Official
Ahmet Efendi
Muslim (Müslüman). Born in Istanbul (Dersaadet) in 1845 (AH 1261). On record 1863 to 1907, 44 annual entries.
Archive reference 5_59; 115
Life#
Born in Istanbul in 1845 (AH 1261), Ahmet Efendi came from the Muslim (Müslüman) community; the father's occupation was "Mustahdem". Work began in Istanbul in 1860/61, at about 16, with three unpaid years as a mülazım (apprentice) before a first salary of 500 kuruş. The first annual entry, for 1863/64, places Ahmet in Beirut (Beyrut) as a communications official (Muhabere Memuru). The annual lists then follow Ahmet to Komotini (Gümülcine), Dupnitsa (Dupniçe), Eskişehir and Geyve, four places in five years, then Adapazarı from 1869 to 1874, with a rise to director of the second grade (2. Müdür). Next came a return to Istanbul, the birthplace, from 1874 to 1892, with a rise to a post in the office of the corresponding secretary (Mektubi Kalemi) in 1878, then Beyoğlu from 1892 to 1894. From 1894 to 1907 every annual entry places Ahmet in Beşiktaş. Entries spanning 45 years are rare, reached by fewer than 1 per cent of the 5,211 officials. Nine places on two continents in all, a number reached by fewer than 6 per cent of the 5,200 officials with a place of service.
The salary went from 500 kuruş a month in 1863/64 to 900 in 1878/79, the peak, in the Mektubi Kalemi in Istanbul, when three in four paid officials earned less. The last annual entry is for 1906/07.
Places in order of time#
Each number is a stop: the birthplace, the place of first work, then every place of the annual entries in turn. The year beside an arrow is the first entry at the new place.
Born 1845 (AH 1261); First work 1860/61 (AH 1277)
1867/68 (AH 1284)
No annual entry for 1866/67 (AH 1283) before it.
600 kuruş a month; entries in 1 year
1874 to 1892 (AH 1291 to 1309)
Muhabere Memuru 1874 to 1878 (AH 1291 to 1294); Mektubi Kalemi 1878 to 1892 (AH 1295 to 1309)
410 to 900 kuruş a month; entries in 19 years
Career and salary#
Log scale: equal steps are equal ratios. The median of the same title is drawn for the years in which at least 5 officials with that title had a salary, and the median of the same province for the years in which at least 5 officials were paid in the province of the official's salary that year.
The numbers of the chart
| Year | Salary | Median, all officials | Median, same title | Median, same province | Paid less |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1863/64 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 750 | 32% |
| 1864/65 | 480 | 625 | 570 | 720 | 24% |
| 1865/66 | 720 | 650 | 980 | 720 | 52% |
| 1867/68 | 600 | 600 | 480 | 500 | 48% |
| 1868/69 | 720 | 600 | 660 | 480 | 58% |
| 1869/70 | 800 | 600 | 1,000 | 61% | |
| 1870/71 | 800 | 600 | 1,000 | 63% | |
| 1871/72 | 800 | 550 | 855 | 70% | |
| 1872/73 | 800 | 550 | 850 | 500 | 70% |
| 1873/74 | 800 | 500 | 830 | 500 | 70% |
| 1874/75 | 410 | 535 | 450 | 522.5 | 31% |
| 1875/76 | 410 | 530 | 400 | 550 | 33% |
| 1876/77 | 410 | 582.5 | 410 | 587.5 | 34% |
| 1877/78 | 500 | 560 | 410 | 600 | 36% |
| 1878 | 700 | 600 | 450 | 600 | 60% |
| 1878/79 | 900 | 600 | 400 | 600 | 75% |
| 1879/80 | 800 | 500 | 380 | 500 | 77% |
| 1880/81 | 800 | 500 | 380 | 500 | 76% |
| 1881/82 | 800 | 500 | 450 | 500 | 77% |
| 1882/83 | 800 | 500 | 475 | 500 | 76% |
| 1883/84 | 800 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 76% |
| 1884/85 | 800 | 500 | 570 | 500 | 76% |
| 1885/86 | 800 | 500 | 575 | 500 | 77% |
| 1886/87 | 800 | 500 | 575 | 500 | 77% |
| 1887/88 | 800 | 500 | 700 | 500 | 76% |
| 1888/89 | 850 | 500 | 650 | 500 | 82% |
| 1889/90 | 850 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 83% |
| 1890/91 | 850 | 500 | 600 | 500 | 83% |
| 1891/92 | 850 | 500 | 580 | 500 | 84% |
| 1892/93 | 850 | 500 | 600 | 500 | 85% |
| 1893/94 | 850 | 500 | 600 | 480 | 85% |
| 1894/95 | 850 | 500 | 800 | 450 | 85% |
| 1895/96 | 850 | 500 | 800 | 440 | 84% |
| 1896/97 | 900 | 500 | 765 | 425 | 88% |
| 1897/98 | 900 | 500 | 778.5 | 425 | 88% |
| 1898/99 | 900 | 500 | 800 | 440 | 87% |
| 1899/1900 | 900 | 500 | 783 | 450 | 85% |
| 1900/01 | 900 | 500 | 800 | 450 | 85% |
| 1901/02 | 900 | 500 | 800 | 440 | 85% |
| 1902/03 | 900 | 500 | 800 | 450 | 84% |
| 1903/04 | 900 | 475 | 800 | 450 | 84% |
| 1904/05 | 900 | 450 | 800 | 450 | 84% |
| 1905/06 | 900 | 475 | 805 | 425 | 83% |
| 1906/07 | 900 | 450 | 800 | 470 | 82% |
Paid less: the share of the other officials with a salary that year who earned less.
Point at a year for its salary, title, place and the median of all officials paid that year. Choose a row of the table to mark its years in the charts and its stop on the map.
| Years | Title | Place | Salary (kuruş a month) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860/61AH 1277 | First work | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 500first-salary field |
| 1863/64AH 1280 | Muhabere Memuru | Beirut (Beyrut) | 500 |
| 1864/65AH 1281 | Muhabere Memuru | Komotini (Gümülcine) | 480 |
| 1865/66AH 1282 | 2. Müdür | Dupnitsa (Dupniçe) | 720 |
| No annual entry: 1866/67 (AH 1283) | |||
| 1867/68AH 1284 | Muhabere Memuru | Eskişehir | 600 |
| 1868/69AH 1285 | Başmuhabere Memuru | Geyve | 720 |
| 1869 to 1874AH 1286 to 1290 | 2. Müdür | Adapazarı | 800 |
| 1874 to 1878AH 1291 to 1294 | Muhabere Memuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 410 to 500 |
| 1878 to 1892AH 1295 to 1309 | Mektubi Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 700 to 850 |
| 1892 to 1894AH 1310 to 1311 | Başmuhabere Memuru | Beyoğlu | 850 |
| 1894 to 1907AH 1312 to 1324 | 2. Müdür | Beşiktaş | 850 to 900 |
Record#
Personal
- Born
- 1845 (AH 1261)
- Birthplace
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- Community
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- Nationality as recorded
- Turkish
- Father's occupation
- Mustahdem
Education
- Rüşdiye
- Rüşdiye Mektebi (7 years)rüşdiye school (middle school)
- Unpaid years (mülazemet)
- 3 years
- Preparation route (classification of the paper)
- Middle
- Qualification (diploma, certificate, training or nişan)
- Yes
The years count all schooling up to that school, as the record gives them.
Languages
- Turkish
- Kitabetwriting
The glosses are cautious historical readings of the recorded words, not modern levels of proficiency.
First work
- Year
- 1860/61 (AH 1277)
- Place
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- First salary field (kuruş a month)
- 500
Recorded with#
Officials who share a place, a job title, a school, a birthplace or the year of the first annual entry. Ranks compare the highest monthly salary of each official.
Same post (job title and place), same years
Of the 25 officials who held Mektubi Kalemi in Istanbul in the same years, Ahmet Efendi had the 13th highest salary.
- Hafız Kemal Bey15 shared years; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Mehmet Nazmi Bey12 shared years; highest salary 1,500 kuruş
- Ali Rıza Efendi12 shared years; highest salary 600 kuruş
- Ali Bey11 shared years; highest salary 1,400 kuruş
- Ahmet Haydar Bey8 shared years; highest salary 1,600 kuruş
Same place, same years
Of the 821 officials with entries in Istanbul in the same years, Ahmet Efendi had the 372nd highest salary.
- Emil Efendi19 shared years; highest salary 9,000 kuruş
- Salahattin Bey19 shared years; highest salary 7,800 kuruş
- Suleyman Resat Bey19 shared years; highest salary 7,000 kuruş
- Mehmet Hayri Bey19 shared years; highest salary 5,500 kuruş
- Melkok Efendi19 shared years; highest salary 5,000 kuruş
Same job title, same years
Of the 447 officials with the title 2. Müdür in the same years, Ahmet Efendi had the 282nd highest salary.
- Ahmet Rıfat Efendi18 shared years; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Mehmet Nakip Efendi15 shared years; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Hüseyin Rüştü Efendi14 shared years; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Neşet Efendi13 shared years; highest salary 2,500 kuruş
- Hamdi Efendi13 shared years; highest salary 1,200 kuruş
Same school
Of the 3,206 officials with Rüşdiye Mektebi among their schools, 3,200 have a recorded salary; Ahmet Efendi had the 421st highest salary of them.
- Ali Şefik Efendiborn 1845 (AH 1261); highest salary 1,650 kuruş
- Hacı Kâmil Efendiborn 1845 (AH 1261); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- İsmail Efendiborn 1845 (AH 1261); highest salary 800 kuruş
- İzzet Şevki Efendiborn 1845 (AH 1261); highest salary 600 kuruş
- Mehmet Emin Efendiborn 1845 (AH 1261); highest salary 250 kuruş
Same birthplace
Of the 1,999 officials born in Istanbul, 1,997 have a recorded salary; Ahmet Efendi had the 457th highest salary of them.
- Ferhat Sabri Efendiborn 1845 (AH 1261); highest salary 250 kuruş
- Hasan Efendiborn 1845 (AH 1261); highest salary 600 kuruş
- Hasan Efendiborn 1845 (AH 1261); highest salary 500 kuruş
- İsmail Efendiborn 1845 (AH 1261); highest salary 800 kuruş
- Mustafa Muhlis Efendiborn 1845 (AH 1261); highest salary 3,000 kuruş
First annual entry in the same year
Of the 43 officials whose first annual entry is for 1863/64 (AH 1280), Ahmet Efendi had the 29th highest salary.
- Ahmet Nuri Efendifirst entry in Burgas (Burgaz); highest salary 800 kuruş
- Ahmet Rifat Beyfirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 4,000 kuruş
- Mehmed Akif Efendifirst entry in Tekirdağ; highest salary 800 kuruş
- Mehmet Haşim Efendifirst entry in Gelibolu; highest salary 1,500 kuruş
- Nikola Colini Efendifirst entry in Beyoğlu; highest salary 2,700 kuruş
Full record
Annual entries (44)
| Year | Title | Place | Kuruş a month | Institution | Source | Archive reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1863/64AH 1280 | Muhabere Memuru | Beirut (Beyrut) | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1864/65AH 1281 | Muhabere Memuru | Komotini (Gümülcine) | 480 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1865/66AH 1282 | 2. Müdür | Dupnitsa (Dupniçe) | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1867/68AH 1284 | Muhabere Memuru | Eskişehir | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1868/69AH 1285 | Başmuhabere Memuru | Geyve | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1869/70AH 1286 | 2. Müdür | Adapazarı | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1870/71AH 1287 | 2. Müdür | Adapazarı | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1871/72AH 1288 | 2. Müdür | Adapazarı | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1872/73AH 1289 | 2. Müdür | Adapazarı | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1873/74AH 1290 | 2. Müdür | Adapazarı | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1874/75AH 1291 | Muhabere Memuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 410 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1875/76AH 1292 | Muhabere Memuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 410 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1876/77AH 1293 | Muhabere Memuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 410 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1877/78AH 1294 | Muhabere Memuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1878AH 1295 | Mektubi Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 700 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1878/79AH 1296 | Mektubi Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 900 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1879/80AH 1297 | Mektubi Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1880/81AH 1298 | Mektubi Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1881/82AH 1299 | Mektubi Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1882/83AH 1300 | Mektubi Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1883/84AH 1301 | Mektubi Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1884/85AH 1302 | Mektubi Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1885/86AH 1303 | Mektubi Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1886/87AH 1304 | Mektubi Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1887/88AH 1305 | Mektubi Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1888/89AH 1306 | Mektubi Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 850 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1889/90AH 1307 | Mektubi Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 850 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1890/91AH 1308 | Mektubi Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 850 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1891/92AH 1309 | Mektubi Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 850 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1892/93AH 1310 | Başmuhabere Memuru | Beyoğlu | 850 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1893/94AH 1311 | Başmuhabere Memuru | Beyoğlu | 850 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1894/95AH 1312 | 2. Müdür | Beşiktaş | 850 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1895/96AH 1313 | 2. Müdür | Beşiktaş | 850 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1896/97AH 1314 | 2. Müdür | Beşiktaş | 900 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1897/98AH 1315 | 2. Müdür | Beşiktaş | 900 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1898/99AH 1316 | 2. Müdür | Beşiktaş | 900 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1899/1900AH 1317 | 2. Müdür | Beşiktaş | 900 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1900/01AH 1318 | 2. Müdür | Beşiktaş | 900 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1901/02AH 1319 | 2. Müdür | Beşiktaş | 900 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1902/03AH 1320 | 2. Müdür | Beşiktaş | 900 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1903/04AH 1321 | 2. Müdür | Beşiktaş | 900 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1904/05AH 1322 | 2. Müdür | Beşiktaş | 900 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1905/06AH 1323 | 2. Müdür | Beşiktaş | 900 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
| 1906/07AH 1324 | 2. Müdür | Beşiktaş | 900 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_59; 115 |
What the sources named in this table are
- Recovered annual personnel extract
- The merged annual personnel file recovered for the replication of the first paper. Annual entries are taken from it for every official it holds.
Sources and original values (14)
| Field | Recorded value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Name | Ahmet Efendi | Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birth year (AH) | 1261 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birthplace | dersaadet | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Province of birth | dersaadet | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Father's occupation | Mustahdem | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Religion | Musluman | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Nationality or community | Turkish | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Schooling | ||
| School | Rusdiye Mektebi | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Years of schooling | 7 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Years of apprenticeship (mülazemet) | 3 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work | ||
| First work: year (AH) | 1277 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work: Gregorian year as stored | 1860 | Recovered annual personnel extract |
| First work: place | istanbul | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First salary field (kuruş a month) | 500 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
What the sources named in this table are
- Earlier annual personnel extract
- The detailed annual personnel file of October 2024. An official found only in this file keeps the years, titles and salaries it gives.
- Recovered annual personnel extract
- The merged annual personnel file recovered for the replication of the first paper. Annual entries are taken from it for every official it holds.
- Personnel attributes extract
- The detailed personnel file of September 2025, read for personal details such as birth, schooling and first work.
- Origin of the record: Post and Telegraph personnel records.
- 37 annual entries of 44 belong to the saved estimation sample of the paper.
How to read this record: calendar years, years without an annual entry, salaries and sources.
Subjects
- Ahmet Efendi
- Director of the second grade (2. Müdür)
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- Rüşdiye school (Rüşdiye Mektebi)
- Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- Office of the corresponding secretary (Mektubi Kalemi)
- Biography of an Ottoman official (Osmanlı memurunun biyografisi)
- Career and pay (memuriyet ve maaş)
- Ottoman history (Osmanlı tarihi)
- Ottoman bureaucracy (Osmanlı bürokrasisi)
- Ottoman officials (Osmanlı'da memurlar)
- Ottoman personnel registers (Sicill-i Ahvâl defterleri)
- Ottoman registers (Osmanlı defterleri)