Official
Mehmet Asaf Bey
Muslim (Müslüman). Born in Istanbul (Dersaadet) in 1849/50 (AH 1266). On record 1865 to 1907, 37 annual entries.
Archive reference 3_271;538
Life#
Born in Istanbul in 1849/50 (AH 1266), Mehmet Asaf Bey came from the Muslim (Müslüman) community; the father was a customs official (rüsumat memuru). Work began in the Muhasebe Kalemi in Tuna in 1865/66, at about 16, paid from the start, on 50 kuruş a month. The first annual entry, for 1865/66, places Mehmet Asaf in Tuna in the accounts office (Muhasebe Kalemi). The annual lists then follow Mehmet Asaf to Bosna, Drama and Ayvalık from 1873 to 1878, then İzmit from 1878 to 1883. Mehmet Asaf then moved to Bursa from 1883 to 1890. From 1890 to 1907 every annual entry places Mehmet Asaf in Istanbul, the birthplace, first as Arazi Komisyon Riyaseti, from 1899/1900 as Emlaki Humayun Muavini.
The salary went from 50 kuruş a month in 1865/66 to 5,000 in 1891/92, the peak, as Arazi Komisyon Riyaseti in Istanbul, when 99 per cent of paid officials earned less. In all, 37 years of salary come to 1,382,880 kuruş, 6 times the median official's, a level reached by 30 of the 3,805 officials paid for five years or more. The peak was 100 times the first salary, a rise matched by 11 of the 2,859 officials paid for ten years or more. The last annual entry is for 1906/07. The honours of Mehmet Asaf were a rank (rütbe), the Mecidi order and a medal ("Altin Liyakat Madalyasi").
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.
Not on the map, as no position is recorded: stop 6 (Kemer).
Born 1849/50 (AH 1266)
First work 1865/66 (AH 1282); 1865 to 1868 (AH 1282 to 1284)
First work as Muhasebe Kalemi
50 to 200 kuruş a month; entries in 3 years
Kemer as worded, no place record not on the map
1878 (AH 1295)
2,000 kuruş a month; entries in 1 year
1883 to 1890 (AH 1301 to 1307)
Asar Nezareti 1883 to 1885 (AH 1301 to 1302); Emlak Komisyan Azasi 1886 to 1890 (AH 1304 to 1307)
2,500 to 3,500 kuruş a month; entries in 6 years
No annual entry for 1885/86 (AH 1303).
1890 to 1907 (AH 1308 to 1324)
Arazi Komisyon Riyaseti 1890 to 1899 (AH 1308 to 1316); Emlaki Humayun Muavini 1899 to 1907 (AH 1317 to 1324)
3,300 to 5,000 kuruş a month; entries in 17 years
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1865/66 | 50 | 650 | 367 | 0% |
| 1866/67 | 100 | 600 | 392 | 0% |
| 1867/68 | 200 | 600 | 392 | 2% |
| 1873/74 | 330 | 500 | 500 | 15% |
| 1874/75 | 330 | 535 | 450 | 15% |
| 1875/76 | 330 | 530 | 250 | 16% |
| 1876/77 | 2,000 | 582.5 | 92% | |
| 1877/78 | 3,000 | 560 | 96% | |
| 1878 | 2,000 | 600 | 91% | |
| 1878/79 | 4,000 | 600 | 97% | |
| 1879/80 | 3,000 | 500 | 97% | |
| 1880/81 | 3,000 | 500 | 97% | |
| 1881/82 | 3,000 | 500 | 3,500 | 97% |
| 1882/83 | 3,000 | 500 | 3,500 | 97% |
| 1883/84 | 3,500 | 500 | 3,500 | 98% |
| 1884/85 | 3,500 | 500 | 3,500 | 98% |
| 1886/87 | 2,500 | 500 | 95% | |
| 1887/88 | 2,500 | 500 | 96% | |
| 1888/89 | 2,500 | 500 | 96% | |
| 1889/90 | 2,500 | 500 | 96% | |
| 1890/91 | 4,000 | 500 | 99% | |
| 1891/92 | 5,000 | 500 | 99% | |
| 1892/93 | 5,000 | 500 | 99% | |
| 1893/94 | 5,000 | 500 | 99% | |
| 1894/95 | 5,000 | 500 | 99% | |
| 1895/96 | 5,000 | 500 | 99% | |
| 1896/97 | 4,500 | 500 | 99% | |
| 1897/98 | 4,500 | 500 | 99% | |
| 1898/99 | 4,500 | 500 | 99% | |
| 1899/1900 | 3,300 | 500 | 99% | |
| 1900/01 | 3,300 | 500 | 99% | |
| 1901/02 | 3,800 | 500 | 99% | |
| 1902/03 | 3,800 | 500 | 99% | |
| 1903/04 | 4,300 | 475 | 99% | |
| 1904/05 | 4,300 | 450 | 99% | |
| 1905/06 | 4,300 | 475 | 99% | |
| 1906/07 | 4,300 | 450 | 99% |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1865/66AH 1282 | Muhasebe Kalemifirst work | Tuna | 50first-salary field |
| 1865 to 1868AH 1282 to 1284 | Muhasebe Kalemi | Tuna | 50 to 200 |
| No annual entry: 1868 to 1873 (AH 1285 to 1289) | |||
| 1873 to 1876AH 1290 to 1292 | Mukayyit | Bosna | 330 |
| 1876/77AH 1293 | Asar Nezareti | Drama | 2,000 |
| 1877/78AH 1294 | Asar Nezareti | Ayvalık | 3,000 |
| 1878AH 1295 | Asar Nezareti | 2,000 | |
| 1878 to 1883AH 1296 to 1300 | Asar Nezareti | İzmit | 4,000 to 3,000 |
| 1883 to 1885AH 1301 to 1302 | Asar Nezareti | Bursa | 3,500 |
| No annual entry: 1885/86 (AH 1303) | |||
| 1886 to 1890AH 1304 to 1307 | Emlak Komisyan Azasi | Bursa | 2,500 |
| 1890 to 1899AH 1308 to 1316 | Arazi Komisyon Riyaseti | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 4,000 to 4,500 |
| 1899 to 1907AH 1317 to 1324 | Emlaki Humayun Muavini | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,300 to 4,300 |
Record#
Personal
- Born
- 1849/50 (AH 1266)
- Birthplace
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- Community
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- Nationality as recorded
- Turkish
- Father's occupation
- Rusumat Memuru
Education
- Private teaching
- Muallim-i Mahsustan (4 years)from a private teacher (not a school)
- Unpaid years (mülazemet)
- 0 years
- 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
- Turkish
- Kitabetwriting
The glosses are cautious historical readings of the recorded words, not modern levels of proficiency.
First work
- Year
- 1865/66 (AH 1282)
- Place
- Tuna
- First job as worded
- Muhasebe Kalemi
- Age at first work (workbook field)
- 16
- First salary field (kuruş a month)
- 50
- First-job salary of the original workbook (kuruş a month)
- 50
Honours and ranks
- Rank (recorded code)
- 2; 1; 3
- Mecidi order (recorded code)
- 2; 4; 1; 3
- Medal (recorded code)
- 1
- Medal or decoration as worded
- Altin Liyakat Madalyasi
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 1,239 officials with entries in Istanbul in the same years, Mehmet Asaf Bey had the 14th highest salary.
- 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
- Mehmet Emin Efendi17 shared years; highest salary 3,500 kuruş
Same job title, same years
Of the 8 officials with the title Asar Nezareti in the same years, Mehmet Asaf Bey had the 5th highest salary.
- Mustafa Tevfik Efendi6 shared years; highest salary 5,000 kuruş
- Ali Riza Efendi4 shared years; highest salary 7,500 kuruş
- Omer Rahmi Efendi4 shared years; highest salary 5,940 kuruş
- Halil Fahri Bey4 shared years; highest salary 4,000 kuruş
- Mustafa Vasfi Efendi3 shared years; highest salary 7,500 kuruş
Same birthplace
Of the 1,999 officials born in Istanbul, 1,997 have a recorded salary; Mehmet Asaf Bey had the 24th highest salary of them.
- Abdullah Naili Efendiborn 1849/50 (AH 1266); highest salary 600 kuruş
- Ahmet Halit Efendiborn 1849/50 (AH 1266); highest salary 720 kuruş
- Ahmet Latif Efendiborn 1849/50 (AH 1266); highest salary 800 kuruş
- Ali Galip Beyborn 1849/50 (AH 1266); highest salary 20,000 kuruş
- Ali Riza Efendiborn 1849/50 (AH 1266); highest salary 600 kuruş
First annual entry in the same year
Of the 47 officials whose first annual entry is for 1865/66 (AH 1282), Mehmet Asaf Bey had the highest salary.
- Ahmet Niyazi Efendifirst entry in Thessaloniki (Selanik); highest salary 3,000 kuruş
- Hüseyin Hüsnü Efendifirst entry in Şebinkarahisar (Karahisar-ı Şarki); highest salary 2,300 kuruş
- Ali Afif Efendifirst entry in Edremit; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Jan Diraço Efendifirst entry in Beyoğlu; highest salary 1,100 kuruş
- Ahmed Muhtar Efendifirst entry in Stara Zagora (Eski Zağra); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
Full record
Annual entries (37)
| Year | Title | Place | Kuruş a month | Institution | Source | Archive reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1865/66AH 1282 | Muhasebe Kalemi | Tuna | 50 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 3_271;538 |
| 1866/67AH 1283 | Muhasebe Kalemi | Tuna | 100 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 3_271;538 |
| 1867/68AH 1284 | Muhasebe Kalemi | Tuna | 200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 3_271;538 |
| 1873/74AH 1290 | Mukayyit | Bosna | 330 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 3_271;538 |
| 1874/75AH 1291 | Mukayyit | Bosna | 330 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 3_271;538 |
| 1875/76AH 1292 | Mukayyit | Bosna | 330 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 3_271;538 |
| 1876/77AH 1293 | Asar Nezareti | Drama | 2,000 | Finance (Maliye) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1877/78AH 1294 | Asar Nezareti | Ayvalık | 3,000 | Finance (Maliye) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1878AH 1295 | Asar Nezareti | Kemer | 2,000 | Finance (Maliye) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1878/79AH 1296 | Asar Nezareti | İzmit | 4,000 | Finance (Maliye) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1879/80AH 1297 | Asar Nezareti | İzmit | 3,000 | Finance (Maliye) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1880/81AH 1298 | Asar Nezareti | İzmit | 3,000 | Finance (Maliye) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1881/82AH 1299 | Asar Nezareti | İzmit | 3,000 | Finance (Maliye) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1882/83AH 1300 | Asar Nezareti | İzmit | 3,000 | Finance (Maliye) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1883/84AH 1301 | Asar Nezareti | Bursa | 3,500 | Finance (Maliye) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1884/85AH 1302 | Asar Nezareti | Bursa | 3,500 | Finance (Maliye) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1886/87AH 1304 | Emlak Komisyan Azasi | Bursa | 2,500 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1887/88AH 1305 | Emlak Komisyan Azasi | Bursa | 2,500 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1888/89AH 1306 | Emlak Komisyan Azasi | Bursa | 2,500 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1889/90AH 1307 | Emlak Komisyan Azasi | Bursa | 2,500 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1890/91AH 1308 | Arazi Komisyon Riyaseti | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 4,000 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1891/92AH 1309 | Arazi Komisyon Riyaseti | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 5,000 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1892/93AH 1310 | Arazi Komisyon Riyaseti | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 5,000 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1893/94AH 1311 | Arazi Komisyon Riyaseti | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 5,000 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1894/95AH 1312 | Arazi Komisyon Riyaseti | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 5,000 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1895/96AH 1313 | Arazi Komisyon Riyaseti | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 5,000 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1896/97AH 1314 | Arazi Komisyon Riyaseti | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 4,500 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1897/98AH 1315 | Arazi Komisyon Riyaseti | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 4,500 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1898/99AH 1316 | Arazi Komisyon Riyaseti | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 4,500 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1899/1900AH 1317 | Emlaki Humayun Muavini | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,300 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1900/01AH 1318 | Emlaki Humayun Muavini | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,300 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1901/02AH 1319 | Emlaki Humayun Muavini | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,800 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1902/03AH 1320 | Emlaki Humayun Muavini | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 3,800 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1903/04AH 1321 | Emlaki Humayun Muavini | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 4,300 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1904/05AH 1322 | Emlaki Humayun Muavini | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 4,300 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1905/06AH 1323 | Emlaki Humayun Muavini | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 4,300 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
| 1906/07AH 1324 | Emlaki Humayun Muavini | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 4,300 | Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani) | Cross-ministry personnel workbook | 3_271;538 |
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 (33)
| Field | Recorded value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Name | Mehmet Asaf Bey | Linked personnel workbook |
| Birth year (AH) | 1266 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Birthplace | dersaadet used on this page | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birthplace | istanbul other value | Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Birthplace: district (kaza) | istanbul | Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Birthplace: sancak | istanbul | Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Birthplace: province (vilayet) | istanbul | Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Province of birth | dersaadet | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Father's occupation | Rusumat Memuru | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Religion | Musluman | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Nationality or community | Turkish | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Schooling | ||
| School | Muallim-i mahsustan | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Years of schooling | 4 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Years of apprenticeship (mülazemet) | 0 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| First work | ||
| First work: year (AH) | 1282 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Linked personnel workbook |
| First work: Gregorian year as stored | 1865 | Recovered annual personnel extract |
| First work: place | Tuna | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract; Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| First work: district (kaza) | Tuna | Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| First work: sancak | Tuna | Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| First work: province (vilayet) | Tuna | Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| First job as worded | Muhasebe Kalemi | Linked personnel workbook; Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Age at first work (workbook field) | 16 | Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| First salary field (kuruş a month) | 50 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First-job salary of the original workbook (kuruş a month) | 50 | Linked personnel workbook; Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Honours | ||
| Rank (recorded code) | 2 used on this page | Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Rank (recorded code) | 1 other value | Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Rank (recorded code) | 3 other value | Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Mecidi order (recorded code) | 2 used on this page | Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Mecidi order (recorded code) | 4 other value | Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Mecidi order (recorded code) | 1 other value | Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Mecidi order (recorded code) | 3 other value | Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Medal (recorded code) | 1 | Cross-ministry personnel workbook |
| Medal or decoration as worded | Altin Liyakat Madalyasi | Cross-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.
- 3 annual entries of 37 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
- Mehmet Asaf Bey
- Asar Nezareti
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- From a private teacher (Muallim-i Mahsustan)
- Land Registry (Defter-i Hakani)
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- Arazi Komisyon Riyaseti
- 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)