Official
Melkok Efendi
Armenian Christian (Ermeni). Born in Istanbul (Dersaadet) in 1846/47 (AH 1263). On record 1863 to 1911, 49 annual entries.
Archive reference 0001_0054; 106
Life#
Born in Istanbul in 1846/47 (AH 1263) into the Armenian Christian (Ermeni) community, Melkok Efendi was the child of an army captain (yüzbaşı). Melkok had four years of schooling, at the Ermeni Ibtidai Mektebi, and knew four languages, Armenian, English, French and Turkish, all in writing.
At about 16, in 1862/63, Melkok began work in Istanbul, with one unpaid year as a mülazım (apprentice) before a first salary of 750 kuruş. From 1863/64 to 1910/11 every annual entry places Melkok in Istanbul, the birthplace, with four changes of title, from official for foreign communications (Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti) to PT Umumu Telgraf Muduru in 1910/11. Few careers in the lists are as long; 17 of the 5,211 officials have entries spanning 49 years or more.
The salary went from 750 kuruş a month in 1863/64 to 5,000 in 1910/11, the peak, as PT Umumu Telgraf Muduru in Istanbul, when 96 per cent of paid officials earned less. Over 49 years the salaries add up to 1,430,640 kuruş, 4.7 times what an official on the median salary earned, a level reached by fewer than 2 per cent of the 3,805 officials paid for five years or more. The final annual entry is for 1910/11.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1863/64 | 750 | 500 | 750 | 58% |
| 1864/65 | 1,384 | 625 | 75% | |
| 1865/66 | 1,384 | 650 | 78% | |
| 1866/67 | 1,384 | 600 | 81% | |
| 1867/68 | 1,384 | 600 | 83% | |
| 1868/69 | 1,384 | 600 | 435 | 84% |
| 1869/70 | 1,500 | 600 | 200 | 86% |
| 1870/71 | 1,500 | 600 | 250 | 87% |
| 1871/72 | 1,500 | 550 | 325 | 89% |
| 1872/73 | 1,500 | 550 | 385 | 89% |
| 1873/74 | 1,500 | 500 | 470 | 89% |
| 1874/75 | 1,500 | 535 | 520 | 89% |
| 1875/76 | 1,500 | 530 | 532.5 | 88% |
| 1876/77 | 1,500 | 582.5 | 600 | 89% |
| 1877/78 | 1,500 | 560 | 600 | 88% |
| 1878 | 1,500 | 600 | 650 | 87% |
| 1878/79 | 1,600 | 600 | 650 | 89% |
| 1879/80 | 1,200 | 500 | 600 | 87% |
| 1880/81 | 1,600 | 500 | 600 | 92% |
| 1881/82 | 1,600 | 500 | 600 | 91% |
| 1882/83 | 1,600 | 500 | 650 | 91% |
| 1883/84 | 1,600 | 500 | 600 | 91% |
| 1884/85 | 3,000 | 500 | 97% | |
| 1885/86 | 3,000 | 500 | 97% | |
| 1886/87 | 3,000 | 500 | 97% | |
| 1887/88 | 3,000 | 500 | 97% | |
| 1888/89 | 3,000 | 500 | 97% | |
| 1889/90 | 3,000 | 500 | 97% | |
| 1890/91 | 3,000 | 500 | 97% | |
| 1891/92 | 3,000 | 500 | 97% | |
| 1892/93 | 3,250 | 500 | 98% | |
| 1893/94 | 3,250 | 500 | 99% | |
| 1894/95 | 3,500 | 500 | 98% | |
| 1895/96 | 3,150 | 500 | 98% | |
| 1896/97 | 3,150 | 500 | 98% | |
| 1897/98 | 3,150 | 500 | 98% | |
| 1898/99 | 3,150 | 500 | 99% | |
| 1899/1900 | 3,150 | 500 | 99% | |
| 1900/01 | 3,150 | 500 | 98% | |
| 1901/02 | 3,150 | 500 | 98% | |
| 1902/03 | 3,400 | 500 | 99% | |
| 1903/04 | 3,400 | 475 | 99% | |
| 1904/05 | 3,400 | 450 | 99% | |
| 1905/06 | 3,400 | 475 | 99% | |
| 1906/07 | 3,400 | 450 | 98% | |
| 1907/08 | 3,400 | 300 | 97% | |
| 1908/09 | 3,400 | 350 | 96% | |
| 1909/10 | 2,500 | 462.5 | 89% | |
| 1910/11 | 5,000 | 500 | 96% |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1862/63AH 1279 | First work | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 750first-salary field |
| 1863/64AH 1280 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 750 |
| 1864 to 1884AH 1281 to 1301 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,384 to 1,600 |
| 1884 to 1901AH 1302 to 1318 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,000 to 3,150 |
| 1901 to 1910AH 1319 to 1327 | Posta Komisyonu Azagi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,150 to 2,500 |
| 1910/11AH 1328 | PT Umumu Telgraf Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 5,000 |
Record#
Personal
- Born
- 1846/47 (AH 1263)
- Birthplace
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- Community
- Armenian Christian (Ermeni)
- Nationality as recorded
- Ermeni
- Father's occupation
- Yuzbasi
Education
- 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
- English
- kitabetwriting
- French
- Kitabetwriting
- Turkish
- Kitabetwriting
The glosses are cautious historical readings of the recorded words, not modern levels of proficiency.
First work
- Year
- 1862/63 (AH 1279)
- Place
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- First salary field (kuruş a month)
- 750
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 1,723 officials with entries in Istanbul in the same years, Melkok Efendi had the 36th highest salary.
- Unnamed official (5_316; 629)45 shared years; highest salary 1,100 kuruş
- Mehmet Hayri Bey44 shared years; highest salary 5,500 kuruş
- Mehmet Salim Bey44 shared years; highest salary 3,000 kuruş
- Osman Nuri Efendi44 shared years; highest salary 2,500 kuruş
- Suleyman Resat Bey43 shared years; highest salary 7,000 kuruş
Same job title, same years
Of the 17 officials with the title Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi in the same years, Melkok Efendi had the highest salary.
- Ohannes Abdullah Efendi19 shared years; highest salary 5,000 kuruş
- Anastasyadi Hristo Efendi18 shared years; highest salary 710 kuruş
- Apostolaki Cizli Efendi17 shared years; highest salary 1,440 kuruş
- Teohari Efendi17 shared years; highest salary 800 kuruş
- Andon Tomasyan Efendi16 shared years; highest salary 800 kuruş
Same birthplace
Of the 1,999 officials born in Istanbul, 1,997 have a recorded salary; Melkok Efendi had the 24th 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 43 officials whose first annual entry is for 1863/64 (AH 1280), Melkok Efendi had the 3rd highest salary.
- Mustafa Hamdi Beyfirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 1,050 kuruş
- Ahmet Rifat Beyfirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 4,000 kuruş
- Mehmet İzzet Efendifirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 1,200 kuruş
- Ahmet Rıfat Efendifirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 650 kuruş
- Ahmet Tevfik Efendifirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 700 kuruş
Full record
Annual entries (49)
| Year | Title | Place | Kuruş a month | Institution | Source | Archive reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1863/64AH 1280 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 750 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1864/65AH 1281 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,384 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1865/66AH 1282 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,384 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1866/67AH 1283 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,384 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1867/68AH 1284 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,384 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1868/69AH 1285 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,384 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1869/70AH 1286 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1870/71AH 1287 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1871/72AH 1288 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1872/73AH 1289 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1873/74AH 1290 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1874/75AH 1291 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1875/76AH 1292 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1876/77AH 1293 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1877/78AH 1294 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1878AH 1295 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1878/79AH 1296 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1879/80AH 1297 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1880/81AH 1298 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1881/82AH 1299 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1882/83AH 1300 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1883/84AH 1301 | Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1884/85AH 1302 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1885/86AH 1303 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1886/87AH 1304 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1887/88AH 1305 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1888/89AH 1306 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1889/90AH 1307 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1890/91AH 1308 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1891/92AH 1309 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1892/93AH 1310 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,250 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1893/94AH 1311 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,250 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1894/95AH 1312 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1895/96AH 1313 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,150 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1896/97AH 1314 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,150 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1897/98AH 1315 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,150 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1898/99AH 1316 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,150 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1899/1900AH 1317 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,150 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1900/01AH 1318 | Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,150 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1901/02AH 1319 | Posta Komisyonu Azagi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,150 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1902/03AH 1320 | Posta Komisyonu Azagi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1903/04AH 1321 | Posta Komisyonu Azagi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1904/05AH 1322 | Posta Komisyonu Azagi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1905/06AH 1323 | Posta Komisyonu Azagi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1906/07AH 1324 | Posta Komisyonu Azagi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1907/08AH 1325 | Posta Komisyonu Azagi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1908/09AH 1326 | Posta Komisyonu Azagi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1909/10AH 1327 | Posta Komisyonu Azagi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 2,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
| 1910/11AH 1328 | PT Umumu Telgraf Muduru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 5,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0001_0054; 106 |
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 | Melkok 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 | Yuzbasi | 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 ibtidai 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 used on this page | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Years of apprenticeship (mülazemet) | 0 other value | Recovered annual personnel extract |
| First work | ||
| First work: year (AH) | 1279 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work: Gregorian year as stored | 1862 | 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) | 750 | 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.
- The sources give more than one value for a marked field. Every value is listed.
- Origin of the record: Post and Telegraph personnel records.
- 37 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
- Melkok Efendi
- Foreign accounts office (Muhasebat-ı Ecnebiye Kalemi)
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- Ermeni Ibtidai Mektebi
- Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)
- Armenian Christian (Ermeni)
- Ecnebi Kalemi Muduru
- 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)