M. Halit Bayrı

Folklorist and literature researcher (B. February 8, 1896, Istanbul – D. October 27, 1958). His full name is Mehmet Halit Bayrı. He has also used pseudonyms such as Adil Özseven, Denizcioğlu, İsmail Nâmi, Muammer Önus. He lost his father when he was five, so he was raised by his mother. He graduated from Galata Secondary School, Kabataş High School and Darülfünun Department of Literature. He fought at First World War as reserve officer. When he was released from military in 1918, he returned to Istanbul and began with literature and folklore studies.

He began with his working career as a clerk in Malkara district’s Şahin sub-district as a clerk in 1913. He worked as a clerk at Ayan Parliament (1918), as a civil servant at Istanbul Municipality City Council Bar (1925), as the president of Eminonu Public House Language and Literature Branch (1936-1941), as the Director of Istanbul Municipality Bedesten and finally as Istanbul Municipality Auction Director. During this post, he has retired upon his own request as his active service has passed thirty years (1953).

After his retirement, he worked at Remzi Bookstore as redactor and proofreader. Then he worked at the Provincial Directorate of Society for the Protection of Children. He continued working there until his death. His funeral was very crowded and he was buried at Merkezefendi Kozluca Cemetery.

Bayrı is known with his contributions to the Turkish folklore as a researcher. He worked as editor in Düşünce journal by Ismail Hakki Ertaylan (1922) and Anadolu journal by Hilmi Ziya Ulken (1924-1925). He pioneered the establishment of Turkish Folk Information Association in Ankara (1927). He managed the journal Türk Halk Bilgisi Haberleri (1929-1942) and the publication of Istanbul Public House, Yeni Türk (1936-1941). His articles and poems were published in journals such as Anadolu, Azerbaycan, Yurt Bilgisi, Dergâh Folklor Postası, Halk Bilgisi Haberleri, Hayat, İstanbul Şehremâneti Mecmuası, Kopuz, Kızıl Elma, Millî Mecmua, Tanrıdağı, Tarih Dünyası, Türk Dili, Türk Folklor Araştırmaları, Türk Yurdu, Yeni Türk, Ülkü.

WORKS:

Maziden Bir Yaprak (About Çanakkale Wars, 1919), Anadolu Manileri (1932), Cumhuriyet Devrinde Halk Bilgisi Hareketleri (1933), Balıkesirli Bir Şair (1934), İstanbul Argosu ve Halk Tabirleri (1934), Belediye İşleri Kılavuzu (2 vol., 1936), Halk Şairleri Hakkında Küçük Notlar (1937), Halk Adetleri ve İnanmaları (1939), İstanbul Folkloru (1947), Belediye Gelirleri Kanunu ve Gerekçeleri (with Muhtar Acar, 1948), Mahallî İdareler Kılavuzu (3 vol., 1948-1949), XX. Yüzyıl Halk Şiiri (1956), XIX. Yüzyıl Halk Şairleri (1957), Âşık Cevherî (1958), Âşık Viranî Divanı (1959), Dadaloğlu Hakkında Notlar, Yer Adları ve Yer Adlarına Bağlı Folklor Bilgileriyle İstanbul (1964).

Also he has unpublished works.

REFERENCE: Türk Folklor Araştırmaları dergisi (January 1959, issue: 114), Şevket Beysanoğlu / Diyarbakırlı Fikir ve Sanat Adamları (vol. 2, 1997, p. 279-280, 283-285), Abdullah Uçman / TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi (vol. 5, 1992), Sevengül Sönmez (Virgül, issue: 40, Nisan 2001), İhsan Işık (TEKAA, 2009).