Official
Kirkor Serpusyan Efendi
Armenian Christian (Ermeni). Born in Istanbul (Dersaadet) in 1846/47 (AH 1263). On record 1866 to 1902, 37 annual entries.
Archive reference 8_19; 35
Life#
Kirkor Serpusyan Efendi was born in Istanbul in 1846/47 (AH 1263) into the Armenian Christian (Ermeni) community; the father was a merchant (tüccar). Schooling took four years, at an Armenian school for young children (Ermeni Sıbyan Mektebi); Kirkor Serpusyan also attended the telegraph school, and wrote Armenian and French.
Work began in Istanbul in 1865/66, at about 18, with one unpaid year as a mülazım (apprentice) before a first salary of 320 kuruş. The first annual entry, for 1866/67, places Kirkor Serpusyan in Beyoğlu as an official for foreign communications (Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti), where the entries run to 1890/91. Next came Tuzla in 1891/92, as a director of the second grade (2. Müdür), and Beirut in 1892/93. The last posts were in Latakia (Lazkiye) from 1893 to 1902.
Pay rose from 320 kuruş a month in 1866/67 to a peak of 850 in 1891/92, as 2. Müdür in Tuzla, when 84 per cent of paid officials earned less. In all, 37 years of salary come to 319,608 kuruş, 1.4 times what an official on the median salary earned in those years. The last annual entry is for 1901/02.
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 1846/47 (AH 1263); First work 1865/66 (AH 1282)
1866 to 1891 (AH 1283 to 1308)
Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti
320 to 800 kuruş a month; entries in 26 years
1893 to 1902 (AH 1311 to 1319)
Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti
765 to 850 kuruş a month; entries in 9 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.
The numbers of the chart
| Year | Salary | Median, all officials | Median, same title | Paid less |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1866/67 | 320 | 600 | 600 | 13% |
| 1867/68 | 384 | 600 | 600 | 16% |
| 1868/69 | 480 | 600 | 570 | 32% |
| 1869/70 | 480 | 600 | 576 | 34% |
| 1870/71 | 480 | 600 | 600 | 37% |
| 1871/72 | 400 | 550 | 570 | 31% |
| 1872/73 | 450 | 550 | 585 | 35% |
| 1873/74 | 600 | 500 | 570 | 55% |
| 1874/75 | 700 | 535 | 650 | 60% |
| 1875/76 | 700 | 530 | 700 | 61% |
| 1876/77 | 800 | 582.5 | 600 | 67% |
| 1877/78 | 800 | 560 | 600 | 68% |
| 1878 | 800 | 600 | 600 | 65% |
| 1878/79 | 800 | 600 | 600 | 66% |
| 1879/80 | 800 | 500 | 500 | 77% |
| 1880/81 | 800 | 500 | 500 | 76% |
| 1881/82 | 800 | 500 | 500 | 77% |
| 1882/83 | 800 | 500 | 500 | 76% |
| 1883/84 | 800 | 500 | 500 | 76% |
| 1884/85 | 800 | 500 | 500 | 76% |
| 1885/86 | 800 | 500 | 500 | 77% |
| 1886/87 | 800 | 500 | 500 | 77% |
| 1887/88 | 800 | 500 | 500 | 76% |
| 1888/89 | 800 | 500 | 500 | 77% |
| 1889/90 | 800 | 500 | 500 | 78% |
| 1890/91 | 800 | 500 | 500 | 79% |
| 1891/92 | 850 | 500 | 800 | 84% |
| 1892/93 | 850 | 500 | 500 | 85% |
| 1893/94 | 850 | 500 | 500 | 85% |
| 1894/95 | 850 | 500 | 500 | 85% |
| 1895/96 | 850 | 500 | 500 | 84% |
| 1896/97 | 765 | 500 | 495 | 85% |
| 1897/98 | 765 | 500 | 480 | 85% |
| 1898/99 | 765 | 500 | 495 | 84% |
| 1899/1900 | 765 | 500 | 500 | 82% |
| 1900/01 | 765 | 500 | 500 | 81% |
| 1901/02 | 765 | 500 | 480 | 81% |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1865/66AH 1282 | First work | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 320first-salary field |
| 1866 to 1891AH 1283 to 1308 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 320 to 800 |
| 1891/92AH 1309 | 2. Müdür | Tuzla | 850 |
| 1892/93AH 1310 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beirut (Beyrut) | 850 |
| 1893 to 1902AH 1311 to 1319 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Latakia (Lazkiye) | 850 to 765 |
Record#
Personal
- Born
- 1846/47 (AH 1263)
- Birthplace
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- Community
- Armenian Christian (Ermeni)
- Nationality as recorded
- Ermeni
- Father's occupation
- Tuccar
Education
- Primary
- Ermeni Sıbyan Mektebi (4 years)Armenian school for young children
- Higher or professional
- Telgraf Mektebitelegraph school; recorded as a code
- Unpaid years (mülazemet)
- 1 year
- Preparation route (classification of the paper)
- Low
- Qualification (diploma, certificate, training or nişan)
- NoShown as in the flag of the paper. The qualification column of the recovered extract gives yes.
The years count all schooling up to that school, as the record gives them.
Languages
- Armenian
- Kitabetwriting
- French
- Kitabetwriting
The glosses are cautious historical readings of the recorded words, not modern levels of proficiency.
First work
- Year
- 1865/66 (AH 1282)
- Place
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- First salary field (kuruş a month)
- 320
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 205 officials with entries in Beyoğlu in the same years, Kirkor Serpusyan Efendi had the 107th highest salary.
- Paskal Mıgırdıç Kazancıyan Efendi25 shared years; highest salary 2,905 kuruş
- Melkon Berhadar Efendi25 shared years; highest salary 1,500 kuruş
- Jan Diraço Efendi25 shared years; highest salary 1,100 kuruş
- Mustafa Habip Efendi24 shared years; highest salary 15,000 kuruş
- Tursun Pol Efendi24 shared years; highest salary 1,500 kuruş
Same job title, same years
Of the 423 officials with the title Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti in the same years, Kirkor Serpusyan Efendi had the 127th highest salary.
- Melkon Berhadar Efendi35 shared years; highest salary 1,500 kuruş
- Jan Diraço Efendi35 shared years; highest salary 1,100 kuruş
- Yanko Filoklis Efendi35 shared years; highest salary 800 kuruş
- Hazarusyan Misbak Efendi34 shared years; highest salary 800 kuruş
- Rodrigez Efendi33 shared years; highest salary 720 kuruş
All 605 officials with the title Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti
Same school
Of the 5 officials with Ermeni Sıbyan Mektebi among their schools, Kirkor Serpusyan Efendi had the 2nd highest salary.
- Melkon Berhadar Efendiborn 1848/49 (AH 1265); highest salary 1,500 kuruş
- Ohannes Efendiborn 1841/42 (AH 1257); highest salary 600 kuruş
- Zenop Tangaryan Efendiborn 1856/57 (AH 1273); highest salary 665 kuruş
- Kirkor Efendiborn 1858/59 (AH 1275); highest salary 750 kuruş
Same birthplace
Of the 1,999 officials born in Istanbul, 1,997 have a recorded salary; Kirkor Serpusyan Efendi had the 491st highest salary of them.
- Ahmet Faik Efendiborn 1846/47 (AH 1263); highest salary 1,170 kuruş
- Ahmet Hamdi Efendiborn 1846/47 (AH 1263); highest salary 800 kuruş
- Ahmet Reşid Beyborn 1846/47 (AH 1263); highest salary 1,200 kuruş
- Avadis Şalcıyan Efendiborn 1846/47 (AH 1263); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Cemal Efendiborn 1846/47 (AH 1263); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
First annual entry in the same year
Of the 46 officials whose first annual entry is for 1866/67 (AH 1283), Kirkor Serpusyan Efendi had the 34th highest salary.
- Cemal Efendifirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- İstepan Efendifirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 960 kuruş
- Ohannes Bogosyan Efendifirst entry in Aleppo (Halep); highest salary 800 kuruş
- Ömer Hilmi Efendifirst entry in Thessaloniki (Selanik); highest salary 3,000 kuruş
- Ömer Hilmi Efendifirst entry in Drama; highest salary 3,200 kuruş
Full record
Annual entries (37)
| Year | Title | Place | Kuruş a month | Institution | Source | Archive reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1866/67AH 1283 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 320 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1867/68AH 1284 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 384 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1868/69AH 1285 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 480 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1869/70AH 1286 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 480 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1870/71AH 1287 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 480 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1871/72AH 1288 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1872/73AH 1289 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 450 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1873/74AH 1290 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1874/75AH 1291 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 700 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1875/76AH 1292 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 700 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1876/77AH 1293 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1877/78AH 1294 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1878AH 1295 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1878/79AH 1296 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1879/80AH 1297 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1880/81AH 1298 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1881/82AH 1299 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1882/83AH 1300 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1883/84AH 1301 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1884/85AH 1302 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1885/86AH 1303 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1886/87AH 1304 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1887/88AH 1305 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1888/89AH 1306 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1889/90AH 1307 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1890/91AH 1308 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1891/92AH 1309 | 2. Müdür | Tuzla | 850 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1892/93AH 1310 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beirut (Beyrut) | 850 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1893/94AH 1311 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Latakia (Lazkiye) | 850 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1894/95AH 1312 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Latakia (Lazkiye) | 850 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1895/96AH 1313 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Latakia (Lazkiye) | 850 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1896/97AH 1314 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Latakia (Lazkiye) | 765 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1897/98AH 1315 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Latakia (Lazkiye) | 765 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1898/99AH 1316 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Latakia (Lazkiye) | 765 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1899/1900AH 1317 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Latakia (Lazkiye) | 765 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1900/01AH 1318 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Latakia (Lazkiye) | 765 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
| 1901/02AH 1319 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Latakia (Lazkiye) | 765 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_19; 35 |
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 (15)
| Field | Recorded value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Name | Kirkor Serpusyan Efendi | Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birth year (AH) | 1263 | 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 | tuccar | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Religion | Hristiyan | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Nationality or community | Ermeni | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Schooling | ||
| School | Ermeni sibyan mektebi | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Years of schooling | 4 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Telegraph school (recorded code) | 1 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Years of apprenticeship (mülazemet) | 1 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work | ||
| First work: year (AH) | 1282 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work: Gregorian year as stored | 1865 | 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) | 320 | 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.
- 33 annual entries of 37 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
- Kirkor Serpusyan Efendi
- Post of official for foreign communications (Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti)
- Beyoğlu
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- Armenian school for young children (Ermeni Sıbyan Mektebi)
- Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)
- Armenian Christian (Ermeni)
- 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)