Official
Mehmet Vehbi Efendi
Muslim (Müslüman). Born in Sivas in 1851/52 (AH 1268). On record 1874 to 1904, 31 annual entries. Death recorded 1903/04.
Archive reference 0065_0166; 329
Life#
Mehmet Vehbi Efendi was born in Sivas in 1851/52 (AH 1268) into the Muslim (Müslüman) community. Schooling took seven years, at a middle school (Rüşdiye Mektebi).
Work began in Sivas in 1874/75, at about 22, with half a year without pay as a mülazım (apprentice) before a first salary of 350 kuruş. The first annual entry, for 1874/75, places Mehmet Vehbi in Yıldızeli (Yenihan) as a communications official (Muhabere Memuru). Mehmet Vehbi then moved to Zara from 1876 to 1878, then back to Sivas, the birthplace, from 1878 to 1881. Next came Diyarbakır, Harput and Pınarbaşı (Aziziye) from 1881 to 1886, then a return to Diyarbakır from 1886 to 1892. The annual lists then follow Mehmet Vehbi to Malatya from 1892 to 1898, then Selife, Erzurum and Erzincan from 1898 to 1902, with a rise to director of the first grade (1. Müdür) in 1900/01. The last posts were in Baghdad (Bağdat) from 1902 to 1904. Few officials served in as many places; fewer than 3 per cent of the 5,200 officials with a place of service did.
Pay rose from 350 kuruş a month in 1874/75 to a peak of 1,250 in 1900/01, as 1. Müdür in Erzincan, when 92 per cent of paid officials earned less. The list of 1903/04 (AH 1321) gives the status word Vefat (death).
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 1851/52 (AH 1268); First work 1874/75 (AH 1291)
1874 to 1876 (AH 1291 to 1292)
350 kuruş a month; entries in 2 years
1884 to 1886 (AH 1302 to 1303)
500 kuruş a month; entries in 2 years
1886 to 1892 (AH 1304 to 1309)
500 to 800 kuruş a month; entries in 6 years
Death recorded in the annual list of 1903/04 (AH 1321): the word Vefat, not a date of death.
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.
The numbers of the chart
| Year | Salary | Median, all officials | Median, same title | Paid less |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1874/75 | 350 | 535 | 450 | 16% |
| 1875/76 | 350 | 530 | 400 | 17% |
| 1876/77 | 350 | 582.5 | 410 | 15% |
| 1877/78 | 400 | 560 | 410 | 16% |
| 1878 | 400 | 600 | 500 | 17% |
| 1878/79 | 400 | 600 | 420 | 18% |
| 1879/80 | 380 | 500 | 380 | 22% |
| 1880/81 | 570 | 500 | 400 | 58% |
| 1881/82 | 570 | 500 | 570 | 58% |
| 1882/83 | 570 | 500 | 535 | 58% |
| 1883/84 | 600 | 500 | 600 | 59% |
| 1884/85 | 500 | 500 | 400 | 42% |
| 1885/86 | 500 | 500 | 400 | 42% |
| 1886/87 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 42% |
| 1887/88 | 750 | 500 | 525 | 73% |
| 1888/89 | 800 | 500 | 600 | 77% |
| 1889/90 | 800 | 500 | 600 | 78% |
| 1890/91 | 800 | 500 | 500 | 79% |
| 1891/92 | 800 | 500 | 550 | 79% |
| 1892/93 | 800 | 500 | 800 | 80% |
| 1893/94 | 800 | 500 | 800 | 80% |
| 1894/95 | 800 | 500 | 800 | 81% |
| 1895/96 | 800 | 500 | 800 | 80% |
| 1896/97 | 720 | 500 | 765 | 81% |
| 1897/98 | 720 | 500 | 778.5 | 81% |
| 1898/99 | 720 | 500 | 800 | 80% |
| 1899/1900 | 1,150 | 500 | 783 | 91% |
| 1900/01 | 1,250 | 500 | 1,350 | 92% |
| 1901/02 | 1,250 | 500 | 1,350 | 92% |
| 1902/03 | 1,250 | 500 | 1,500 | 92% |
| 1903/04 | 1,250 | 475 | 1,400 | 92% |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1874/75AH 1291 | First work | Sivas | 350first-salary field |
| 1874 to 1876AH 1291 to 1292 | Muhabere Memuru | Yıldızeli (Yenihan) | 350 |
| 1876 to 1878AH 1293 to 1294 | Muhabere Memuru | Zara | 350 to 400 |
| 1878 to 1881AH 1295 to 1298 | Muhabere Memuru | Sivas | 400 to 570 |
| 1881 to 1883AH 1299 to 1300 | Başmüdür Kitabeti | Diyarbakır | 570 |
| 1883/84AH 1301 | Başmüdür Kitabeti | Harput | 600 |
| 1884 to 1886AH 1302 to 1303 | Muhabere Memuru | Pınarbaşı (Aziziye) | 500 |
| 1886 to 1892AH 1304 to 1309 | Başmüdür Kitabeti | Diyarbakır | 500 to 800 |
| 1892 to 1898AH 1310 to 1315 | 2. Müdür | Malatya | 800 to 720 |
| 1898/99AH 1316 | 2. Müdür | Selife | 720 |
| 1899/1900AH 1317 | 2. Müdür | Erzurum | 1,150 |
| 1900 to 1902AH 1318 to 1319 | 1. Müdür | Erzincan | 1,250 |
| 1902 to 1904AH 1320 to 1321 | 1. Müdür | Baghdad (Bağdat) | 1,250 |
| 1903/04AH 1321 | Death recorded | ||
Record#
Personal
- Born
- 1851/52 (AH 1268)
- Birthplace
- Sivas
- Community
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- Nationality as recorded
- Turkish
- Death recorded
- 1903/04 (AH 1321)the year of the annual list with the word Vefat, not a date of death
Education
- Rüşdiye
- Rüşdiye Mektebi (7 years)rüşdiye school (middle school)
- Unpaid years (mülazemet)
- 0.5 years
- Preparation route (classification of the paper)
- Low
- Qualification (diploma, certificate, training or nişan)
- No
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
- 1874/75 (AH 1291)
- Place
- Sivas
- First salary field (kuruş a month)
- 350
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 place, same years
Of the 68 officials with entries in Diyarbakır in the same years, Mehmet Vehbi Efendi had the 20th highest salary.
- Abdullah Efendi8 shared years; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Luk Amasyan Efendi8 shared years; highest salary 980 kuruş
- Kadri Efendi8 shared years; highest salary 850 kuruş
- David Efendi8 shared years; highest salary 820 kuruş
- Bogos Hayifyan Efendi8 shared years; highest salary 600 kuruş
Same job title, same years
Of the 941 officials with the title Muhabere Memuru in the same years, Mehmet Vehbi Efendi had the 104th highest salary.
- Süleyman Reşid Efendi10 shared years; highest salary 2,500 kuruş
- Unnamed official (26_188; 371)10 shared years; highest salary 2,500 kuruş
- Ohannes Holas Efendi10 shared years; highest salary 2,000 kuruş
- Mehmet Efendi10 shared years; highest salary 1,800 kuruş
- Mehmet Pertev Bey10 shared years; highest salary 1,500 kuruş
Same school
Of the 3,206 officials with Rüşdiye Mektebi among their schools, 3,200 have a recorded salary; Mehmet Vehbi Efendi had the 205th highest salary of them.
- Ahmet Cevdet Efendiborn 1851/52 (AH 1268); highest salary 450 kuruş
- Ahmet Hilmi Efendiborn 1851/52 (AH 1268); highest salary 800 kuruş
- Ahmet Kâşif Efendiborn 1851/52 (AH 1268); highest salary 600 kuruş
- Ahmet Nazif Efendiborn 1851/52 (AH 1268); highest salary 400 kuruş
- Ahmet Safvet Efendiborn 1851/52 (AH 1268); highest salary 700 kuruş
Same birthplace
Of the 95 officials born in Sivas, Mehmet Vehbi Efendi had the 11th highest salary.
- Ahmet Reşit Efendiborn 1850/51 (AH 1267); highest salary 950 kuruş
- Ömer Nuri Efendiborn 1850/51 (AH 1267); highest salary 1,500 kuruş
- Mehmet Şevket Efendiborn 1852/53 (AH 1269); highest salary 1,080 kuruş
- Ohannes Bader Efendiborn 1852/53 (AH 1269); highest salary 600 kuruş
- Hafiz Bekir Sidki Efendiborn 1853/54 (AH 1270); highest salary 600 kuruş
First annual entry in the same year
Of the 55 officials whose first annual entry is for 1874/75 (AH 1291), Mehmet Vehbi Efendi had the 7th highest salary.
- Berdos [Bedros] Efendifirst entry in Debar (Debre); highest salary 800 kuruş
- Unnamed official (0094_15; 27)first entry in Istanbul; highest salary 620 kuruş
- Cemal Efendifirst entry in Elazığ; highest salary 600 kuruş
- Hacı Mehmet Tevfik Efendifirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 2,500 kuruş
- Hasan Azmi Efendifirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 250 kuruş
Full record
Annual entries (31)
| Year | Title | Place | Kuruş a month | Institution | Source | Archive reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1874/75AH 1291 | Muhabere Memuru | Yıldızeli (Yenihan) | 350 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1875/76AH 1292 | Muhabere Memuru | Yıldızeli (Yenihan) | 350 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1876/77AH 1293 | Muhabere Memuru | Zara | 350 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1877/78AH 1294 | Muhabere Memuru | Zara | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1878AH 1295 | Muhabere Memuru | Sivas | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1878/79AH 1296 | Muhabere Memuru | Sivas | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1879/80AH 1297 | Muhabere Memuru | Sivas | 380 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1880/81AH 1298 | Muhabere Memuru | Sivas | 570 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1881/82AH 1299 | Başmüdür Kitabeti | Diyarbakır | 570 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1882/83AH 1300 | Başmüdür Kitabeti | Diyarbakır | 570 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1883/84AH 1301 | Başmüdür Kitabeti | Harput | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1884/85AH 1302 | Muhabere Memuru | Pınarbaşı (Aziziye) | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1885/86AH 1303 | Muhabere Memuru | Pınarbaşı (Aziziye) | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1886/87AH 1304 | Başmüdür Kitabeti | Diyarbakır | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1887/88AH 1305 | Başmüdür Kitabeti | Diyarbakır | 750 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1888/89AH 1306 | Başmüdür Kitabeti | Diyarbakır | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1889/90AH 1307 | Başmüdür Kitabeti | Diyarbakır | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1890/91AH 1308 | Başmüdür Kitabeti | Diyarbakır | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1891/92AH 1309 | Başmüdür Kitabeti | Diyarbakır | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1892/93AH 1310 | 2. Müdür | Malatya | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1893/94AH 1311 | 2. Müdür | Malatya | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1894/95AH 1312 | 2. Müdür | Malatya | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1895/96AH 1313 | 2. Müdür | Malatya | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1896/97AH 1314 | 2. Müdür | Malatya | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1897/98AH 1315 | 2. Müdür | Malatya | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1898/99AH 1316 | 2. Müdür | Selife | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1899/1900AH 1317 | 2. Müdür | Erzurum | 1,150 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1900/01AH 1318 | 1. Müdür | Erzincan | 1,250 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1901/02AH 1319 | 1. Müdür | Erzincan | 1,250 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1902/03AH 1320 | 1. Müdür | Baghdad (Bağdat) | 1,250 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
| 1903/04AH 1321 | 1. Müdür | Baghdad (Bağdat) | 1,250 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0065_0166; 329 |
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 | Mehmet Vehbi Efendi | Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birth year (AH) | 1268 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birthplace | sivas | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Province of birth | sivas | 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) | 0.5 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work | ||
| First work: year (AH) | 1291 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work: Gregorian year as stored | 1874 | Recovered annual personnel extract |
| First work: place | Sivas | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First salary field (kuruş a month) | 350 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Status | ||
| Death recorded under the year (AH) | 1321 | Earlier annual personnel extract (original copy); Earlier annual personnel extract (parallel copy) |
What the sources named in this table are
- Earlier annual personnel extract (original copy)
- A copy of the earlier annual personnel file, read for the title wording of each year. A death taken from it is the status word Vefat in the title field of one annual list: the year is the year of that list, not a date of death.
- Earlier annual personnel extract (parallel copy)
- A second copy of the earlier annual personnel file, read in the same way. A death taken from it is the status word Vefat in the title field of one annual list: the year is the year of that list, not a date of death. Two copies that agree are one piece of evidence, not two.
- 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.
- 31 annual entries of 31 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
- Mehmet Vehbi Efendi
- Communications official (Muhabere Memuru)
- Diyarbakır
- Sivas
- Rüşdiye school (Rüşdiye Mektebi)
- Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- 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)