Skip to content
Ottoman BureaucracyPeople, places and careers in Ottoman public service

Official

Mıgırdiç Acemyan

Armenian Christian (Ermeni). Born in Istanbul (Dersaadet) in 1837/38 (AH 1253). On record 1858 to 1907, 49 annual entries.

Life

Mıgırdiç Acemyan was born in Istanbul in 1837/38 (AH 1253) into the Armenian Christian (Ermeni) community. Schooling took four years, at an Armenian community school (Ermeni Millet Mektebi); Mıgırdiç Acemyan also knew four languages, Armenian, French and Italian in writing and Turkish in speech, and held a qualification (a diploma, certificate, training or decoration).

Mıgırdiç Acemyan began work in the telegraph service (Telgraf) in Istanbul in 1858/59, at about 21, paid from the start, on 500 kuruş a month. The annual lists begin in 1858/59, with Mıgırdiç Acemyan as a communications official (Muhabere Memuru) in Beyoğlu. Next came four places in five years, then a return to Beyoğlu from 1865 to 1882. From 1882 to 1907 the annual entries place Mıgırdiç Acemyan in Istanbul, the birthplace, first as Funun Kalemi Mudur Muavini, from 1888/89 as Muhendis Kalemi Muduru. Entries spanning 50 years are rare, reached by only 12 of the 5,211 officials.

Pay rose from 500 kuruş a month in 1858/59 to a peak of 2,500 in 1873/74, as Başmemur in Beyoğlu, when 95 per cent of paid officials earned less. In all, 49 years of salary come to 1,188,000 kuruş, 3.8 times the median official's, a level reached by fewer than 3 per cent of the 3,805 officials paid for five years or more. The final annual entry is for 1906/07. Mıgırdiç Acemyan received the Mecidi order.

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.

All 8 stops
birthplaceplace of annual entriesmove, with the year of the first entry there
1860/611861/621862/631863/641865/6612345678Istanbul, BeyoğluVlorëShkodërVarnaİzmit
  1. Istanbul (Dersaadet)

    Born 1837/38 (AH 1253); First work 1858/59 (AH 1275)

    First work as Telgraf

  2. Beyoğlu

    1858/59 (AH 1275)

    Muhabere Memuru

    500 kuruş a month; entries in 1 year

  3. Vlorë (Avlonya)

    1860/61 (AH 1277)

    No annual entry for 1859/60 (AH 1276) before it.

    Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti

    750 kuruş a month; entries in 1 year

  4. Shkodër (İşkodra)

    1861/62 (AH 1278)

    Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti

    750 kuruş a month; entries in 1 year

  5. Varna

    1862/63 (AH 1279)

    Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti

    750 kuruş a month; entries in 1 year

  6. İzmit

    1863 to 1865 (AH 1280 to 1281)

    Telgraf Memuru

    1,250 kuruş a month; entries in 2 years

  7. Beyoğlu

    1865 to 1882 (AH 1282 to 1299)

    Muhabere Memuru 1865/66 (AH 1282); Başmemur 1866 to 1882 (AH 1283 to 1299)

    1,000 to 2,500 kuruş a month; entries in 18 years

  8. Istanbul (Dersaadet)

    1882 to 1907 (AH 1300 to 1324)

    Funun Kalemi Mudur Muavini 1882 to 1888 (AH 1300 to 1305); Muhendis Kalemi Muduru 1888 to 1907 (AH 1306 to 1324)

    2,000 to 2,500 kuruş a month; entries in 25 years

Career and salary

Monthly salary by year, kuruşsalary of the yearentry of another institutionyears with one job titleno annual entry
no entry01,0002,0003,0001858/59AH 12751863/64AH 12801868/69AH 12851873/74AH 12901878AH 12951882/83AH 13001887/88AH 13051892/93AH 13101897/98AH 13151902/03AH 13202,500 kuruşBaşmemurMuhendis Kalemi Muduru
Salary against the medians of the same year
2005001,0002,0005,0001858/59AH 12751863/64AH 12801868/69AH 12851873/74AH 12901878AH 12951882/83AH 13001887/88AH 13051892/93AH 13101897/98AH 13151902/03AH 1320This officialMedian, all officialsMedian, same title

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
Salary of Mıgırdiç Acemyan against the medians of the same year, kuruş a month
YearSalaryMedian, all officialsMedian, same titlePaid less
1858/5950050050050%
1860/6175050075056%
1861/6275060075052%
1862/6375050075056%
1863/641,25050077%
1864/651,25062574%
1865/661,00065057666%
1866/671,2506001,50079%
1867/681,2506001,25081%
1868/691,25060082%
1869/701,50060086%
1870/711,5006001,62587%
1871/721,75055091%
1872/731,7505501,50092%
1873/742,50050095%
1874/752,5005351,85094%
1875/762,50053094%
1876/772,500582.51,17594%
1877/782,50056060094%
18782,50060060093%
1878/792,50060060093%
1879/802,00050050093%
1880/812,00050050093%
1881/822,00050060092%
1882/832,00050092%
1883/842,00050092%
1884/852,00050092%
1885/862,00050093%
1886/872,00050093%
1887/882,00050093%
1888/892,40050096%
1889/902,40050096%
1890/912,40050096%
1891/922,40050097%
1892/932,40050097%
1893/942,50050097%
1894/952,50050097%
1895/962,50050097%
1896/972,50050098%
1897/982,50050098%
1898/992,50050098%
1899/19002,50050098%
1900/012,50050098%
1901/022,50050097%
1902/032,50050097%
1903/042,50047598%
1904/052,50045098%
1905/062,50047597%
1906/072,50045097%

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.

Career of Mıgırdiç Acemyan, one row per stage
YearsTitlePlaceSalary (kuruş a month)
1858/59AH 1275Telgraffirst workIstanbul (Dersaadet)500first-salary field
1858/59AH 1275Muhabere MemuruBeyoğlu500
No annual entry: 1859/60 (AH 1276)
1860/61AH 1277Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye MemuriyetiVlorë (Avlonya)750
1861/62AH 1278Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye MemuriyetiShkodër (İşkodra)750
1862/63AH 1279Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye MemuriyetiVarna750
1863 to 1865AH 1280 to 1281Telgraf Memuru
2 entries
YearSalary
1863/641,250
1864/651,250
İzmit1,250
1865/66AH 1282Muhabere MemuruBeyoğlu1,000
1866 to 1882AH 1283 to 1299Başmemur
17 entries
YearSalary
1866/671,250
1867/681,250
1868/691,250
1869/701,500
1870/711,500
1871/721,750
1872/731,750
1873/742,500
1874/752,500
1875/762,500
1876/772,500
1877/782,500
18782,500
1878/792,500
1879/802,000
1880/812,000
1881/822,000
Beyoğlu1,250 to 2,000
1882 to 1888AH 1300 to 1305Funun Kalemi Mudur Muavini
Other institution
6 entries
YearSalary
1882/832,000
1883/842,000
1884/852,000
1885/862,000
1886/872,000
1887/882,000
Istanbul (Dersaadet)2,000
1888 to 1907AH 1306 to 1324Muhendis Kalemi Muduru
19 entries
YearSalary
1888/892,400
1889/902,400
1890/912,400
1891/922,400
1892/932,400
1893/942,500
1894/952,500
1895/962,500
1896/972,500
1897/982,500
1898/992,500
1899/19002,500
1900/012,500
1901/022,500
1902/032,500
1903/042,500
1904/052,500
1905/062,500
1906/072,500
Istanbul (Dersaadet)2,400 to 2,500

Record

Personal

Born
1837/38 (AH 1253)
Community
Armenian Christian (Ermeni)
Nationality as recorded
Ermeni

Education

Community school
Ermeni Millet Mektebi (4 years)Armenian community school; place of the school as worded: Venedik
Unpaid years (mülazemet)
0 years
Preparation route (classification of the paper)
Low
Qualification (diploma, certificate, training or nişan)
Yes

The years count all schooling up to that school, as the record gives them.

Languages

Armenian
kitabetwriting
French
Kitabetwriting
Italian
kitabetwriting
Turkish
Tekellumspeaking

The glosses are cautious historical readings of the recorded words, not modern levels of proficiency.

First work

Year
1858/59 (AH 1275)
First job as worded
Telgraf
Age at first work (workbook field)
22
First salary field (kuruş a month)
500
First-job salary of the original workbook (kuruş a month)
500

Honours and ranks

Mecidi order (recorded code)
4

Notes from the record

Merit and competence grade (recorded code)
1

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 1,374 officials with entries in Istanbul in the same years, Mıgırdiç Acemyan had the 94th highest salary.

All 1,750 officials with entries in Istanbul

Same job title, same years

Of the 36 officials with the title Başmemur in the same years, Mıgırdiç Acemyan had the 9th highest salary.

All 107 officials with the title Başmemur

Same school

Of the 86 officials with Ermeni Millet Mektebi among their schools, Mıgırdiç Acemyan had the 3rd highest salary.

All 86 officials with Ermeni Millet Mektebi

Same birthplace

Of the 1,999 officials born in Istanbul, 1,997 have a recorded salary; Mıgırdiç Acemyan had the 104th highest salary of them.

The page of Istanbul, with the 1,999 officials born there

First annual entry in the same year

Of the 24 officials whose first annual entry is for 1858/59 (AH 1275), Mıgırdiç Acemyan had the 10th highest salary.

Full record

Annual entries (49)

Annual entries of Mıgırdiç Acemyan
YearTitlePlaceKuruş a monthInstitutionSourceArchive reference
1858/59AH 1275Muhabere MemuruBeyoğlu500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1860/61AH 1277Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye MemuriyetiVlorë (Avlonya)750Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1861/62AH 1278Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye MemuriyetiShkodër (İşkodra)750Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1862/63AH 1279Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye MemuriyetiVarna750Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1863/64AH 1280Telgraf Memuruİzmit1,250Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1864/65AH 1281Telgraf Memuruİzmit1,250Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1865/66AH 1282Muhabere MemuruBeyoğlu1,000Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1866/67AH 1283BaşmemurBeyoğlu1,250Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1867/68AH 1284BaşmemurBeyoğlu1,250Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1868/69AH 1285BaşmemurBeyoğlu1,250Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1869/70AH 1286BaşmemurBeyoğlu1,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1870/71AH 1287BaşmemurBeyoğlu1,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1871/72AH 1288BaşmemurBeyoğlu1,750Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1872/73AH 1289BaşmemurBeyoğlu1,750Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1873/74AH 1290BaşmemurBeyoğlu2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1874/75AH 1291BaşmemurBeyoğlu2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1875/76AH 1292BaşmemurBeyoğlu2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1876/77AH 1293BaşmemurBeyoğlu2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1877/78AH 1294BaşmemurBeyoğlu2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1878AH 1295BaşmemurBeyoğlu2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1878/79AH 1296BaşmemurBeyoğlu2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1879/80AH 1297BaşmemurBeyoğlu2,000Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1880/81AH 1298BaşmemurBeyoğlu2,000Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1881/82AH 1299BaşmemurBeyoğlu2,000Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1882/83AH 1300Funun Kalemi Mudur MuaviniIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,000OtherCross-ministry personnel workbook3_11; 20
1883/84AH 1301Funun Kalemi Mudur MuaviniIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,000OtherCross-ministry personnel workbook3_11; 20
1884/85AH 1302Funun Kalemi Mudur MuaviniIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,000OtherCross-ministry personnel workbook3_11; 20
1885/86AH 1303Funun Kalemi Mudur MuaviniIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,000OtherCross-ministry personnel workbook3_11; 20
1886/87AH 1304Funun Kalemi Mudur MuaviniIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,000OtherCross-ministry personnel workbook3_11; 20
1887/88AH 1305Funun Kalemi Mudur MuaviniIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,000OtherCross-ministry personnel workbook3_11; 20
1888/89AH 1306Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,400Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1889/90AH 1307Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,400Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1890/91AH 1308Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,400Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1891/92AH 1309Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,400Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1892/93AH 1310Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,400Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1893/94AH 1311Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1894/95AH 1312Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1895/96AH 1313Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1896/97AH 1314Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1897/98AH 1315Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1898/99AH 1316Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1899/1900AH 1317Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1900/01AH 1318Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1901/02AH 1319Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1902/03AH 1320Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1903/04AH 1321Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1904/05AH 1322Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1905/06AH 1323Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
1906/07AH 1324Muhendis Kalemi MuduruIstanbul (Dersaadet)2,500Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract3_11; 20
What the sources named in this table are
Cross-ministry personnel workbook
A personnel workbook with the annual entries in institutions other than the Post and Telegraph (justice, land registry, customs, police and others), with the same annual fields as the personnel workbook.
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 (26)

Recorded values of Mıgırdiç Acemyan with their sources
FieldRecorded valueSource
Identity
NameMıgırdiç AcemyanPersonnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Linked personnel workbook
Birth year (AH)1253Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Cross-ministry personnel workbook
Birthplacedersaadet used on this pageRecovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract
Birthplaceistanbul other valueCross-ministry personnel workbook
Birthplace: district (kaza)istanbulCross-ministry personnel workbook
Birthplace: sancakistanbulCross-ministry personnel workbook
Birthplace: province (vilayet)istanbulCross-ministry personnel workbook
Province of birthdersaadetRecovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract
ReligionHristiyanRecovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Cross-ministry personnel workbook
Nationality or communityermeniRecovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Cross-ministry personnel workbook
Schooling
Schoolermeni millet mektebiRecovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Cross-ministry personnel workbook
Place of the schoolVenedikCross-ministry personnel workbook
Years of schooling4Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Cross-ministry personnel workbook
Years of apprenticeship (mülazemet)0Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Cross-ministry personnel workbook
First work
First work: year (AH)1275Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Linked personnel workbook
First work: Gregorian year as stored1859Recovered annual personnel extract
First work: placeistanbulRecovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Cross-ministry personnel workbook
First work: district (kaza)istanbulCross-ministry personnel workbook
First work: sancakistanbulCross-ministry personnel workbook
First work: province (vilayet)istanbulCross-ministry personnel workbook
First job as wordedTelgrafLinked personnel workbook; Cross-ministry personnel workbook
Age at first work (workbook field)22Cross-ministry personnel workbook
First salary field (kuruş a month)500Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract
First-job salary of the original workbook (kuruş a month)500Linked personnel workbook; Cross-ministry personnel workbook
Honours
Mecidi order (recorded code)4Cross-ministry personnel workbook
Other recorded values
Merit and competence grade (recorded code)1Cross-ministry personnel workbook
What the sources named in this table are
Cross-ministry personnel workbook
A personnel workbook with the annual entries in institutions other than the Post and Telegraph (justice, land registry, customs, police and others), with the same annual fields as the personnel workbook.
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.
Linked personnel workbook
The original personnel workbook, from which selected fields on background and first work are taken.
  • The sources give more than one value for a marked field. Every value is listed.
  • Origin of the record: Post and Telegraph personnel records.
  • 31 annual entries of 49 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