Official
Ahmet Sami Efendi
Muslim (Müslüman). Born in Shumen (Şumnu) in 1868/69 (AH 1285). On record 1888 to 1906, 18 annual entries.
Archive reference 0062_0181; 357
Life#
Born in Shumen (Şumnu) in 1868/69 (AH 1285) into the Muslim (Müslüman) community, Ahmet Sami Efendi was the child of a tradesman (esnaf). Ahmet Sami had seven years of schooling, at a middle school (Rüşdiye Mektebi), wrote French as well as Turkish, and held a qualification (a diploma, certificate, training or decoration).
At about 19, in 1887/88, Ahmet Sami began work in Istanbul, with one unpaid year as a mülazım (apprentice) before a first salary of 100 kuruş. The first annual entry, for 1888/89, places Ahmet Sami in Istanbul as an official for outgoing items (Mersule Memuru), where the entries run to 1891/92. The annual lists then follow Ahmet Sami to Ankara in 1892/93, as a travelling postal official (Seyyar Memur), then Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa) from 1893 to 1904. The last posts were in Istanbul again from 1904 to 1906.
Pay rose from 100 kuruş a month in 1888/89 to a peak of 800 in 1893/94, as Seyyar Memur in Svilengrad, when four in five paid officials earned less. The final annual entry is for 1905/06.
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 1868/69 (AH 1285)
First work 1887/88 (AH 1305); 1888 to 1892 (AH 1306 to 1309)
100 to 160 kuruş a month; entries in 4 years
Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa)
1893 to 1904 (AH 1311 to 1321)
720 to 800 kuruş a month; entries in 11 years
1904 to 1906 (AH 1322 to 1323)
800 kuruş a month; entries in 2 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, and the median of the same province for the years in which at least 5 officials were paid in the province of the official's salary that year.
The numbers of the chart
| Year | Salary | Median, all officials | Median, same title | Median, same province | Paid less |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1888/89 | 100 | 500 | 400 | 500 | 0% |
| 1889/90 | 140 | 500 | 225 | 500 | 4% |
| 1890/91 | 160 | 500 | 262.5 | 500 | 7% |
| 1891/92 | 160 | 500 | 300 | 500 | 8% |
| 1892/93 | 750 | 500 | 600 | 450 | 76% |
| 1893/94 | 800 | 500 | 600 | 500 | 80% |
| 1894/95 | 800 | 500 | 600 | 500 | 81% |
| 1895/96 | 800 | 500 | 675 | 500 | 80% |
| 1896/97 | 720 | 500 | 575 | 500 | 81% |
| 1897/98 | 720 | 500 | 600 | 500 | 81% |
| 1898/99 | 720 | 500 | 575 | 500 | 80% |
| 1899/1900 | 750 | 500 | 540 | 500 | 81% |
| 1900/01 | 750 | 500 | 600 | 500 | 79% |
| 1901/02 | 750 | 500 | 600 | 500 | 79% |
| 1902/03 | 800 | 500 | 600 | 500 | 81% |
| 1903/04 | 800 | 475 | 675 | 400 | 80% |
| 1904/05 | 800 | 450 | 450 | 80% | |
| 1905/06 | 800 | 475 | 425 | 78% |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1887/88AH 1305 | First work | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 100first-salary field |
| 1888 to 1892AH 1306 to 1309 | Mersule Memuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 100 to 160 |
| 1892/93AH 1310 | Seyyar Memur | Ankara | 750 |
| 1893 to 1904AH 1311 to 1321 | Seyyar Memur | Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa) | 800 |
| 1904 to 1906AH 1322 to 1323 | Pul Basmemuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 800 |
Record#
Personal
- Born
- 1868/69 (AH 1285)
- Birthplace
- Shumen (Şumnu)
- Community
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- Nationality as recorded
- Turkish
- Father's occupation
- Esnaf
Education
- Rüşdiye
- Rüşdiye Mektebi (7 years)rüşdiye school (middle school)
- Unpaid years (mülazemet)
- 1 year
- 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
- French
- Kitabetwriting
- Turkish
- Kitabetwriting
The glosses are cautious historical readings of the recorded words, not modern levels of proficiency.
First work
- Year
- 1887/88 (AH 1305)
- Place
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- First salary field (kuruş a month)
- 100
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 post (job title and place), same years
Of the 19 officials who held Seyyar Memur in Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa) in the same years, Ahmet Sami Efendi had the 4th highest salary.
- Mehmet Sabri Efendi11 shared years; highest salary 800 kuruş
- Yosef Efendi9 shared years; highest salary 750 kuruş
- Osman Nuri Efendi8 shared years; highest salary 850 kuruş
- Ahmet Bahaattin Efendi7 shared years; highest salary 1,500 kuruş
- Abik Şakik Efendi3 shared years; highest salary 900 kuruş
Same place, same years
Of the 38 officials with entries in Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa) in the same years, Ahmet Sami Efendi had the 6th highest salary.
- Mehmet Sabri Efendi11 shared years; highest salary 800 kuruş
- Yosef Efendi9 shared years; highest salary 750 kuruş
- Yusuf Bey9 shared years; highest salary 650 kuruş
- Osman Nuri Efendi8 shared years; highest salary 850 kuruş
- Mehmet Sadettin Efendi8 shared years; highest salary 500 kuruş
All 68 officials with entries in Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa)
Same job title, same years
Of the 181 officials with the title Seyyar Memur in the same years, Ahmet Sami Efendi had the 28th highest salary.
- Mehmet İzzet Efendi12 shared years; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Osman Nuri Efendi12 shared years; highest salary 850 kuruş
- Ahmet Fazıl Bey12 shared years; highest salary 800 kuruş
- Mehmet Sabri Efendi12 shared years; highest salary 800 kuruş
- Süleyman Efendi12 shared years; highest salary 800 kuruş
Same school
Of the 3,206 officials with Rüşdiye Mektebi among their schools, 3,200 have a recorded salary; Ahmet Sami Efendi had the 477th highest salary of them.
- Ahmed Tevfik Efendiborn 1868/69 (AH 1285); highest salary 594 kuruş
- Ahmet Hamdi Efendiborn 1868/69 (AH 1285); highest salary 450 kuruş
- Ahmet Rifat Efendiborn 1868/69 (AH 1285); highest salary 540 kuruş
- Ahmet Sami Efendiborn 1868/69 (AH 1285); highest salary 200 kuruş
- Ahmet Tevfik Beyborn 1868/69 (AH 1285); highest salary 750 kuruş
Same birthplace
Of the 13 officials born in Shumen (Şumnu), Ahmet Sami Efendi had the 5th highest salary.
- Haci İbrahim Ethem Efendiborn 1870/71 (AH 1287); highest salary 750 kuruş
- İbrahim Razıyyüttin Efendiborn 1865/66 (AH 1282); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Abdüssabur Sabri Efendiborn 1864/65 (AH 1281); highest salary 700 kuruş
- Hasan Tahsin Efendiborn 1873/74 (AH 1290); highest salary 540 kuruş
- Ali Galip Efendiborn 1874/75 (AH 1291); highest salary 1,500 kuruş
The page of Shumen (Şumnu), with the 13 officials born there
First annual entry in the same year
Of the 114 officials whose first annual entry is for 1888/89 (AH 1306), 113 have a recorded salary; Ahmet Sami Efendi had the 22nd highest salary of them.
- Mehmet Sabri Efendifirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 550 kuruş
- Hasan Muhlis Beyfirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 60 kuruş
- Mehmet Dürri Efendifirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 75 kuruş
- Mehmet Nuri Efendifirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 300 kuruş
- Mehmet Bahattin Efendifirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
All 114 officials whose first annual entry is for 1888/89 (AH 1306)
Full record
Annual entries (18)
| Year | Title | Place | Kuruş a month | Institution | Source | Archive reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1888/89AH 1306 | Mersule Memuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 100 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
| 1889/90AH 1307 | Mersule Memuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 140 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
| 1890/91AH 1308 | Mersule Memuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 160 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
| 1891/92AH 1309 | Mersule Memuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 160 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
| 1892/93AH 1310 | Seyyar Memur | Ankara | 750 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
| 1893/94AH 1311 | Seyyar Memur | Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
| 1894/95AH 1312 | Seyyar Memur | Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
| 1895/96AH 1313 | Seyyar Memur | Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
| 1896/97AH 1314 | Seyyar Memur | Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa) | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
| 1897/98AH 1315 | Seyyar Memur | Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa) | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
| 1898/99AH 1316 | Seyyar Memur | Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa) | 720 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
| 1899/1900AH 1317 | Seyyar Memur | Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa) | 750 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
| 1900/01AH 1318 | Seyyar Memur | Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa) | 750 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
| 1901/02AH 1319 | Seyyar Memur | Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa) | 750 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
| 1902/03AH 1320 | Seyyar Memur | Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
| 1903/04AH 1321 | Seyyar Memur | Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
| 1904/05AH 1322 | Pul Basmemuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
| 1905/06AH 1323 | Pul Basmemuru | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0062_0181; 357 |
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 | Ahmet Sami Efendi | Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birth year (AH) | 1285 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birthplace | sumnu | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Province of birth | tuna | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Father's occupation | Esnaf | 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) | 1 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work | ||
| First work: year (AH) | 1305 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work: Gregorian year as stored | 1888 | 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) | 100 | 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.
- 18 annual entries of 18 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 Sami Efendi
- Travelling postal official (Seyyar Memur)
- Svilengrad (Cisr-i Mustafapaşa)
- Shumen (Şumnu)
- 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)