutsi Makal / Nail Tan Kimdir? (Tarla, yıl: 31, Eylül 1997), Mehmet Aldan / Nail Tan ve Yapıtları (İdarecinin Sesi, sayı: 84, Ocak-Şubat 2001), İhsan Işık / Türkiye Yazarlar Ansiklopedisi (2001, 2004) – Encyclopedia of Turkish Authors (2005) - Resimli ve Metin Örnekli Türkiye Edebiyatçılar ve Kültür Adamları Ansiklopedisi (2006, gen. 2. bas. 2007) – Ünlü Bilim Adamları (Türkiye Ünlüleri Ansiklopedisi, C. 2, 2013) - Encyclopedia of Turkey’s Famous People (2013), TBE Ansiklopedisi (c. 2, 2001), Hayrettin İvgin / Nail Tan [Biyografi-Bibliyografya] (2003), Nail Tan - Özdemir Tan / Gurur Kaynağımız Kastamonulular IV (2005), 2011 yılında Nail Tan’a Armağan (hzl. Prof. Dr. Tuncer Gülensoy - Hayrettin İvgin, 2011).
