Official
Ali Kaya Bey
Muslim (Müslüman). Born in Istanbul (Dersaadet) in 1837/38 (AH 1253). On record 1858 to 1905, 47 annual entries. Death recorded 1905/06.
Archive reference 5_55; 107
Life#
Born in Istanbul in 1837/38 (AH 1253), Ali Kaya Bey came from the Muslim (Müslüman) community; the father was a regimental quartermaster (alay emini). Schooling took four years, at a school for young children (Sıbyan Mektebi); Ali Kaya also wrote Turkish and had some knowledge of Arabic.
Ali Kaya began work in Istanbul in 1855/56, at about 18, with three unpaid years as a mülazım (apprentice) before a first salary of 600 kuruş. Every annual entry from 1858/59 to 1904/05 places Ali Kaya in Istanbul, the birthplace, first in the accounts office (Muhasebe Kalemi), from 1863/64 in the correspondence office (Tahrirat Kalemi), from 1889/90 in the Tercume Odasi and from 1896/97 as Meclis Azaligi. Entries spanning 48 years are rare, reached by only 21 of the 5,211 officials.
Pay rose from 600 kuruş a month in 1858/59 to a peak of 2,500 in 1900/01, as Meclis Azaligi in Istanbul, when 98 per cent of paid officials earned less. Over 47 years the salaries add up to 846,240 kuruş, 2.8 times what an official on the median salary earned, a level reached by fewer than 5 per cent of the 3,805 officials paid for five years or more. After the last annual entry, for 1904/05, the list of 1905/06 (AH 1323) gives the status word Vefat (death).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1858/59 | 600 | 500 | 200 | 61% |
| 1860/61 | 600 | 500 | 350 | 54% |
| 1861/62 | 600 | 600 | 475 | 49% |
| 1862/63 | 600 | 500 | 600 | 52% |
| 1863/64 | 750 | 500 | 58% | |
| 1864/65 | 750 | 625 | 560 | 56% |
| 1865/66 | 960 | 650 | 380 | 64% |
| 1866/67 | 960 | 600 | 350 | 66% |
| 1867/68 | 960 | 600 | 380 | 67% |
| 1868/69 | 960 | 600 | 500 | 68% |
| 1869/70 | 1,000 | 600 | 538 | 71% |
| 1870/71 | 1,000 | 600 | 600 | 72% |
| 1871/72 | 1,200 | 550 | 412.5 | 85% |
| 1872/73 | 1,200 | 550 | 400 | 86% |
| 1873/74 | 1,200 | 500 | 400 | 86% |
| 1874/75 | 1,500 | 535 | 420 | 89% |
| 1875/76 | 1,500 | 530 | 700 | 88% |
| 1876/77 | 1,800 | 582.5 | 600 | 92% |
| 1877/78 | 1,800 | 560 | 700 | 91% |
| 1878 | 1,800 | 600 | 900 | 91% |
| 1878/79 | 2,000 | 600 | 700 | 91% |
| 1879/80 | 1,200 | 500 | 450 | 87% |
| 1880/81 | 1,200 | 500 | 460 | 87% |
| 1881/82 | 1,200 | 500 | 480 | 86% |
| 1882/83 | 1,200 | 500 | 500 | 86% |
| 1883/84 | 1,200 | 500 | 580 | 86% |
| 1884/85 | 1,200 | 500 | 600 | 86% |
| 1885/86 | 1,200 | 500 | 600 | 87% |
| 1886/87 | 1,200 | 500 | 580 | 87% |
| 1887/88 | 1,500 | 500 | 620 | 92% |
| 1888/89 | 1,500 | 500 | 600 | 92% |
| 1889/90 | 1,700 | 500 | 94% | |
| 1890/91 | 1,700 | 500 | 94% | |
| 1891/92 | 1,700 | 500 | 95% | |
| 1892/93 | 2,000 | 500 | 96% | |
| 1893/94 | 2,000 | 500 | 96% | |
| 1894/95 | 2,000 | 500 | 700 | 96% |
| 1895/96 | 2,300 | 500 | 700 | 97% |
| 1896/97 | 2,070 | 500 | 97% | |
| 1897/98 | 2,070 | 500 | 97% | |
| 1898/99 | 2,070 | 500 | 97% | |
| 1899/1900 | 2,070 | 500 | 97% | |
| 1900/01 | 2,500 | 500 | 98% | |
| 1901/02 | 2,500 | 500 | 97% | |
| 1902/03 | 2,500 | 500 | 97% | |
| 1903/04 | 2,500 | 475 | 98% | |
| 1904/05 | 2,500 | 450 | 98% |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1855/56AH 1272 | First work | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 600first-salary field |
| 1858/59AH 1275 | Muhasebe Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 600 |
| No annual entry: 1859/60 (AH 1276) | |||
| 1860 to 1863AH 1277 to 1279 | Muhasebe Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 600 |
| 1863 to 1889AH 1280 to 1306 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 750 to 1,500 |
| 1889 to 1896AH 1307 to 1313 | Tercume Odasi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,700 to 2,300 |
| 1896 to 1905AH 1314 to 1322 | Meclis Azaligi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 2,070 to 2,500 |
| 1905/06AH 1323 | Death recorded | ||
Record#
Personal
- Born
- 1837/38 (AH 1253)
- Birthplace
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- Community
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- Nationality as recorded
- Turkish
- Father's occupation
- Alay Emini
- Death recorded
- 1905/06 (AH 1323)the year of the annual list with the word Vefat, not a date of death
Education
- Primary
- Sıbyan Mektebi (4 years)school for young children (primary school)
- 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
- asinafamiliarity
- Turkish
- Kitabetwriting
The glosses are cautious historical readings of the recorded words, not modern levels of proficiency.
First work
- Year
- 1855/56 (AH 1272)
- Place
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- First salary field (kuruş a month)
- 600
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 1,497 officials with entries in Istanbul in the same years, Ali Kaya Bey had the 145th highest salary.
- Unnamed official (5_316; 629)47 shared years; highest salary 1,100 kuruş
- Mehmet Salim Bey45 shared years; highest salary 3,000 kuruş
- Mehmed Şemsi Efendi45 shared years; highest salary 750 kuruş
- Mehmet Hayri Bey43 shared years; highest salary 5,500 kuruş
- Melkok Efendi43 shared years; highest salary 5,000 kuruş
Same job title, same years
Of the 71 officials with the title Tahrirat Kalemi in the same years, Ali Kaya Bey had the 9th highest salary.
- Kostantin Mavromati Efendi27 shared years; highest salary 720 kuruş
- Hacı Bekir Efendi24 shared years; highest salary 1,200 kuruş
- Mustafa Akif Efendi17 shared years; highest salary 1,400 kuruş
- Mustafa Hamdi Bey17 shared years; highest salary 1,050 kuruş
- Mehmet Arif Efendi16 shared years; highest salary 1,500 kuruş
Same school
Of the 746 officials with Sıbyan Mektebi among their schools, 745 have a recorded salary; Ali Kaya Bey had the 54th highest salary of them.
- Hasan Tahsin Efendiborn 1837/38 (AH 1253); highest salary 900 kuruş
- Hüseyin Hayrettin Efendiborn 1837/38 (AH 1253); highest salary 4,000 kuruş
- İbrahim Hakkı Efendiborn 1837/38 (AH 1253); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Mehmed Raşid Efendiborn 1837/38 (AH 1253); highest salary 2,000 kuruş
- Mehmet İzzet Efendiborn 1837/38 (AH 1253); highest salary 800 kuruş
Same birthplace
Of the 1,999 officials born in Istanbul, 1,997 have a recorded salary; Ali Kaya Bey had the 104th highest salary of them.
- Ali Riza Efendiborn 1837/38 (AH 1253); highest salary 4,000 kuruş
- Ali Rıza Efendiborn 1837/38 (AH 1253); highest salary 2,000 kuruş
- Anastaş Nikolaidis Efendiborn 1837/38 (AH 1253); highest salary 800 kuruş
- Hasan Efendiborn 1837/38 (AH 1253); highest salary 2,500 kuruş
- Hüseyin Hayrettin Efendiborn 1837/38 (AH 1253); highest salary 4,000 kuruş
First annual entry in the same year
Of the 24 officials whose first annual entry is for 1858/59 (AH 1275), Ali Kaya Bey had the 10th highest salary.
- Emil Efendifirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 9,000 kuruş
- Unnamed official (23_38; 73)first entry in Istanbul; highest salary 800 kuruş
- Mehmed Şevket Beyfirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 5,000 kuruş
- Mehmet Tahir Efendifirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 1,200 kuruş
- Hasan Edip Efendifirst entry in Istanbul; highest salary 7,000 kuruş
Full record
Annual entries (47)
| Year | Title | Place | Kuruş a month | Institution | Source | Archive reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1858/59AH 1275 | Muhasebe Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1860/61AH 1277 | Muhasebe Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1861/62AH 1278 | Muhasebe Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1862/63AH 1279 | Muhasebe Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1863/64AH 1280 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 750 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1864/65AH 1281 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 750 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1865/66AH 1282 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 960 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1866/67AH 1283 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 960 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1867/68AH 1284 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 960 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1868/69AH 1285 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 960 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1869/70AH 1286 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1870/71AH 1287 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1871/72AH 1288 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1872/73AH 1289 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1873/74AH 1290 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1874/75AH 1291 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1875/76AH 1292 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1876/77AH 1293 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1877/78AH 1294 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1878AH 1295 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1878/79AH 1296 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 2,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1879/80AH 1297 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1880/81AH 1298 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1881/82AH 1299 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1882/83AH 1300 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1883/84AH 1301 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1884/85AH 1302 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1885/86AH 1303 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1886/87AH 1304 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1887/88AH 1305 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1888/89AH 1306 | Tahrirat Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1889/90AH 1307 | Tercume Odasi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,700 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1890/91AH 1308 | Tercume Odasi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,700 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1891/92AH 1309 | Tercume Odasi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 1,700 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1892/93AH 1310 | Tercume Odasi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 2,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1893/94AH 1311 | Tercume Odasi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 2,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1894/95AH 1312 | Tercume Odasi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 2,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1895/96AH 1313 | Tercume Odasi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 2,300 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1896/97AH 1314 | Meclis Azaligi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 2,070 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1897/98AH 1315 | Meclis Azaligi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 2,070 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1898/99AH 1316 | Meclis Azaligi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 2,070 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1899/1900AH 1317 | Meclis Azaligi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 2,070 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1900/01AH 1318 | Meclis Azaligi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 2,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1901/02AH 1319 | Meclis Azaligi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 2,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1902/03AH 1320 | Meclis Azaligi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 2,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1903/04AH 1321 | Meclis Azaligi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 2,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 107 |
| 1904/05AH 1322 | Meclis Azaligi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 2,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 5_55; 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 (15)
| Field | Recorded value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Name | Ali Kaya Bey | Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birth year (AH) | 1253 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birthplace | dersaadet | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Province of birth | dersaadet | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Father's occupation | alay emini | 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 | Sibyan 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) | 1272 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work: Gregorian year as stored | 1856 | 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) | 600 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Status | ||
| Death recorded under the year (AH) | 1323 | Earlier annual personnel extract (original copy); Earlier annual personnel extract (parallel copy) |
What the sources named in this table are
- Earlier annual personnel extract (original copy)
- A copy of the earlier annual personnel file, read for the title wording of each year. A death taken from it is the status word Vefat in the title field of one annual list: the year is the year of that list, not a date of death.
- Earlier annual personnel extract (parallel copy)
- A second copy of the earlier annual personnel file, read in the same way. A death taken from it is the status word Vefat in the title field of one annual list: the year is the year of that list, not a date of death. Two copies that agree are one piece of evidence, not two.
- 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.
- 36 annual entries of 47 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
- Ali Kaya Bey
- Correspondence office (Tahrirat Kalemi)
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- School for young children (Sıbyan Mektebi)
- Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- Meclis Azaligi
- 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)