Official
Ahmet Refet Efendi
Muslim (Müslüman). Born in Istanbul (Dersaadet) in 1852/53 (AH 1269). On record 1869 to 1906, 38 annual entries.
Archive reference 5_321; 639
Life#
Ahmet Refet Efendi was born in Istanbul in 1852/53 (AH 1269) into the Muslim (Müslüman) community; the father was a tradesman (esnaf). At about 16, in 1868/69, Ahmet Refet began work in Istanbul, with one unpaid year as a mülazım (apprentice) before a first salary of 150 kuruş. The annual lists begin in 1869/70, with Ahmet Refet as an official (Memur) in Üsküdar. Ahmet Refet then moved to Harbiye from 1871 to 1880, then Bab-i vala from 1880 to 1889, with a rise to chief official (Başmemur). From 1889 to 1906 the annual entries place Ahmet Refet in Istanbul, the birthplace, first as a director of the first grade (1. Müdür), from 1894/95 as a director (Müdür).
Pay rose from 150 kuruş a month in 1869/70 to a peak of 3,000 in 1900/01, as Müdür in Istanbul, when 98 per cent of paid officials earned less. In all, 38 years of salary come to 617,400 kuruş, 2.6 times what an official on the median salary earned in those years, a level reached by fewer than 6 per cent of the 3,805 officials paid for five years or more. Pay rose to 20 times the first salary; fewer than 5 per cent of the 2,859 officials paid for ten years or more rose as far. The final annual entry is for 1905/06.
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1869/70 | 150 | 600 | 408 | 3% |
| 1870/71 | 300 | 600 | 300 | 12% |
| 1871/72 | 300 | 550 | 380 | 13% |
| 1872/73 | 350 | 550 | 300 | 15% |
| 1873/74 | 400 | 500 | 340 | 24% |
| 1874/75 | 500 | 535 | 250 | 41% |
| 1875/76 | 600 | 530 | 300 | 54% |
| 1876/77 | 700 | 582.5 | 400 | 62% |
| 1877/78 | 800 | 560 | 400 | 68% |
| 1878 | 900 | 600 | 450 | 74% |
| 1878/79 | 950 | 600 | 500 | 75% |
| 1879/80 | 800 | 500 | 380 | 77% |
| 1880/81 | 1,000 | 500 | 500 | 84% |
| 1881/82 | 1,000 | 500 | 600 | 84% |
| 1882/83 | 1,000 | 500 | 570 | 82% |
| 1883/84 | 1,000 | 500 | 585 | 82% |
| 1884/85 | 1,000 | 500 | 600 | 82% |
| 1885/86 | 1,000 | 500 | 600 | 83% |
| 1886/87 | 1,000 | 500 | 585 | 84% |
| 1887/88 | 1,000 | 500 | 600 | 83% |
| 1888/89 | 1,400 | 500 | 670 | 91% |
| 1889/90 | 1,200 | 500 | 1,200 | 88% |
| 1890/91 | 1,200 | 500 | 1,200 | 89% |
| 1891/92 | 1,250 | 500 | 1,200 | 92% |
| 1892/93 | 1,400 | 500 | 1,200 | 93% |
| 1893/94 | 1,400 | 500 | 1,200 | 94% |
| 1894/95 | 1,650 | 500 | 1,700 | 96% |
| 1895/96 | 2,000 | 500 | 2,250 | 96% |
| 1896/97 | 1,800 | 500 | 2,250 | 96% |
| 1897/98 | 1,800 | 500 | 1,800 | 96% |
| 1898/99 | 1,800 | 500 | 2,000 | 96% |
| 1899/1900 | 1,800 | 500 | 1,900 | 96% |
| 1900/01 | 3,000 | 500 | 2,000 | 98% |
| 1901/02 | 3,000 | 500 | 2,000 | 98% |
| 1902/03 | 3,000 | 500 | 2,000 | 98% |
| 1903/04 | 3,000 | 475 | 1,750 | 98% |
| 1904/05 | 3,000 | 450 | 2,000 | 98% |
| 1905/06 | 3,000 | 475 | 2,200 | 98% |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1868/69AH 1285 | First work | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 150first-salary field |
| 1869 to 1871AH 1286 to 1287 | Memur | Üsküdar | 150 to 300 |
| 1871 to 1880AH 1288 to 1297 | Memur | Harbiye | 300 to 800 |
| 1880 to 1889AH 1298 to 1306 | Başmemur | Bab-i vala | 1,000 to 1,400 |
| 1889 to 1894AH 1307 to 1311 | 1. Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,200 to 1,400 |
| 1894 to 1906AH 1312 to 1323 | Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,650 to 3,000 |
Record#
Personal
- Born
- 1852/53 (AH 1269)
- Birthplace
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- Community
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- Nationality as recorded
- Turkish
- Father's occupation
- Esnaf
Education
- Primary
- Sıbyan Mektebi (4 years)school for young children (primary school)
- 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
- Arabic
- asinafamiliarity
- Turkish
- Kitabetwriting
The glosses are cautious historical readings of the recorded words, not modern levels of proficiency.
First work
- Year
- 1868/69 (AH 1285)
- Place
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- First salary field (kuruş a month)
- 150
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 1,213 officials with entries in Istanbul in the same years, Ahmet Refet Efendi had the 51st highest salary.
- Salahattin Bey17 shared years; highest salary 7,800 kuruş
- Suleyman Resat Bey17 shared years; highest salary 7,000 kuruş
- Mehmet Hayri Bey17 shared years; highest salary 5,500 kuruş
- Melkok Efendi17 shared years; highest salary 5,000 kuruş
- Dikran Efendi17 shared years; highest salary 4,500 kuruş
Same job title, same years
Of the 121 officials with the title Memur in the same years, Ahmet Refet Efendi had the 4th highest salary.
- Ali Rıza Efendi12 shared years; highest salary 600 kuruş
- Ohannes Papasyan Efendi11 shared years; highest salary 2,000 kuruş
- Mehmet Emin Efendi10 shared years; highest salary 1,580 kuruş
- Mehmet Hakkı Efendi10 shared years; highest salary 1,200 kuruş
- İbrahim Hakkı Efendi9 shared years; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
Same school
Of the 746 officials with Sıbyan Mektebi among their schools, 745 have a recorded salary; Ahmet Refet Efendi had the 33rd highest salary of them.
- Ahmet Efendiborn 1852/53 (AH 1269); highest salary 475 kuruş
- Ahmet Muhtar Efendiborn 1852/53 (AH 1269); highest salary 2,500 kuruş
- Ali Efendiborn 1852/53 (AH 1269); highest salary 600 kuruş
- Ali Şefik Efendiborn 1852/53 (AH 1269); highest salary 450 kuruş
- Cemal Efendiborn 1852/53 (AH 1269); highest salary 600 kuruş
Same birthplace
Of the 1,999 officials born in Istanbul, 1,997 have a recorded salary; Ahmet Refet Efendi had the 74th highest salary of them.
- Abdurrahman Serafettin Efendiborn 1852/53 (AH 1269); highest salary 25,000 kuruş
- Ahmet Muhtar Efendiborn 1852/53 (AH 1269); highest salary 2,500 kuruş
- Ali Galip Efendiborn 1852/53 (AH 1269); highest salary 600 kuruş
- Ali Rıza Efendiborn 1852/53 (AH 1269); highest salary 1,200 kuruş
- Ali Şefik Efendiborn 1852/53 (AH 1269); highest salary 450 kuruş
First annual entry in the same year
Of the 116 officials whose first annual entry is for 1869/70 (AH 1286), Ahmet Refet Efendi had the 7th highest salary.
- Mehmet Tevfik Mazhar Efendifirst entry in Üsküdar; highest salary 1,100 kuruş
- Mehmet Nazım Efendifirst entry in Üsküdar; highest salary 1,300 kuruş
- Ahmet Kemal Beyfirst entry in Üsküdar; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Ali Rıza Efendifirst entry in Sjenica (Seniçe); highest salary 1,200 kuruş
- Hafız Mustafa Şefik Efendifirst entry in Shumen (Şumnu); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
Full record
Annual entries (38)
| Year | Title | Place | Kuruş a month | Institution | Source | Archive reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1869/70AH 1286 | Memur | Üsküdar | 150 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1870/71AH 1287 | Memur | Üsküdar | 300 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1871/72AH 1288 | Memur | Harbiye | 300 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1872/73AH 1289 | Memur | Harbiye | 350 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1873/74AH 1290 | Memur | Harbiye | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1874/75AH 1291 | Memur | Harbiye | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1875/76AH 1292 | Memur | Harbiye | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1876/77AH 1293 | Memur | Harbiye | 700 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1877/78AH 1294 | Memur | Harbiye | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1878AH 1295 | Memur | Harbiye | 900 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1878/79AH 1296 | Memur | Harbiye | 950 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1879/80AH 1297 | Memur | Harbiye | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1880/81AH 1298 | Başmemur | Bab-i vala | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1881/82AH 1299 | Başmemur | Bab-i vala | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1882/83AH 1300 | Başmemur | Bab-i vala | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1883/84AH 1301 | Başmemur | Bab-i vala | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1884/85AH 1302 | Başmemur | Bab-i vala | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1885/86AH 1303 | Başmemur | Bab-i vala | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1886/87AH 1304 | Başmemur | Bab-i vala | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1887/88AH 1305 | Başmemur | Bab-i vala | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1888/89AH 1306 | Başmemur | Bab-i vala | 1,400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1889/90AH 1307 | 1. Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1890/91AH 1308 | 1. Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1891/92AH 1309 | 1. Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,250 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1892/93AH 1310 | 1. Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1893/94AH 1311 | 1. Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1894/95AH 1312 | Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,650 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1895/96AH 1313 | Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 2,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1896/97AH 1314 | Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1897/98AH 1315 | Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1898/99AH 1316 | Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1899/1900AH 1317 | Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1900/01AH 1318 | Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1901/02AH 1319 | Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1902/03AH 1320 | Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1903/04AH 1321 | Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1904/05AH 1322 | Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
| 1905/06AH 1323 | Müdür | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_321; 639 |
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 Refet Efendi | Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birth year (AH) | 1269 | 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 | esnaf | 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 | 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 |
| Years of apprenticeship (mülazemet) | 1 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work | ||
| First work: year (AH) | 1285 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work: Gregorian year as stored | 1868 | 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) | 150 | 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 38 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 Refet Efendi
- Official (Memur)
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- School for young children (Sıbyan Mektebi)
- Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- Director (Müdür)
- 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)