Turkiye Diyanet Vakfı (TDV), or Turkiye Diyanet Foundation was established in 1975 with the objective of supporting the activities of Diyanet Isleri Baskanligi, or the Presidency of Religious Affairs. When the TDV decided to have an original encyclopedia of Islam published, first in 1983 it set up the General Directorate of TDV Encyclopedia of Islam in Istanbul. After five years of preparation, publication of the encyclopedia began in November 1988. At the same time, the TDV also created Islam Arastirmalari Merkezi, or the Center for Islamic Studies so that the research carried out by scholars, whose training was made possible through graduate scholarships granted by the TDV could be coordinated in a systematic and efficient manner. The Center for Islamic Studies started its activities in 1988 in the same building as the General Directorate. In 1993 these two organizations merged, forming Turkiye Diyanet Vakfi Islam Arastirmalari Merkezi (ISAM), or the TDV Center for Islamic Studies and the responsibility for preparing the encyclopedia was given to ISAM.