Women in Ottoman public service
Thirty-six lives in the Sicill-i Ahvâl
Teachers and midwives appear here through their own recorded lives: where they were born, how they studied, whom they worked for and what they earned. This collection follows the 36 women whose personnel accounts were published in Yunus Özger’s 2012 study of the Sicill-i Ahvâl registers.
30 teachersGirls’ schools, teacher training and specialist lessons
6 midwivesMedical qualifications and municipal appointments
These numbers describe this source cohort. They are not a census of all women in Ottoman public service.
The women and their records
Open a name for the fuller biography, appointments, recorded salaries and sources.
All portraits are imagined illustrations, not historical likenesses.
36 women in this source collection
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- Teacher
Adile Hanım
AH 1279 (1862–1863); İstanbul
Education Sultan Ahmed Kız Rüştiye Mektebi; Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father Hafız Ahmed Efendi; chief muezzin at Sultan Ahmed Mosque
Career entries 1876 to 1881 (AH 1293 to 1298); 3 recorded entries
She taught at İbrahim Paşa and Sultan Ahmed girls’ schools, with appointments paying 100 and 300 kuruş separated by a period without a post.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 0059/0194, s.385
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 430, 431; PDF 12, 13). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Adile Havva Hanım
1873; İstanbul
Education Karabaş İbtidai Mektebi (Tophane); Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father Mustafa Efendi; (Odabaşızâde)
Career entries 1887 to 1889 (AH 1305 to 1306); 2 recorded entries
A Darülmuallimat graduate, she returned as an assistant teacher and also taught calligraphy. The published accounts differ on her decoration.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 00088/00169, s.322
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 431; PDF 13). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Adviye Hanım
AH 1294 (1877–1878); İstanbul
Education Yatılı Kız Sanayi Mektebi; Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father Ali Efendi
Career entries 1896/97 (AH 1314); 2 recorded entries
She became second teacher at Denizli Girls’ Rüştiye in 1896 for 300 kuruş, with a separate 200-kuruş embroidery duty.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 000133/00138, s.273
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 431; PDF 13). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Ayşe Hanım
AH 1273 (1856–57); Karadeniz Ereğlisi
Education Ereğli Sıbyan Mektebi (primary schooling)
Father Ali Ağa; in the knife-making trade
Career entries 1893/94 (AH 1311); 1 recorded entry
She taught at Aleppo Girls’ Rüştiye for 400 kuruş. The two published accounts give different appointment dates in 1892 and 1893.
Archive DH. SAİD. d, nr. 00087/00214, s.425
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 431; PDF 13). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Ayşe Nazire Hanım
August 1861 (Özger); 1862 in the later account; İstanbul
Education Zeyrek Sıbyan Mektebi (primary schooling); Şehzade Kız Rüştiye Mektebi; Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father İbrahim Edhem Efendi; municipal-office clerk, with the district disputed between accounts.
Career entries 1881 to 1885 (AH 1299 to 1302); 5 recorded entries
A Mirgün teacher of sülüs calligraphy, her stated salary rose from 380 to 580 kuruş. A later dissertation reports her death in 1905.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 0052/00199, s.395
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 431, 432; PDF 13, 14). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Emine Bedriye Hanım
AH 1291 (1874–1875); Şumnu
Education sıbyan mektebi (Aksaray, İstanbul) (primary schooling); Yatılı Kız Sanayi Mektebi; Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school); Sülüklü Primary School near Aksaray (Yazar & Tarakçı, 2017)
Father İsmail Hakkı Efendi; sülüs calligraphy teacher at a rüştiye in Şumnu Sanjak
Career entries 1893/94 (AH 1311); 1 recorded entry
The daughter of a calligraphy teacher, she became first teacher at Gallipoli Girls’ Rüştiye for 500 kuruş.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 00090/00173, s.343
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 432; PDF 14). Read biography and evidence
- Midwife
Emine Tevhide Hanım
AH 1266 (1849–1850); İstanbul
Education Mekteb-i Tıbbiye-i Şahâne kıbâle sınıfı
Father Mehmed Abdullah Efendi
Career entries 1889 to 1910 (AH 1307 to 1327); 21 recorded entries
A qualified midwife at the medical school and Haseki Women’s Hospital, she also received the Şefkat order, according to a study of Ottoman decorations.
Archive BOA, DH.SAİD.d, nr. 00127/00034, p. 65
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 432; PDF 14). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Fatma Binnaz Hanım
AH 1290 (1873–1874); İstanbul
Education Üsküdar Sıbyan Mektebi (primary schooling); kız rüştiye mektebi; Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school); Üsküdar Girls’ Rüştiye (Yazar & Tarakçı, 2017)
Father Mehmed Efendi; customs official
Career entries 1890/91 (AH 1308); 1 recorded entry
The daughter of a customs official, she became second teacher at Üsküdar Girls’ Rüştiye in May 1891 for 300 kuruş.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 0059/0186, s.369
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 432, 433; PDF 14, 15). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Fatma Hanım
AH 1259 (1843–1844); Sohum
Education Private tuition (Kur'an-ı Kerim ve ilm-i hâl)
Father Genç Hasan Bey
Career entries 1891/92 (AH 1309); 1 recorded entry
Born in Sohum, she spoke Circassian and Abaza and could write Turkish. She taught embroidery at Üsküdar Girls’ Industrial School for 400 kuruş.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 0052/00175, s.347
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 433; PDF 15). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Fatma Hanım
13 March 1870; İstanbul
Education sıbyan mektebi (primary schooling); Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father İsmail Hakkı Efendi; associated with the Seventh Army central hospital. Yazar & Tarakçı call his occupation “tımarcı”; the term is retained untranslated.
Career entries 1883/84 (AH 1301); 1 recorded entry
A Darülmuallimat graduate and daughter of a hospital employee, she began teaching at Mirgün Girls’ Rüştiye in 1884 for 300 kuruş.
Archive DH. SAİD. d, nr. 0059/00184, s.365
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 433; PDF 15). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Fatma Hanım
AH 1289 (1872–73); reported entry age differs; İstanbul
Education Kemeraltı İbtidaisi; Sultan I. Ahmed Kız Rüştiyesi; Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father Esad Efendi; pul memuru
Career entries 1884/85 (AH 1302); 1 recorded entry
The daughter of a stamp official, she graduated from Darülmuallimat and became second teacher at Fındıklı Girls’ Rüştiye for 300 kuruş in 1884.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 0052/00176, s.349
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 433; PDF 15). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Fitnat Hanım
1850, 1857 or 1858 in different accounts; İstanbul
Education Sultan Ahmed Sıbyan Mektebi (primary schooling); Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father Mehmed Hadi Efendi; Bâb-ı seraskeri nizamiye kalemi mümeyyizi
Career entries 1881 to 1883 (AH 1299 to 1300); 4 recorded entries
A Mirgün teacher and Şefkat recipient, she is credited by a later dissertation with heading the school, retiring in 1907 and dying in 1912.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 0059/00195, s.387
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 433, 434; PDF 15, 16). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Hafize Hanım
AH 1282 (1865–1866); İstanbul
Education sıbyan mektebi (primary schooling); rüştiye; Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father İbrahim Efendi
Career entries 1880 to 1891 (AH 1298 to 1308); 9 recorded entries
Her appointments took her from Fındıklı to Küçük Mustafa Paşa and Atpazarı girls’ schools, with recorded salaries of 240 and 300 kuruş.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 0059/0190, s.377
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 434; PDF 16). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Hafize Huriye Hanım
AH 1281 (1864–1865); Kastamonu
Education Kastamonu ibtidai mektepleri (primary schooling); kız rüştiyesi
Father Hacı Mehmed Ağa; (Karamolla oğlu)
Career entries 1881 to 1897 (AH 1299 to 1314); 7 recorded entries
She taught embroidery in Kastamonu, resigned in 1885 and returned in 1897 to teach embroidery and sewing for 150 kuruş.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 00139/00195, s.387
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 434; PDF 16). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Hafize Fatma Hanım
August 1858; İstanbul
Education Taş Mektep (Aksaray); Topkapı Mektebi (hafızlık); Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father Hüseyin Ağa; berber
Career entries 1878 to 1887 (AH 1295 to 1304); 17 recorded entries
After training at Darülmuallimat, she taught at several İstanbul schools and became first teacher at Eyüp for 480 kuruş.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 0059/00168, s.333
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 434, 435; PDF 16, 17). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Hanife Hacer Hanım
AH 1270 (1853–54; Özger); later account differs; Tırhala
Education başlangıç ilimleri (Tırhala)
Father Ali Baba; Tırhala Rufai tarikatı dergâhı postnişini
Career entries 1886 to 1907 (AH 1304 to 1324); 19 recorded entries
Her teaching career crossed Yanya and Loros. Appointments she could not take up, salary petitions and a later dismissal also feature in her account.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 00171/00141, s.279
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 435; PDF 17). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Hatice Kevser Hanım
AH 1296 (1878–1879); İstanbul
Education başlangıç eğitimi (İstanbul); Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father Hasan İzzet Efendi; Beyoğlu komiseri
Career entries 1896 to 1910 (AH 1314 to 1327); 12 recorded entries
She rose from assistant teacher to second teacher at Beşiktaş, resigned in 1903 and later joined the private İttihâd-ı Osmani School.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 00195/00221, s.441
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 435, 436; PDF 17, 18). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Hatice Munibe Hanım
AH 1270 (1853–1854); İstanbul
Education Yoğurtçu Osman Ağa sıbyan mektebi (Üsküdar) (primary schooling); Selami Ali Efendi sıbyan mektebi (Üsküdar) (primary schooling); Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father Hacı Salih Ağa; basmacı
Career entries 1873 to 1881 (AH 1290 to 1298); 11 recorded entries
A cloth printer’s daughter and Darülmuallimat graduate, she became first teacher at Üsküdar. A salary increase was later withdrawn.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 0059/0191, s.379
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 436; PDF 18). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Hayriye Hanım
AH 1289 (1872–1873); İstanbul
Education Vezneciler İbtidai Mektebi; Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father Osman Efendi; gümrük kâtibi
Career entries 1885 to 1891 (AH 1303 to 1308); 7 recorded entries
Her appointments connected İstanbul schools with Kırkkilise in Edirne province; her recorded salaries ranged from 240 to 750 kuruş.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 0059/00177, s.351
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 436; PDF 18). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Kâniye Hanım
AH 1291 (1874–1875); İstanbul
Education Atpazarı Kız Rüştiyesi; Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father Tahir Efendi; Zabtiye Nezareti mektupçusu (eski)
Career entries 1886 to 1892 (AH 1304 to 1309); 10 recorded entries
She taught in Bursa, Eyüp and Aksaray before becoming first teacher at Edirne Girls’ Rüştiye for 800 kuruş in 1891.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 0059/00175, s.347
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 436, 437; PDF 18, 19). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Kevser Hanım
AH 1291 (1874–1875); Kavarna
Education Mirgün Sıbyan Mektebi (primary schooling); Mirgün Kız Rüştiyesi; Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father Mehmed Salih Efendi
Career entries 1893/94 (AH 1311); 1 recorded entry
Born in Kavarna and educated in İstanbul, she became first teacher at Beyrut Girls’ Rüştiye for 850 kuruş in 1893.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 00087/00213, s.422
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 437; PDF 19). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Mari Haliçkadi Haliç Hanım
Rumi 1261 (1845–46); Hamberg (described by Özger as in Hungary; retained as printed).
Education Viyana (on yıl); Madam Elter İnas Mektebi in Vienna (named by Yazar & Tarakçı, 2017)
Father Rohsi Padol Farbir
Career entries 1890/91 (AH 1308); 1 recorded entry
After ten years of schooling in Vienna, she taught piano at Üsküdar Girls’ Industrial School for 400 kuruş and spoke several languages.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 00059/00197, s.391
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 437; PDF 19). Read biography and evidence
- Midwife
Mariko Hanım
AH 1290 (1873–1874); Ankara
Education Ankara Rum kız mektepleri; Tıp fakültesi ebelik bölümü
Father Vasil; dülger (marangoz) esnafı
Career entries 1911 to 1913 (AH 1330 to 1331); 3 recorded entries
A qualified midwife from Ankara, she served in Premedi before the Balkan Wars interrupted her work and brought her to İstanbul.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 00194/00139, s.277
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 437, 438; PDF 19, 20). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Meliha Hanım
AH 1290 (1873–1874); İstanbul
Education Atpazarı Kız Rüştiye Mektebi; Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father İbrahim Hilmi Efendi
Career entries 1887 to 1891 (AH 1305 to 1308); 3 recorded entries
She taught embroidery at Atpazarı and Küçük Mustafa Paşa girls’ schools, with 80 kuruş stated for each duty; she left the latter post in 1890.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 0059/00196, s.389
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 438; PDF 20). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Mesude Hanım
AH 1294 (1877–1878); Edirne
Education Edirne Kız İbtidai Mektebi; kız rüştiyesi
Father Şehsuvar Bey; Edirne polis komiseri
Career entries 1895 to 1897 (AH 1313 to 1314); 3 recorded entries
An Edirne police commissioner’s daughter, she taught calligraphy and then in a primary section. Published accounts differ on the appointment dates.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 000133/00141, s.279
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 438; PDF 20). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Muhibbe Hanım
AH 1249 (1833–1834); İstanbul
Education Private tuition (Arapça ve Farsça); Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father Mustafa Ferdi Efendi; sheikh
Career entries 1875 to 1888 (AH 1292 to 1305); 22 recorded entries
Her career connected teaching posts in Aksaray, Bursa, Beşiktaş, Darülmuallimat and Sultan Ahmed, including separately paid specialist lessons.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 0059/00150, s.297
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 438, 439; PDF 20, 21). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Nadire Hanım
AH 1287 (1870–1871); Trabzon
Education kız sıbyan mektebi (Kasımpaşa, İstanbul) (primary schooling); Atpazarı Rüştiye Mektebi; Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father İshak Efendi
Career entries 1886 to 1889 (AH 1304 to 1306); 2 recorded entries
Born in Trabzon and educated in İstanbul, she became second teacher at Nakkaş Paşa in 1887 and later added needlework teaching.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 0059/0189, s.375
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 439; PDF 21). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Nebiye Hanım
1849–50 or 1859–60 in different accounts; İstanbul
Education Sultan Ahmed Kız İbtidaisi; Atpazarı Kız Rüştiye Mektebi; Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father Ali Enver Bey
Career entries 1875 to 1888 (AH 1292 to 1305); 20 recorded entries
Her appointments span Şehzade, Sultan Ahmed and an industrial school. Published accounts disagree on her birth year, starting salary and later chronology.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 0059/0185, s.367
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 439; PDF 21). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Sadiye Hanım
AH 1276 (1859–1860); İstanbul
Education Akşemseddin İbtidai Mektebi; Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father Hacı Ali Efendi
Career entries 1878 to 1884 (AH 1296 to 1301); 10 recorded entries
She taught at Eyüp and Darülmuallimat, with recorded promotions and pay changes. The published accounts differ on parts of her service sequence.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 00091/00077, s.151
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 440; PDF 22). Read biography and evidence
- Midwife
Safinaz Hanım
AH 1270 (1853–1854); İstanbul
Education Mekteb-i Fünûn-ı Tıbbiye doğumhane kısmı (midwifery training)
Father Hacı Emin Efendi
Career entries 1892/93 (AH 1310); 1 recorded entry
She earned her midwifery diploma in 1884 and began work at Mekteb-i Tıbbiye-i Mülkiye in March 1893 for 100 kuruş.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 000139/00108, s.213
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 440; PDF 22). Read biography and evidence
- Midwife
Şaziye Hanım
AH 1273 (1856–1857); İstanbul
Education Mekteb-i Fünûn-ı Tıbbiye-i Şahâne doğumhanesi (midwifery training)
Father Hacı Emin Efendi
Career entries 1892/93 (AH 1310); 1 recorded entry
She qualified as a midwife in 1885 and began work at Mekteb-i Tıbbiye-i Mülkiye-i Şahâne in March 1893 for 100 kuruş.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 00139/00109, s.215
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 440; PDF 22). Read biography and evidence
- Midwife
Şehver Hanım
AH 1292 (1875–1876); İstanbul
Education Dereiçi sıbyan mektebi (Fındıklı) (primary schooling); Mekteb-i Tıbbiye-i Şahâne kıbâle mektebi
Father Fazlı Ağa; in the fishing trade
Career entries 1906/07 (AH 1324); 1 recorded entry
After qualifying as a midwife in 1904, she was appointed to Niğde Sanjak in Konya Province in 1906, with 400 kuruş and a travel allowance.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 00154/00167, s.329
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 440, 441; PDF 22, 23). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Şerife Münire Hanım
AH 1267 (1850–1851); İstanbul
Education Hafız Paşa Sıbyan Mektebi (primary schooling); Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father Hacı Mehmed Efendi; (Konyalı Süleyman Beyzâde)
Career entries 1873 to 1877 (AH 1290 to 1293); 7 recorded entries
She taught at Sultan Ahmed and Atpazarı, including additional mathematics lessons; her account records promotion to first teacher.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 0059/0192, s.381
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 441; PDF 23). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Şerife Yakute Hanım
AH 1283 (1866–1867); Adapazarı
Education Elementary study in her hometown; Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father Mehmed Ağa
Career entries 1889 to 1907 (AH 1307 to 1324); 25 recorded entries
Her teaching career included promotions, an İftihar Medal and dismissal for non-attendance. Several dates differ between the published accounts.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 00174/0013, s.233
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 441; PDF 23). Read biography and evidence
- Teacher
Zehra Hanım
AH 1286 (1869–1870); İstanbul
Education ibtidai ve rüştiye mektepleri (primary schooling); Darülmuallimat (women’s teacher-training school)
Father İsa Efendi
Career entries 1886 to 1893 (AH 1304 to 1310); 10 recorded entries
She taught in Bursa and Üsküdar; a later account identifies Musul as her subsequent first-teacher post at 900 kuruş.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 00174/00160, s.317
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 442; PDF 24). Read biography and evidence
- Midwife
Zeliha Hanım
AH 1251 (1835–1836); İnebolu
Education Vefa Kız İbtidai Mektebi; Mekteb-i Tıbbiye-i Şahâne ebe sınıfı (midwifery training)
Father Hacı Ömer Efendi; head of the hardware dealers’ guild
Career entries 1875/76 (AH 1292); 3 recorded entries
Born in İnebolu, she trained as a midwife and worked at the Imperial Medical School, including a separately paid period with Hilâl-i Ahmer.
Archive DH.SAİD. d, nr. 00083/00028, s.53
Özger 2012; Pages (printed 442; PDF 24). Read biography and evidence
Education, work and the evidence
The Darülmuallimât, opened in 1870, trained women for the expanding network of girls’ schools. Its history helps explain the schooling and appointments recorded in these biographies. See the TDV account of the Darülmuallimât and Mustafa Şanal’s study of its women teachers and administrators (2004).
The midwives’ accounts trace another professional route through medical training, qualifications and local appointments. The individual records preserve different levels of detail; a missing date or family detail does not establish that an event never occurred.
The source. Yunus Özger, “Osmanlı’da Kadınların Memuriyette İstihdamı Meselesi ve Sicill-i Ahvâlde Kayıtlı Memurelerin Resmî Hâl Tercümeleri,” History Studies 4/1 (2012), 419–447. Read the article or explore the source edition.
Özger publishes modern Turkish biographies based on personnel registers. Each personal page retains the archive reference and distinguishes this account from additional research, unresolved readings and any original documents actually inspected.
Additional readings include Yazar and Tarakçı’s 2017 study of women teachers and Bedia Olcay’s 1934–35 dissertation. The 2017 study also cites Özger; agreement between the publications does not establish an independent reading of the original register. Individual dossiers cite the relevant pages and identify differing accounts.
AH labels refer to Hijri years in the career records. The biographies retain the calendars of the source; these labels are not exact Gregorian conversions.
Subjects
- List of Ottoman officials (Osmanlı memurları listesi)
- Collective biography (kolektif biyografi)
- Ottoman history (Osmanlı tarihi)
- Ottoman bureaucracy (Osmanlı bürokrasisi)
- Ottoman officials (Osmanlı'da memurlar)
- Ottoman personnel registers (Sicill-i Ahvâl defterleri)
- Ottoman registers (Osmanlı defterleri)