Sadberk Koç, my mother, for whom this museum was established, was the beloved spouse of Vehbi Koç, who as a Turkish citizen believed that he had duties to the greater society. Vehbi Koç served his country in numerous ways. Education and culture are two of them. To be able to reach such a level, there are some visible elements and there are some not so. One of the “not so visible ones” was his wife, my mother Sadberk Koç. She had supported him all his life, provided a happy family life to his children, ensured that they had a good upbringing. Other than providing the best order to her household, her passion for embroidery and handcrafts helped her to create an exclusive collection. Until the final days of her life, one of her greatest wishes had been to exhibit her collection of fine works in a museum that would carry her name.

Sadberk Hanim was the middle daughter of Sadullah Bey, a Chief Herbalist, who was a member of one of the most prominent families of Ankara. She was born in 1908 and married to her maternal cousin Vehbi Koç at the age of 18. The war of Independence, Ataturk, Turkey... And the new Capital, Ankara! In such trying new environment, she was the long-suffering wife of a man who had to work very hard to prove his worth. She was the loving mother of three daughters and a son. As a traditionalist, she possessed an inner life enriched with the maturing effects of her suffering as well as her happiness. With such colourful characteristics, she was a lady who provided joy for everybody in her domain. There existed an infinite patience and strong sense of humour in the cosy home she had created. Her greatest interests were embroidery, gardening, healing herbs and her children. There we have the very first embroideries, and other artefacts that were painstakingly collected and preserved by one of the first Ladies of the Republic, our beloved mother, that became the core of the museum.

Sadberk Koç sadly passed away on 23 November 1973 and fulfilling her dream to establish a museum befell on my father Vehbi Koç and us, their children. It is unfortunate that she could not see her greatest monument. Looking back, I believe at the time none of us were capable of imagining how far advanced a level this museum, named after her, could have reached.

Sevgi Gönül, İstanbul 1995