Mehmet Arif Efendi

Mehmet Arif Efendi was born in Istanbul in 1851/52 (AH 1268). The record gives the community as Muslim (Müslüman) and the nationality as Turkish. By-name or family epithet as recorded: Ashab-i emlakdan.

Schooling recorded: Rüşdiye Mektebi, with 7 years of schooling recorded. The record marks no qualification (diploma, certificate, training or decoration). Languages recorded, with the skill words of the record: Turkish, with Kitabet.

First work is recorded in Istanbul in 1867/68 (AH 1284): Mabata Oadsi. The official was then about 16 years old. The record gives 2 years of unpaid apprenticeship (mülazemet) before the first salary. The first-salary field gives 100 kuruş a month. At the first annual entry, in 1869/70, the official was about 17 years old.

The first annual entry, for 1869/70, shows Ruznamce Kalemi in Istanbul, with 100 kuruş a month. In 1870/71 the record shows no title (before: Ruznamce Kalemi in Istanbul). In 1871/72 the record shows Tahrirat Kalemi in Istanbul, with 170 kuruş a month (before: no title). In 1886/87 the record shows Posta Memuru in Istanbul, the salary going from 950 to 1,000 kuruş a month (before: Tahrirat Kalemi in Istanbul). In 1889/90 the record shows Posta Kalemi Baskitabeti in Istanbul, the salary going from 1,200 to 1,300 kuruş a month (before: Posta Memuru in Istanbul).

The highest salary, 1,500 kuruş a month, is first recorded in 1895/96 as Posta Kalemi Baskitabeti. 94 per cent of the other officials with a recorded salary that year earned less. The median salary of all officials that year was 500 kuruş. Over 35 years with a salary the median is 1,000 kuruş a month, with 11 rises and 2 cuts. The largest rise, 450 kuruş, is seen in 1876/77. From the first salary to the last the salary grew by 7.99 per cent a year on average. The last salary is recorded in 1903/04, when 94 per cent of the other officials with a recorded salary that year earned less.