Official
Melkon İskenderyan Efendi
Armenian Christian (Ermeni). Born in Baghdad (Bağdat) in 1864/65 (AH 1281). On record 1883 to 1907, 24 annual entries.
Archive reference 0062_0153; 301
Life#
Born in Baghdad (Bağdat) in 1864/65 (AH 1281), Melkon İskenderyan Efendi came from the Armenian Christian (Ermeni) community; the father was a merchant (tüccar). Melkon İskenderyan had four years of schooling, at a community school (Millet Mektebi). In all Melkon İskenderyan knew four languages, Arabic, Armenian, French and Turkish, all in writing; fewer than 5 per cent of the 5,211 officials knew as many.
At about 16, in 1880/81, Melkon İskenderyan began work in Basra, with three unpaid years as a mülazım (apprentice) before a first salary of 475 kuruş. The annual lists begin in 1883/84, with Melkon İskenderyan as a communications official (Muhabere Memuru) in Nasiriyah (Nasıriye), where the entries run to 1889/90. Next came Khanaqin (Hanikin) from 1890 to 1899, with a rise to director of the second grade (2. Müdür), then a return to Nasiriyah from 1899 to 1906. The last post was in Baghdad, the birthplace, in 1906/07.
Pay rose from 475 kuruş a month in 1883/84 to a peak of 700 in 1890/91, as 2. Müdür in Khanaqin, when 73 per cent of paid officials earned less. The last 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 1864/65 (AH 1281)
First work 1880/81 (AH 1298)
1883 to 1890 (AH 1301 to 1307)
475 kuruş a month; entries in 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1883/84 | 475 | 500 | 400 | 40% |
| 1884/85 | 475 | 500 | 400 | 39% |
| 1885/86 | 475 | 500 | 400 | 39% |
| 1886/87 | 475 | 500 | 400 | 39% |
| 1887/88 | 475 | 500 | 400 | 38% |
| 1888/89 | 475 | 500 | 400 | 39% |
| 1889/90 | 475 | 500 | 400 | 40% |
| 1890/91 | 700 | 500 | 800 | 73% |
| 1891/92 | 700 | 500 | 800 | 73% |
| 1892/93 | 700 | 500 | 800 | 73% |
| 1893/94 | 700 | 500 | 800 | 74% |
| 1894/95 | 700 | 500 | 800 | 74% |
| 1895/96 | 700 | 500 | 800 | 74% |
| 1896/97 | 630 | 500 | 540 | 75% |
| 1897/98 | 630 | 500 | 540 | 75% |
| 1898/99 | 630 | 500 | 540 | 74% |
| 1899/1900 | 630 | 500 | 540 | 73% |
| 1900/01 | 630 | 500 | 540 | 71% |
| 1901/02 | 630 | 500 | 540 | 72% |
| 1902/03 | 630 | 500 | 540 | 72% |
| 1903/04 | 630 | 475 | 540 | 72% |
| 1904/05 | 630 | 450 | 540 | 72% |
| 1905/06 | 630 | 475 | 540 | 70% |
| 1906/07 | 600 | 450 | 65% |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880/81AH 1298 | First work | Basra | 475first-salary field |
| 1883 to 1890AH 1301 to 1307 | Muhabere Memuru | Nasiriyah (Nasıriye) | 475 |
| 1890 to 1896AH 1308 to 1313 | 2. Müdür | Khanaqin (Hanikin) | 700 |
| 1896 to 1899AH 1314 to 1316 | 3. Müdür | Khanaqin (Hanikin) | 630 |
| 1899 to 1906AH 1317 to 1323 | 3. Müdür | Nasiriyah (Nasıriye) | 630 |
| 1906/07AH 1324 | Hat Memuru | Baghdad (Bağdat) | 600 |
Record#
Personal
- Born
- 1864/65 (AH 1281)
- Birthplace
- Baghdad (Bağdat)
- Community
- Armenian Christian (Ermeni)
- Nationality as recorded
- Ermeni
- Father's occupation
- Tuccar
Education
- Community school
- Millet Mektebi (4 years)community school (school of a non-Muslim community)
- Unpaid years (mülazemet)
- 3 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
- Arabic
- Kitabetwriting
- Armenian
- Kitabetwriting
- French
- Kitabetwriting
- Turkish
- Kitabetwriting
The glosses are cautious historical readings of the recorded words, not modern levels of proficiency.
First work
- Year
- 1880/81 (AH 1298)
- Place
- Basra
- First salary field (kuruş a month)
- 475
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 8 officials with entries in Nasiriyah (Nasıriye) in the same years, Melkon İskenderyan Efendi had the 3rd highest salary.
- Yosef Efendi7 shared years; highest salary 800 kuruş
- Mehmet Kâmil Efendi7 shared years; highest salary 630 kuruş
- Corci Efendi4 shared years; highest salary 4,000 kuruş
- Mehmet Cevad Efendi4 shared years; highest salary 500 kuruş
- Ahmet Midhat Bey1 shared year; highest salary 700 kuruş
Same job title, same years
Of the 576 officials with the title 3. Müdür in the same years, Melkon İskenderyan Efendi had the 179th highest salary.
- İsmail Sabri Efendi10 shared years; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Abdullah Efendi10 shared years; highest salary 720 kuruş
- Osman Efendi10 shared years; highest salary 650 kuruş
- Mehmet Şevket Efendi10 shared years; highest salary 640 kuruş
- Ahmet Kâşif Efendi10 shared years; highest salary 600 kuruş
Same school
Of the 263 officials with Millet Mektebi among their schools, Melkon İskenderyan Efendi had the 72nd highest salary.
- Artin Zeki Efendiborn 1864/65 (AH 1281); highest salary 750 kuruş
- İskarlato Roskoviç Efendiborn 1864/65 (AH 1281); highest salary 850 kuruş
- Mina Efendiborn 1864/65 (AH 1281); highest salary 400 kuruş
- Münip Efendiborn 1864/65 (AH 1281); highest salary 400 kuruş
- SERVİYE EFENDİborn 1864/65 (AH 1281); highest salary 150 kuruş
Same birthplace
Of the 73 officials born in Baghdad (Bağdat), Melkon İskenderyan Efendi had the 24th highest salary.
- Mehmet Kâmil Efendiborn 1864/65 (AH 1281); highest salary 630 kuruş
- İbrahim Efendiborn 1863/64 (AH 1280); highest salary 1,700 kuruş
- Musa Kazim Efendiborn 1863/64 (AH 1280); highest salary 5,000 kuruş
- Sason Efendiborn 1863/64 (AH 1280); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Mahmut Hamdi Efendiborn 1865/66 (AH 1282); highest salary 540 kuruş
The page of Baghdad (Bağdat), with the 73 officials born there
First annual entry in the same year
Of the 80 officials whose first annual entry is for 1883/84 (AH 1301), Melkon İskenderyan Efendi had the 22nd highest salary.
- Ali Rıza Efendifirst entry in Servia (Serfiçe); highest salary 600 kuruş
- Hamit Efendifirst entry in Beyoğlu; highest salary 950 kuruş
- İbrahim Fikri Efendifirst entry in Bitlis; highest salary 500 kuruş
- Mehmet Sait Efendifirst entry in Elbasan (İlbasan); highest salary 500 kuruş
- Münip Efendifirst entry in Gaza (Gazze); highest salary 400 kuruş
Full record
Annual entries (24)
| Year | Title | Place | Kuruş a month | Institution | Source | Archive reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1883/84AH 1301 | Muhabere Memuru | Nasiriyah (Nasıriye) | 475 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1884/85AH 1302 | Muhabere Memuru | Nasiriyah (Nasıriye) | 475 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1885/86AH 1303 | Muhabere Memuru | Nasiriyah (Nasıriye) | 475 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1886/87AH 1304 | Muhabere Memuru | Nasiriyah (Nasıriye) | 475 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1887/88AH 1305 | Muhabere Memuru | Nasiriyah (Nasıriye) | 475 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1888/89AH 1306 | Muhabere Memuru | Nasiriyah (Nasıriye) | 475 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1889/90AH 1307 | Muhabere Memuru | Nasiriyah (Nasıriye) | 475 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1890/91AH 1308 | 2. Müdür | Khanaqin (Hanikin) | 700 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1891/92AH 1309 | 2. Müdür | Khanaqin (Hanikin) | 700 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1892/93AH 1310 | 2. Müdür | Khanaqin (Hanikin) | 700 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1893/94AH 1311 | 2. Müdür | Khanaqin (Hanikin) | 700 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1894/95AH 1312 | 2. Müdür | Khanaqin (Hanikin) | 700 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1895/96AH 1313 | 2. Müdür | Khanaqin (Hanikin) | 700 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1896/97AH 1314 | 3. Müdür | Khanaqin (Hanikin) | 630 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1897/98AH 1315 | 3. Müdür | Khanaqin (Hanikin) | 630 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1898/99AH 1316 | 3. Müdür | Khanaqin (Hanikin) | 630 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1899/1900AH 1317 | 3. Müdür | Nasiriyah (Nasıriye) | 630 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1900/01AH 1318 | 3. Müdür | Nasiriyah (Nasıriye) | 630 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1901/02AH 1319 | 3. Müdür | Nasiriyah (Nasıriye) | 630 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1902/03AH 1320 | 3. Müdür | Nasiriyah (Nasıriye) | 630 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1903/04AH 1321 | 3. Müdür | Nasiriyah (Nasıriye) | 630 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1904/05AH 1322 | 3. Müdür | Nasiriyah (Nasıriye) | 630 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1905/06AH 1323 | 3. Müdür | Nasiriyah (Nasıriye) | 630 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
| 1906/07AH 1324 | Hat Memuru | Baghdad (Bağdat) | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0153; 301 |
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 | Melkon İskenderyan Efendi | Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birth year (AH) | 1281 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birthplace | bagdat | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Province of birth | bagdat | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Father's occupation | tuccar | 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 | Millet 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) | 3 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work | ||
| First work: year (AH) | 1298 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work: Gregorian year as stored | 1881 | Recovered annual personnel extract |
| First work: place | Basra | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First salary field (kuruş a month) | 475 | 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.
- 23 annual entries of 24 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
- Melkon İskenderyan Efendi
- Director of the third grade (3. Müdür)
- Nasiriyah (Nasıriye)
- Baghdad (Bağdat)
- Community school (Millet Mektebi)
- Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)
- Armenian Christian (Ermeni)
- 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)