WHO

We’re a team of award-winning archivists, and researchers.

Through close cooperation with academic institutions around the world and through the support of the University of Toronto, the Tavakoli Archives endeavors to respond to researchers’ needs and help them gain a deeper understanding of Middle Eastern history, art, and language.  

Originally from Tehran, Mohamad Tavakoli-Targhi has served as Editor and President of the International Society for Iranian Studies, and currently serves as Professor of History and Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations at the University of Toronto. Additionally, Tavakoli-Targhi is the recipient of the prestigious Iranian Fellowship as well as Outstanding University Teacher awards. 

The origin of this archive dates back to the 1990s, when Dr. Tavakoli was conducting field research in Lucknow, India where he purchased the Munshi Newal Kishore’s vast and historic publications and brought it back to the United States.  

The Tavakoli Archive is the continuation of the Munshi’s legacy, the history of which dates to the mid-19th century. A great deal of the content in this archives’ ranges across three centuries and many of these artifacts are of great value and of interest to academics and researchers. Both Dr. Tavakoli’s archive and work are deeply rooted in the study of languages, visual culture, and history as tools that can be used for the spread of knowledge. The ongoing work of this archive is to organize, catalogue, and digitize these items, making them ready for use by researchers and academics alike. 

Board of Directors

Our Vision

Being a pioneer in creating an advanced research hub where better understanding of Middle Eastern studies (with focus on Iran) history, art, and language can be met.  

Being an outstanding archives through preservation of rare collective Persian or related collections and promotion of “culture of paperphilia”. 

Our Values

Our Mission

Through the preservation of rare books and manuscripts, lithographs, newspapers, and other written and printed formats, the archive guards the “culture of paperphilia” and promotes access to knowledge, culture, language, and literature to all those who seek it.   
Ensuring the researching of Iranian history, language, literature, and other related topics into both an efficient and pleasant experience by providing users with access to materials as well as offering direct assistance to researchers and other enthusiasts with their study and exploration.  

Through four defined projects of Archives, we tend to achieve our vision:

  1. CliqMind: Make digital material accessible
  2. The Archive: Keep materials safe and identified
  3. Website: Our online window to public
  4. Social Media: Promote our services, Our public interaction platform

Create a digitized research hub to make Persian/ Farsi materials accessible for everyone who are interested as well as initiating collaborative events with other partners.

Create and develop the first interactive digital Archive for communication with public to promote the value of “culture of paperphilia”. 

Building trust with individuals through holding events and workshops in order to encourage them to donate their valuable and rare materials to us for better preservation and care.