Iraj Afshar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Iraj Afshar(Born in 1925 Tehran) is a notable Persian literary figure, bibliographer, historian, cultural theorist and world-class Iranologist. He is a consulting editor of Encyclopedia Iranica at Columbia University and (full) professor emeritus of Tehran University.
The great scholar Iraj Afshar, recorded the monuments of Yazd in his three volumes "Yadegar haye Yazd".[1] Iraj Afshar is known as "the doyen of Iranian Persian language bibliographers".
Afshar played significant role in the development of the filed of Iranology in Iran and throughout the world during the second half of 20th century.
Iraj Afshar was the editor of Sokhan a prolific Iranology journal, under the responsibility of Parviz Natel-Khanlari. And also editor of "Rahnamyee-Ketab", "Meher", "Farhang-e Iranzamin" and "Ayandeh".
He was the chief bibligrapher of Persian books at Harvard University. Afshar was associated with UNESCO and taught in University of Bern and Tehran University.
He is a honorary member of American Society for Iranian Studies.
[edit] Biography
1925 Birth in Tehran, Iran (Father: Dr. Mahmoud Afshar, Mother: Nosrat Barazandeh
1933-1945 Attended Zorostien Shapour Secondary School and Firouz Bahram High School in Tajrish Tehran
1944-1946 Manager Ayandeh Journal
1945 Received Diploma in Literature
1945 Marriage to Shayesteh Afsharieh
1945-1949 Attended University of Tehran majoring in Law, thesis: Minorities in Iran
1946-1955 collaboration with Jahan-nu Journal (Editor in Chief: Housein Hejazi)
1947 Birth of First son Babak Afshar
1949 Birth of Second Son Bahram Afshar
1950 Employed by Ministry of Coulter and Education as educator at Sharif High School and Garib High School
1951-1960 Liberian – Law Library of University of Tehran – With encouragement from Dr. Mohseen Sabah and Mohammad Tagi Danesh-Pajou
1952-1953 Editor in Chief – Meher Journal (licensee: Majeed Movagar)
1952- continuing Founder and Managing Editor Farhang-e Iranzamin Journal (in association with Mohammad Tagi Danesh-Pajou, Manoucher Sotodeh, Mostafa Mogarabi, Abbas Zaryab Khoyee)
1962 Birth of Third Son Kooshiar Afshar
1963-1966 Publication of “Ketab-hayee Iran” Books of Iran (Annual bibliography)
1954-1956 Editor in Chief “Sokhan Journal” (licensee: Dr. Parviz Natel-Khanlari)
1955-1961 director “Ketab-hayee Maah” Journal - Book of the month Journal (Publication of Society of Publishers with cooperation of Franklin Publishing Corporation)
1956-1963 Acting Managing Director “Bongah-e Tarjomeh va Nasher-e Ketab”
1956-1957 Attended UNESCO Educational and practical Library Science training in Europe
1957-1958 Co founder “Book Club” later named “Anjoman-e Ketab” Book Society
1958-1969 educator Library Science at “Daneshsar Allee” Higher Education division of University of Tehran
1958-1979 Managing Editor “Rahnam-e Ketab Journal” (licensee: Ehsan Yarshater)
1958-1979 Director “Anjoman-e Ketab” Book Society
1961-1979 Founder “Nashreieh Noskhehay-e Khatt-e” Central Library of University of Tehran Journal of Manuscripts (in collaboration with Mohammad Tagi Danesh-Pajou”
1961-1962 Director “Daneshsara-e Allee” Library
1962 Director National Library of Iran (founded Iranian Studies Branch – founded bibliography of Iran and indexing of library’s manuscripts with efforts of Abdolah Anvar)
1962 Return to teaching at “Daneshsara-e Allee)
1963 Birth of fourth son Arash Afshar
1963-1964 Return to University of Tehran –Director of Center of Bibliographic research and indexing 1963 Indexing and Cataloging Harvard University printed Persian books
1963 Technical Manager Library sciences Literacy Committee (UNESCO National commission)
1964-1971 Director Bureau of Publications and Cultural Relations (Later named Bureau of Publications and Library Relations)
1965-1979 Director Central Library and Document Center University of Tehran
1965-1973 Teaching Iran Historical Social Divisions “Daneshkadeh Olum Echtemaee” Department of Social Sciences University of Tehran
1966-1979 Founded “Ketabdari” journal a publication of Tehran University Central Library
1969 Director National Book Center interrelated to UNESCO National Commission
1969-1979 Associate Professor later Professor of History (Historical documents and Native History) Department of Literature and Human Sciences University of Tehran. (Manuscripts in Library Science) College of Educational Sciences
1969-1972 Director “Iran shenasi” Journal, Publication of Department of Literature and Human Sciences University of Tehran
1969-1979 Permanent Director of Congress of Iranian Studies
1979-1983 Established “Sazeman-e Ketab” (independently)
1979-1993 Published “Ayandeh Journal” from 5th volume for fifteen years
1983 Death of father (Mahmoud Afshar phd.)
1984 Established “Namvarh-e Doctor Mahmoud Afshar” published by Doctor Mahmoud Afshar foundation. From 11th volume it was named “Pajouhesh-haye Irani”
1989 Teaching at Bern University, Bern Switzerland
1996 Death of spouse (Shayesteh Afsharieh)
1998 Cataloging Persian manuscripts at Austrian National Library (Vienna)
2001 Established “Daftar-e Tarikh” publishing small documents and thesis from Doctor Mahmoud Afshar Foundation
Memberships
1951 Society of Iranian Studies (President Ebrahim Pourdavoud and Secretary Dr. Mohammad Moien)
1955-1978 Founding Member Iranian Society of Philosophy and Human Sciences affiliated with UNESCO national committee
1958 Ministry of Foreign Relation’s Library Council
1959 Committee to establish countrywide archiving representing UNESCO national committee
1962 University of Tehran Central Library council
1962 Executive Council “Institut of research in literature and Iranian languages council” (Ministry of Culture and Art)
1964-1978 Board to select book (Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture and Art)
1965 Executive Board (Center for Research and introduction of Iranian Civilization and Culture)
1965 Board of Founders Iranian Society of History of Science and Medicine
1972-1976 Council of Tehran Public Libraries
1972-1978 Book of the Year Award Committee
1972-1976 Iran Librarian Society
1974-1978 Executive Board “History Society” affiliated with “Language and Literature Cultural Center” Also the secretary of the Cultural Center
1974 Board of Trusties “Mojtaba Minavi Endowment Library” and Shahnameh Foundation
1976 Board of Trusties “Sayeed Mohammad-Ali Jamalzadeh Publish works” consigned to University of Tehran
1977 Selected guardian “Mohammad Fateh Endowment Dormitory” University of Tehran
1977-1978 Board of Trusties “Iran Cultural Foundation”
1977-1978 Supreme Council of “Iran National Documents”
1979-1982 Board of Founders National Monuments Society
1979 Europe Iranian Studies Society
1983 Council of Custodians Doctor Mahmud Afshar Foundation (Selected Custodian)
1989 Honorary Member Institute of Central and West Asian Studies) Karachi
1990 Board of Experts “Al-Furqan, Islamic Heritage Foundation”
1993 Consulting Editor Encyclopaedia Iranica
1993 Board of Trusties Dr. Ali-Akbar Siasi Endowment Library, University of Yazd
1997 Honorary Member Society of Iranian Studies (U.S.A)
1997 Supreme Council Center for the Great Islamic Encyclopedia (CGIE)
1998 Supreme Council National Library (Iran)
2000 Council of experts “Nameh Baharestan” Journal of Manuscript Research and Studies
2001 Council of Guardians Eurasian Studies Journal (Italy)
