Official
Mehmet Vahit Efendi
Muslim (Müslüman). Born in Aleppo (Halep) in 1845/46 (AH 1262). On record 1872 to 1907, 36 annual entries.
Archive reference 0099_0055; 107
Life#
Mehmet Vahit Efendi was born in Aleppo (Halep) in 1845/46 (AH 1262) into the Muslim (Müslüman) community; the father was a senior army captain (kolağası). Schooling took seven years, at a middle school (Rüşdiye Mektebi); Mehmet Vahit also wrote Arabic as well as Turkish and held a qualification (a diploma, certificate, training or decoration).
Mehmet Vahit began work in Jisr al-Shughur (Cisr-i Şugur) in 1872/73, at about 26, paid from the start, on 450 kuruş a month. The annual lists begin in 1872/73, with Mehmet Vahit as a communications official (Muhabere Memuru) in Jisr al-Shughur. Next came Tarsus in 1873/74, then Antakya from 1874 to 1878. The annual lists then follow Mehmet Vahit to ten places in 21 years, from Kirkuk (Kerkük) to Hillah (Hille), with a rise to director of the second grade (2. Müdür) in 1887/88, then Zakho (Zaho) from 1899 to 1906. The last post was in Nusaybin in 1906/07. Few officials served in as many places; 17 of the 5,200 officials with a place of service did.
The salary went from 450 kuruş a month in 1872/73 to 810 in 1906/07, the peak, as 2. Müdür in Nusaybin, when 81 per cent of paid officials earned less. Over 36 years the salaries add up to 266,904 kuruş, 1.2 times what an official on the median salary earned. The final annual entry is for 1906/07.
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 1845/46 (AH 1262)
Jisr al-Shughur (Cisr-i Şugur)
First work 1872/73 (AH 1289); 1872/73 (AH 1289)
450 kuruş a month; entries in 1 year
1878 to 1880 (AH 1296 to 1297)
400 to 480 kuruş a month; entries in 2 years
1884 to 1887 (AH 1302 to 1304)
500 kuruş a month; entries in 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1872/73 | 450 | 550 | 400 | 35% |
| 1873/74 | 380 | 500 | 400 | 18% |
| 1874/75 | 380 | 535 | 450 | 18% |
| 1875/76 | 380 | 530 | 400 | 18% |
| 1876/77 | 400 | 582.5 | 410 | 17% |
| 1877/78 | 400 | 560 | 410 | 16% |
| 1878 | 400 | 600 | 500 | 17% |
| 1878/79 | 400 | 600 | 420 | 18% |
| 1879/80 | 480 | 500 | 380 | 46% |
| 1880/81 | 480 | 500 | 400 | 46% |
| 1881/82 | 480 | 500 | 400 | 45% |
| 1882/83 | 475 | 500 | 400 | 39% |
| 1883/84 | 575 | 500 | 400 | 59% |
| 1884/85 | 500 | 500 | 400 | 42% |
| 1885/86 | 500 | 500 | 400 | 42% |
| 1886/87 | 500 | 500 | 400 | 42% |
| 1887/88 | 760 | 500 | 800 | 74% |
| 1888/89 | 800 | 500 | 800 | 77% |
| 1889/90 | 800 | 500 | 800 | 78% |
| 1890/91 | 800 | 500 | 800 | 79% |
| 1891/92 | 800 | 500 | 800 | 79% |
| 1892/93 | 800 | 500 | 800 | 80% |
| 1893/94 | 800 | 500 | 800 | 80% |
| 1894/95 | 800 | 500 | 800 | 81% |
| 1895/96 | 800 | 500 | 800 | 80% |
| 1896/97 | 684 | 500 | 765 | 79% |
| 1897/98 | 684 | 500 | 778.5 | 79% |
| 1898/99 | 684 | 500 | 800 | 79% |
| 1899/1900 | 720 | 500 | 783 | 79% |
| 1900/01 | 720 | 500 | 800 | 77% |
| 1901/02 | 720 | 500 | 800 | 77% |
| 1902/03 | 720 | 500 | 800 | 77% |
| 1903/04 | 720 | 475 | 800 | 77% |
| 1904/05 | 720 | 450 | 800 | 77% |
| 1905/06 | 720 | 475 | 805 | 75% |
| 1906/07 | 810 | 450 | 800 | 81% |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1872/73AH 1289 | First work | Jisr al-Shughur (Cisr-i Şugur) | 450first-salary field |
| 1872/73AH 1289 | Muhabere Memuru | Jisr al-Shughur (Cisr-i Şugur) | 450 |
| 1873/74AH 1290 | Muhabere Memuru | Tarsus | 380 |
| 1874 to 1878AH 1291 to 1295 | Muhabere Memuru | Antakya | 380 to 400 |
| 1878 to 1880AH 1296 to 1297 | Muhabere Memuru | Kirkuk (Kerkük) | 400 to 480 |
| 1880 to 1882AH 1298 to 1299 | Muhabere Memuru | Baghdad (Bağdat) | 480 |
| 1882/83AH 1300 | Muhabere Memuru | Mosul (Musul) | 475 |
| 1883/84AH 1301 | Muhabere Memuru | Basra | 575 |
| 1884 to 1887AH 1302 to 1304 | Muhabere Memuru | Ali al-Gharbi (Ali el-Garbi) | 500 |
| 1887/88AH 1305 | 2. Müdür | Rawanduz (Revanduz) | 760 |
| 1888 to 1891AH 1306 to 1308 | 2. Müdür | Erbil | 800 |
| 1891 to 1893AH 1309 to 1310 | 2. Müdür | Kifri (Salahiye) | 800 |
| 1893 to 1897AH 1311 to 1314 | 2. Müdür | Badra (Bedre) | 800 to 684 |
| 1897 to 1899AH 1315 to 1316 | 2. Müdür | Hillah (Hille) | 684 |
| 1899 to 1906AH 1317 to 1323 | 2. Müdür | Zakho (Zaho) | 720 |
| 1906/07AH 1324 | 2. Müdür | Nusaybin | 810 |
Record#
Personal
- Born
- 1845/46 (AH 1262)
- Birthplace
- Aleppo (Halep)
- Community
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- Nationality as recorded
- Turkish
- Father's occupation
- Kolagasi
Education
- Rüşdiye
- Rüşdiye Mektebi (7 years)rüşdiye school (middle school)
- Unpaid years (mülazemet)
- 0 years
- Preparation route (classification of the paper)
- Middle
- Qualification (diploma, certificate, training or nişan)
- Yes
The years count all schooling up to that school, as the record gives them.
Languages
- Arabic
- Kitabetwriting
- Turkish
- Kitabetwriting
The glosses are cautious historical readings of the recorded words, not modern levels of proficiency.
First work
- Year
- 1872/73 (AH 1289)
- First salary field (kuruş a month)
- 450
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 3 officials with entries in Zakho (Zaho) in the same years, Mehmet Vahit Efendi had the highest salary.
- Emin Şevket Efendi1 shared year; highest salary 800 kuruş
- İbrahim Edip Efendi1 shared year; highest salary 800 kuruş
Same job title, same years
Of the 416 officials with the title 2. Müdür in the same years, Mehmet Vahit Efendi had the 297th highest salary.
- İbrahim Ethem Efendi20 shared years; highest salary 1,200 kuruş
- Ömer Lütfü Efendi20 shared years; highest salary 1,200 kuruş
- Hüsnü Efendi20 shared years; highest salary 1,080 kuruş
- Mustafa Sıdkı Efendi20 shared years; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Mehmet Habip Efendi19 shared years; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
Same school
Of the 3,206 officials with Rüşdiye Mektebi among their schools, 3,200 have a recorded salary; Mehmet Vahit Efendi had the 475th highest salary of them.
- Abdullah Efendiborn 1845/46 (AH 1262); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Ahmet Tevfik Beyborn 1845/46 (AH 1262); highest salary 1,750 kuruş
- Haci Sefik Efendiborn 1845/46 (AH 1262); highest salary 2,375 kuruş
- Hasan Kamil Efendiborn 1845/46 (AH 1262); highest salary 400 kuruş
- Hasan Zuhdu Beyborn 1845/46 (AH 1262); highest salary 2,100 kuruş
Same birthplace
Of the 67 officials born in Aleppo (Halep), Mehmet Vahit Efendi had the 13th highest salary.
- Fetullah Nuri Efendiborn 1845/46 (AH 1262); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Mehmet Efendiborn 1847/48 (AH 1264); highest salary 1,800 kuruş
- Emil Efendiborn 1842/43 (AH 1258); highest salary 2,750 kuruş
- Rifat Antuvan Efendiborn 1842/43 (AH 1258); highest salary 600 kuruş
- Fethi Efendiborn 1851/52 (AH 1268); highest salary 650 kuruş
The page of Aleppo (Halep), with the 67 officials born there
First annual entry in the same year
Of the 84 officials whose first annual entry is for 1872/73 (AH 1289), Mehmet Vahit Efendi had the 39th highest salary.
- Kostantin Efendifirst entry in Izmir (İzmir); highest salary 750 kuruş
- Mehmet İzzet Efendifirst entry in Tablis; highest salary 980 kuruş
- Mehmet Nuri Efendifirst entry in Lüleburgaz; highest salary 900 kuruş
- Ohannes Gazazyan Efendifirst entry in Babaeski (Baba-yı Atik); highest salary 1,120 kuruş
- Ahmet Tevfik Efendifirst entry in Karadeniz Ereğli; highest salary 500 kuruş
Full record
Annual entries (36)
| Year | Title | Place | Kuruş a month | Institution | Source | Archive reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1872/73AH 1289 | Muhabere Memuru | Jisr al-Shughur (Cisr-i Şugur) | 450 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1873/74AH 1290 | Muhabere Memuru | Tarsus | 380 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1874/75AH 1291 | Muhabere Memuru | Antakya | 380 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1875/76AH 1292 | Muhabere Memuru | Antakya | 380 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1876/77AH 1293 | Muhabere Memuru | Antakya | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1877/78AH 1294 | Muhabere Memuru | Antakya | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1878AH 1295 | Muhabere Memuru | Antakya | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1878/79AH 1296 | Muhabere Memuru | Kirkuk (Kerkük) | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1879/80AH 1297 | Muhabere Memuru | Kirkuk (Kerkük) | 480 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1880/81AH 1298 | Muhabere Memuru | Baghdad (Bağdat) | 480 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1881/82AH 1299 | Muhabere Memuru | Baghdad (Bağdat) | 480 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1882/83AH 1300 | Muhabere Memuru | Mosul (Musul) | 475 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1883/84AH 1301 | Muhabere Memuru | Basra | 575 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1884/85AH 1302 | Muhabere Memuru | Ali al-Gharbi (Ali el-Garbi) | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1885/86AH 1303 | Muhabere Memuru | Ali al-Gharbi (Ali el-Garbi) | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1886/87AH 1304 | Muhabere Memuru | Ali al-Gharbi (Ali el-Garbi) | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1887/88AH 1305 | 2. Müdür | Rawanduz (Revanduz) | 760 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1888/89AH 1306 | 2. Müdür | Erbil | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1889/90AH 1307 | 2. Müdür | Erbil | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1890/91AH 1308 | 2. Müdür | Erbil | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1891/92AH 1309 | 2. Müdür | Kifri (Salahiye) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1892/93AH 1310 | 2. Müdür | Kifri (Salahiye) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1893/94AH 1311 | 2. Müdür | Badra (Bedre) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1894/95AH 1312 | 2. Müdür | Badra (Bedre) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1895/96AH 1313 | 2. Müdür | Badra (Bedre) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1896/97AH 1314 | 2. Müdür | Badra (Bedre) | 684 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1897/98AH 1315 | 2. Müdür | Hillah (Hille) | 684 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1898/99AH 1316 | 2. Müdür | Hillah (Hille) | 684 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1899/1900AH 1317 | 2. Müdür | Zakho (Zaho) | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1900/01AH 1318 | 2. Müdür | Zakho (Zaho) | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1901/02AH 1319 | 2. Müdür | Zakho (Zaho) | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1902/03AH 1320 | 2. Müdür | Zakho (Zaho) | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1903/04AH 1321 | 2. Müdür | Zakho (Zaho) | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1904/05AH 1322 | 2. Müdür | Zakho (Zaho) | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1905/06AH 1323 | 2. Müdür | Zakho (Zaho) | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
| 1906/07AH 1324 | 2. Müdür | Nusaybin | 810 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0099_0055; 107 |
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 (14)
| Field | Recorded value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Name | Mehmet Vahit Efendi | Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birth year (AH) | 1262 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birthplace | halep | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Province of birth | halep | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Father's occupation | kolagasi | 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 | Rusdiye Mektebi | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Years of schooling | 7 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes 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) | 1289 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work: Gregorian year as stored | 1872 | Recovered annual personnel extract |
| First work: place | Cisri Sugur | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First salary field (kuruş a month) | 450 | 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.
- Origin of the record: Post and Telegraph personnel records.
- 35 annual entries of 36 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 Vahit Efendi
- Director of the second grade (2. Müdür)
- Zakho (Zaho)
- Aleppo (Halep)
- Rüşdiye school (Rüşdiye Mektebi)
- 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)