Official
Ahmet Lütfi Efendi
Muslim (Müslüman). Born in İzmit in 1867/68 (AH 1284). On record 1883 to 1896, 12 annual entries.
Archive reference 0095_0053; 103
Life#
Born in İzmit in 1867/68 (AH 1284), Ahmet Lütfi Efendi came from the Muslim (Müslüman) community. Schooling took 12 years, at Darüşşafaka, the school for orphans in Istanbul; Ahmet Lütfi also attended the telegraph school and held a qualification (a diploma, certificate, training or decoration).
Ahmet Lütfi began work in Istanbul in 1883/84, at about 16, paid from the start, on 150 kuruş a month. The first annual entry, for 1883/84, places Ahmet Lütfi in Galata as a postal official (Posta Memuru), where the entries run to 1888/89, with a rise to a post in the sorting room (Tefrik Odası) in 1888/89. Next came Thessaloniki (Selanik) from 1889 to 1894, with a rise to travelling postal official (Seyyar Memur). The last post was in Galata again in 1895/96.
The salary went from 150 kuruş a month in 1883/84 to 600 in 1889/90, the peak, as Seyyar Memur in Thessaloniki, when 58 per cent of paid officials earned less. The final annual entry is for 1895/96.
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 1867/68 (AH 1284)
First work 1883/84 (AH 1301)
1883 to 1889 (AH 1301 to 1306)
Posta Memuru 1883 to 1888 (AH 1301 to 1305); Tefrik Odası 1888/89 (AH 1306)
150 to 350 kuruş a month; entries in 6 years
1889 to 1894 (AH 1307 to 1311)
Seyyar Memur 1889/90 (AH 1307); Mühimme Kalemi 1890 to 1894 (AH 1308 to 1311)
600 kuruş a month; entries in 5 years
1895/96 (AH 1313)
No annual entry for 1894/95 (AH 1312) before it.
400 kuruş a month; entries in 1 year
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1883/84 | 150 | 500 | 350 | 2% |
| 1884/85 | 200 | 500 | 325 | 3% |
| 1885/86 | 200 | 500 | 325 | 2% |
| 1886/87 | 250 | 500 | 325 | 6% |
| 1887/88 | 250 | 500 | 400 | 7% |
| 1888/89 | 350 | 500 | 475 | 18% |
| 1889/90 | 600 | 500 | 600 | 58% |
| 1890/91 | 600 | 500 | 400 | 59% |
| 1891/92 | 600 | 500 | 375 | 59% |
| 1892/93 | 600 | 500 | 400 | 59% |
| 1893/94 | 600 | 500 | 400 | 60% |
| 1895/96 | 400 | 500 | 290 | 30% |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1883/84AH 1301 | First work | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 150first-salary field |
| 1883 to 1888AH 1301 to 1305 | Posta Memuru | Galata | 150 to 250 |
| 1888/89AH 1306 | Tefrik Odası | Galata | 350 |
| 1889/90AH 1307 | Seyyar Memur | Thessaloniki (Selanik) | 600 |
| 1890 to 1894AH 1308 to 1311 | Mühimme Kalemi | Thessaloniki (Selanik) | 600 |
| No annual entry: 1894/95 (AH 1312) | |||
| 1895/96AH 1313 | Mersule Memuru | Galata | 400 |
Record#
Personal
- Born
- 1867/68 (AH 1284)
- Birthplace
- İzmit
- Community
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- Nationality as recorded
- Turkish
Education
- Darüşşafaka
- Darüşşafaka (12 years)Darüşşafaka (school for orphans in Istanbul)
- Higher or professional
- Telgraf Mektebitelegraph school; recorded as a code
- Unpaid years (mülazemet)
- 0 years
- Preparation route (classification of the paper)
- Darüşşafaka
- Qualification (diploma, certificate, training or nişan)
- Yes
The years count all schooling up to that school, as the record gives them.
Languages
- Turkish
- Kitabetwriting
The glosses are cautious historical readings of the recorded words, not modern levels of proficiency.
First work
- Year
- 1883/84 (AH 1301)
- Place
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- First salary field (kuruş a month)
- 150
Legal records
- Legal record note as worded
- Edepsizlik / su-i hâl ve ahlak hasebiyle kendisine mükerreren edilen tenbihatı ısga ettiğinden ve kat‘-ı maaş cezasıyla da mütenebbih olmadığından idareten azledilip; Görev ihmali ve görevi kötüye kullanma / vazifesini su-i istimal ile eşraftan Hacı Süleyman Bey'in kayıt haricinde postaya kabul ettiği itirafıyla sabit olan bir saat ve sair eşyasını ketm ve bazı tüccarında emanat ve muharreratına imale-i dest-i taarruz eylemek gibi salib-i emniyet uygunsuzluğu ızhar etmesinden naşi akçeye vaz-ı yed edemeyeceği bir iş olmak Edirne'de nefs-i Postahane Mekatib-i Taahhüdiye Memuriyeti'ne ve bu işte de yolsuz harekat ve adem-i takayyüdatı anlaşılmaktan dolayı şimdi bulunduğu Muharrerat-ı Mühimme Mukayyitliği'ne tahvil ettirilmeyip ve ahvâl-i muharreresi sebebiyle nizamname-i dahili mucebince dört defa maaş kat‘ıyla hakkında muamele-i cezaiye icra edilmiş olduğu Selanik Vilayet-i celilesi Telgraf ve Posta Başmüdüriyeti'nin tasdikinden anlaşılmış; Görevi Kötüye Kullanma; Memuriyete Uymayan Hal ve Hareketler
- Years (AH) with a criminal-record mark in the annual records
- 1308; 1309; 1311; 1313
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 76 officials with entries in Galata in the same years, Ahmet Lütfi Efendi had the 45th highest salary.
- Andon Efendi7 shared years; highest salary 4,000 kuruş
- Dikran Arakilyan Efendi7 shared years; highest salary 1,300 kuruş
- Şarl Laze Efendi7 shared years; highest salary 1,250 kuruş
- Ali Cenap Efendi7 shared years; highest salary 550 kuruş
- Deyran Misak Efendi7 shared years; highest salary 500 kuruş
Same job title, same years
Of the 72 officials with the title Posta Memuru in the same years, Ahmet Lütfi Efendi had the 36th highest salary.
- İbrahim Selim Susa Efendi5 shared years; highest salary 15,000 kuruş
- Mehmet Vahit Sıtkı Efendi5 shared years; highest salary 1,800 kuruş
- İskender Efendi5 shared years; highest salary 1,500 kuruş
- Mehmet Sait Efendi5 shared years; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Salih Vasfi Bey5 shared years; highest salary 900 kuruş
Same school
Of the 203 officials with Darüşşafaka among their schools, Ahmet Lütfi Efendi had the 74th highest salary.
- Macit Efendiborn 1867/68 (AH 1284); highest salary 800 kuruş
- Mehmed Mustafa Efendiborn 1867/68 (AH 1284); highest salary 800 kuruş
- Mehmet Emin Efendiborn 1867/68 (AH 1284); highest salary 3,500 kuruş
- Mehmet Tevfik Efendiborn 1867/68 (AH 1284); highest salary 500 kuruş
- Unnamed official (0086_0164:323)born 1867/68 (AH 1284); highest salary 1,500 kuruş
Same birthplace
Of the 15 officials born in İzmit, Ahmet Lütfi Efendi had the 7th highest salary.
- Mehmet Rami Efendiborn 1866/67 (AH 1283); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Zaharyan Zaharyari Efendiborn 1864/65 (AH 1281); highest salary 600 kuruş
- Mahir Ziya Efendiborn 1873/74 (AH 1290); highest salary 500 kuruş
- Ali Rıza Efendiborn 1860/61 (AH 1277); highest salary 1,250 kuruş
- Hasan Zihni Efendiborn 1860/61 (AH 1277); highest salary 475 kuruş
First annual entry in the same year
Of the 80 officials whose first annual entry is for 1883/84 (AH 1301), Ahmet Lütfi Efendi had the 33rd highest salary.
- Ali Cenap Efendifirst entry in Galata; highest salary 550 kuruş
- Hasan Talat Efendifirst entry in Galata; highest salary 650 kuruş
- Mehmet Niyazi Efendifirst entry in Galata; highest salary 550 kuruş
- Rüştü Efendifirst entry in Galata; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Kadri Efendifirst entry in Serres (Siroz); highest salary 600 kuruş
Full record
Annual entries (12)
| Year | Title | Place | Kuruş a month | Institution | Source | Archive reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1883/84AH 1301 | Posta Memuru | Galata | 150 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0095_0053; 103 |
| 1884/85AH 1302 | Posta Memuru | Galata | 200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0095_0053; 103 |
| 1885/86AH 1303 | Posta Memuru | Galata | 200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0095_0053; 103 |
| 1886/87AH 1304 | Posta Memuru | Galata | 250 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0095_0053; 103 |
| 1887/88AH 1305 | Posta Memuru | Galata | 250 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0095_0053; 103 |
| 1888/89AH 1306 | Tefrik Odası | Galata | 350 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0095_0053; 103 |
| 1889/90AH 1307 | Seyyar Memur | Thessaloniki (Selanik) | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0095_0053; 103 |
| 1890/91AH 1308 | Mühimme Kalemi | Thessaloniki (Selanik) | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0095_0053; 103 |
| 1891/92AH 1309 | Mühimme Kalemi | Thessaloniki (Selanik) | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0095_0053; 103 |
| 1892/93AH 1310 | Mühimme Kalemi | Thessaloniki (Selanik) | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0095_0053; 103 |
| 1893/94AH 1311 | Mühimme Kalemi | Thessaloniki (Selanik) | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0095_0053; 103 |
| 1895/96AH 1313 | Mersule Memuru | Galata | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0095_0053; 103 |
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 (19)
| Field | Recorded value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Name | Ahmet Lütfi Efendi | Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birth year (AH) | 1284 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birthplace | izmit | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Province of birth | izmit | 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 | Darussafaka | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Years of schooling | 12 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Telegraph school (recorded code) | 1 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Years of apprenticeship (mülazemet) | 0 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work | ||
| First work: year (AH) | 1301 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work: Gregorian year as stored | 1884 | 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 |
| Legal records | ||
| Legal record note as worded | Edepsizlik / su-i hâl ve ahlak hasebiyle kendisine mükerreren edilen tenbihatı ısga ettiğinden ve kat‘-ı maaş cezasıyla da mütenebbih olmadığından idareten azledilip used on this page | Legal notes (earlier workbook copy); Legal notes (later workbook copy) |
| Legal record note as worded | Görev ihmali ve görevi kötüye kullanma / vazifesini su-i istimal ile eşraftan Hacı Süleyman Bey'in kayıt haricinde postaya kabul ettiği itirafıyla sabit olan bir saat ve sair eşyasını ketm ve bazı tüccarında emanat ve muharreratına imale-i dest-i taarruz eylemek gibi salib-i emniyet uygunsuzluğu ızhar etmesinden naşi akçeye vaz-ı yed edemeyeceği bir iş olmak Edirne'de nefs-i Postahane Mekatib-i Taahhüdiye Memuriyeti'ne ve bu işte de yolsuz harekat ve adem-i takayyüdatı anlaşılmaktan dolayı şimdi bulunduğu Muharrerat-ı Mühimme Mukayyitliği'ne tahvil ettirilmeyip ve ahvâl-i muharreresi sebebiyle nizamname-i dahili mucebince dört defa maaş kat‘ıyla hakkında muamele-i cezaiye icra edilmiş olduğu Selanik Vilayet-i celilesi Telgraf ve Posta Başmüdüriyeti'nin tasdikinden anlaşılmış other value | Legal notes (earlier workbook copy); Legal notes (later workbook copy) |
| Legal record note as worded | Görevi Kötüye Kullanma other value | Legal notes (earlier workbook copy); Legal notes (later workbook copy) |
| Legal record note as worded | Memuriyete Uymayan Hal ve Hareketler other value | Legal notes (earlier workbook copy); Legal notes (later workbook copy) |
| Years (AH) with a criminal-record mark in the annual records | 1308; 1309; 1311; 1313 | Later annual personnel extract |
What the sources named in this table are
- Legal notes (earlier workbook copy)
- A workbook of notes on legal records. The wording is kept as written. It may hold an accusation or an acquittal, it is not the finding of a court, and its year is the year of the record, not the date of an event.
- Legal notes (later workbook copy)
- A later copy of the workbook of notes on legal records. The same wording in both copies is one note, not two.
- Later annual personnel extract
- The detailed annual personnel file of October 2025. It marks single annual entries with a criminal-record flag and holds status words such as Vefat. For a death, the year is the year of the annual list in which the status word stands.
- 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.
- 12 annual entries of 12 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 Lütfi Efendi
- Postal official (Posta Memuru)
- Galata
- İzmit
- Darüşşafaka
- Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- 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)