Educator, writer and researcher of folk literature (b. 11 September 1950, Kırkgöz village / Divriği / Sivas). He has also used the pen names Sayıt Sandaş, Ali Güzelbahçeli and Emre Gülbalı. He attended Sivas Primary Teachers Training School (1968), İstanbul Institute of Education, Department of Turkish (1971) and graduated from Anadolu University, Department of Turkish Language and Lİterature (1991). He worked as a teacher of Turkish and as headmaster at various schools in Ekinözü (Maraş) and İstanbul and retired 1997.
Later on, he focused on his
studies on literature and folklore and published a series of research works
with the title Halk Kültürü (8 parts,
1984-85). From 1990 to 1998, he worked for an antique book dealer. Between the
years 1998 and 1999, he conducted studies at the Pertev Naili Boratav Archive
at the Information and Document Center of the Foundation of the Economic and
Social History of Turkey. He also worked as an editor at Yapı Kredi
Publications.
His research and book reviews
have been published in the newspaper Haber
in Sivas and later in reviews and newspapers such as Folklor, Türk Folkloru, Türk Folklor Araştırmaları, Folklora Doğru,
Tarih ve Toplum, Sivas Folkloru, Dünya Kitap, Müteferrika, Cumhuriyet Kitap,
Zaman, Kitap Zamanı and Kaşgar.
Known as an expert on
biographies, M. Sabri Koz wrote approximately ten articles for the
encyclopedias Ana Britannica (Brittannica of Ana Publications),
and Türk Dili ve Edebiyatı Ansiklopedisi (Encyclopedia
of Turkish Language and Literature) and Ansiklopedik
Büyük Sözlük (Grand Dictionary), published by Dergâh Publishing House in
addition to the Dünden Bugüne İstanbul
Ansiklopedisi (Encyclopedia of İstanbul from Past to Present). Also he
wrote children’s books and assisted on textbooks, some of which were published
with pen names. He received the İhsan Hınçer Award for Superior Services to
Turkish Folklore given by the Folklore Research Center in 1986 for his studies
on folk literature.
WORKS (Collection):
Nasreddin
Hoca'dan Fıkralar (Anecdotes from Nasreddin Hoca, 1978), Dalda Durur Elde Durmaz (It is in the
Tree, Not in the Hand, 1982), En Güzel
Öğrenci Fıkraları (Best Anecdotes about Students, 1982), En Güzel Bekri Mustafa ve İncili Çavuş
Fıkraları (Best Anecdotes of Bekri Mustafa and İncili Çavuş, 1983), Nükte ve Fıkralarıyla Ömer Seyfettin
(Ömer Seyfettin and his Stories and Anecdotes, 1984), Bilmece Bildirmece (Riddles, 1990), Nasreddin Hoca'ya Armağan (A Gift to Nasreddin Hoca, 1996), Edirne: Serhattaki Payıtaht (Edirne:
Throne of Faith, in collaboration with E. N. İşli, 1998), Bekçi Baba: Ramazan Fasılları (Bekçi Baba: Feasts on Ramadan,
1998), Halk Hikâyeleri I (Folk
Stories I, in collaboration with D. Kaya, 2000), Diyarbakır: Müze Şehir (Diyarbakır: The Museum City, in
collaboration with Ş. Beysanoğlu and E. N. İşli, 1999), Adana: Köprü Başı (Adana: Near the Bridge, in collaboration with
Erman Artun, 2000), Yemek Kitabı
(Cook Book, 2002), Her Güne
Bir Ninni (A Lullaby for Every Day, 2005).
In addition, he has edited books
for publication.
REFERENCE:
Şükran Kurdakul / Şairler ve Yazarlar Sözlüğü (1999), Behçet Necatigil /
Edebiyatımızda İsimler Sözlüğü (2000), TDE Ansiklopedisi (c. 5, 1982), TBE
Ansiklopedisi (c. 2, 2003), Ayşen Gür / Halk Ninnileri (Hürriyet Keyif eki,
20.3.2005), İhsan Işık / 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).
