Educational archaeology: recovering the lost bibliography of English instruction in the Ottoman Empire and early Turkish Republic (1848–1928)

This study presents the first systematic bibliography of English language teaching materials for Turkish learners (1848–1928), spanning from the earliest known text produced for readers of the Ottoman Turkish script to the final publications preceding the 1928 script reform. This previously undocumented corpus of textbooks sheds light on the full scope and development of English instruction during the critical transition from the Ottoman to early Republican educational systems. Positioned at the intersection of educational history and cultural heritage, these materials are curricular artefacts reflecting broader shifts in language policy, pedagogy, and cultural transmission. Additionally, through archival and bibliographic research, this study categorises the textbooks according to their pedagogical focus, ranging from self-learning to spoken instruction. Treating textbooks as historical sources, the article contributes to understanding the material culture of education and to preserving the historical significance of these rare works, ensuring they are not lost to future scholarship.