Hadije Selma Ekrem Bulayir (August 23, 1902 – June 7, 1986) was a Turkish-American writer and lecturer. She published hundreds of essays in ''

The Christian Science Monitor ''The Christian Science Monitor'' (''CSM''), commonly known as ''The Monitor'', is a nonprofit news organization that publishes daily articles both in Electronic publishing, electronic format and a weekly print edition. It was founded in 1908 ...

'' between 1942 and 1973; her books included a memoir and a book of Turkish folk tales for children.

Early life and education

Ekrem was born in

Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...

, the daughter of

Ali Ekrem Bolayır Ali Ekrem Bolayır (1867–1937) was a Turkish politician and former governor of Jerusalem during the Ottoman period. He was an early key member of both the Turkish National Movement The Turkish National Movement (), also known as the Anat ...

. Her father was the Ottoman governor general of Jerusalem from 1906 to 1908, and governor general of the Greek Archipelago Islands from 1908 to 1910; he also taught literature at

Istanbul University Istanbul University, also known as University of Istanbul (), is a Public university, public research university located in Istanbul, Turkey. Founded by Mehmed II on May 30, 1453, a day after Fall of Constantinople, the conquest of Constantinop ...

. Her grandfather was poet

Namik Kemal Namig, Namik or Namık is a masculine given name. Notable people with the name include: * Namig Abasli (born 1997), Azerbaijani Paralympic judoka * Namig Abbasov (1940–2024), Azerbaijani diplomat and politician * Namig Abdullayev (born 1971), ...

. Her family was Muslim. She graduated from the

American College for Girls The American Robert College of Istanbul ( or ), often abbreviated as Robert or RC, is a highly selective, independent, co-educational, private high school in Turkey. The school is situated in a wooded campus on the European side of Istanbul in ...

in Istanbul.

Career

Ekrem first visited the United States in 1924, when she spoke at a meeting of the

American Association of University Women The American Association of University Women (AAUW), officially founded in 1881, is a non-profit organization that advances Justice, equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. The organization has a nationwide Social net ...

(AAUW). She lectured throughout the United States and Canada, especially in the 1920s and 1930s, about Turkey and about women's lives in the Middle East. She spoke at the World Conference of Women in Chicago in 1933. In 1940 she spoke in Portland, Oregon and in Los Angeles, and in 1941 she addressed audiences in Fresno and Santa Barbara, California. In 1942 she spoke about

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

in San Bernardino and

Stockton, California Stockton is a city in and the county seat of San Joaquin County, California, San Joaquin County in the Central Valley (California), Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. It is the most populous city in the county, the List of municipal ...

Publications

Ekrem published a memoir in 1930, and a book about Turkey in 1947. She wrote almost 300 essays for the ''Christian Science Monitor'' between 1942 and 1973. She also wrote a book of Turkish fairy tales, published in 1964. * ''Unveiled: The Autobiography of a Turkish Girl'' (1930, reprinted 2005) * ''Turkey Old and New'' (1947) * "The Stone Hearth Ovens of Istanbul" (1956) * ''Turkish Fairy Tales'' (1964)

Personal life

Ekrem was described in 1929 as having "boyish bob" and a "boyish swagger". Another headline called her a "Turkish flapper". She kept her hair short, and she wore tailored jackets, shirts, trousers, hats and neckties. She also smoked cigarettes. In 1940 and 1950 she lived with her friend Elizabeth Anderson in

New Canaan, Connecticut New Canaan () is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 20,622 according to the 2020 census. The town is part of the Western Connecticut Planning Region. About an hour from New York City by train, the town ...

.1940 and 1950 United States censuses, via Ancestry. She died in 1986, at the age of 83, in

Manomet, Massachusetts Manomet is a seaside village of Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. It is named for the Wampanoag village of Manomet, located among the Manomet Ponds (the later site of the Manomet Ponds Praying Town). Manomet has a Post Office in the busine ...

. Her 1930 memoir was reprinted in 2005.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ekrem, Selma 1902 births 1986 deaths Writers from Istanbul Turkish women writers American women writers Robert College alumni