There's a rare document few have seen, although millions have used its results.

It's the original, hand-written manuscript by Sir James Redhouse from the late 1800s, setting out the first authoritative Turkish-English dictionary. Our American missionary predecessors in Turkey commissioned this manuscript as part of enabling Turks and foreigners to understand each other's worlds through trustworthy dictionary publication. We have just finished making digital photographs of James Redhouse's manuscript. Soon researchers everywhere can easily access this precious progenitor of today's Redhouse Dictionaries. American Board missionaries have played some influential, sometimes controversial roles in the history of Turkey. Researchers, Turkish and others, are increasingly investigating our archives, and visiting our small library in Istanbul, to understand this history better.

Peace,
Ken & Betty Frank

Ken & Betty Frank serve as missionaries with the American Board in Istanbul, Turkey. They share the job of General Secretary of the American Board. They also serve on the board of the Istanbul Interparish Migrant Program (IIMP).