Selim Sami Efendi

Selim Sami Efendi was born in Damascus (Şam) in 1875/76 (AH 1292). The record gives the community as Greek Orthodox Christian (Rum) and the father's occupation as Esnaf.

Schooling recorded: Millet Mektebi, with 4 years of schooling recorded. The record marks no qualification (diploma, certificate, training or decoration). Languages recorded, with the skill words of the record: French, with Kitabet; Turkish, with Kitabet.

First work is recorded in Gaza (Gazze) in 1891/92 (AH 1309). The official was then about 16 years old. The record gives 4 years of unpaid apprenticeship (mülazemet) before the first salary. The first-salary field gives 250 kuruş a month. At the first annual entry, in 1895/96, the official was about 20 years old.

The first annual entry, for 1895/96, shows Muhabere Memuru in Jerusalem (Kudüs), with 250 kuruş a month. In 1896/97 the record shows Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti in Jerusalem, the salary going from 250 to 320 kuruş a month (before: Muhabere Memuru in Jerusalem). In 1904/05 the record shows Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti in Beirut (Beyrut), the salary going from 320 to 450 kuruş a month (before: Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti in Jerusalem).

The highest salary, 450 kuruş a month, is first recorded in 1904/05 as Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti. 48 per cent of the other officials with a recorded salary that year earned less. The median salary of all officials that year was 450 kuruş. Over 10 years with a salary the median is 320 kuruş a month, with 2 rises and no cuts. The largest rise, 130 kuruş, is seen in 1904/05. From the first salary to the last the salary grew by 6.75 per cent a year on average.