Abstract
Nakiye Elgün was born in İstanbul in 1882. Her educational life starting at Rehberi Maarif School. ended with her graduation from Darülmuallimat in 1901. She started her duty as a teacher at Darülmuallimat. Then she worked at Sultan Ahmet İnas High School. She carried out reformation works in the schools under the pious foundations. At the request of Cemal Pasha, she contributed to the education program prepared for the schools in Syria. She organised Feyziye Schools that were among the private schools.
Elgün also performed association activities. She was among the founders of Teali-i Nisvan Association. She established an organization named Association of Aid for the Families of Martyrs. She carried out various duties at Türk Ocağı, Community Centres, Aeroplane Association, and Himayei Etfal Association. She was elected to the Istanbul Municipal Council when women were given the right to participate in municipal elections in 1930. Then she carried out the duty as a deputy from Erzurum in the 5th period of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey when women were enfranchised the right to vote and be elected was given to women in 1934. She was elected as a deputy from Erzurum also in the 6th and 7th periods.
During her duty as a deputy in the 5th period, Elgün voted 509 times and voted “yes” in all of these votes. With 7 speeches, she was among the woman deputies who addressed speeches most during this period. There was her signature in 2 proposals and 2 legislative proposals. She worked in the Council of Internal Affairs. She contributed to the preparation of a total of 35 protocols of election. She was retired when her duty as a deputy ended in 1946, and she carried out activities in aid agencies during this period. She died in İstanbul on 23 March 1954.