Ottoman 1922 Üsküdar Sultanî School Student Identity and Registration Certificate Istanbul

Ottoman Üsküdar Sultanî School Student Identity and Registration Certificate (1922)

Description:

This Ottoman Turkish document is an original "Üsküdar Mekteb-i Sultanîsi Talebesine Mahsus Künye ve Kayıt İlmühaberi" (Student Identity and Registration Certificate for the Üsküdar Sultanî School), dated 5 Eylül 1338 (5 September 1922). Issued during the final months of the Ottoman Empire, the document served both as an official student registration certificate and as a personal identity record, providing valuable insight into the Ottoman educational system and student admission procedures.

One side of the document contains a Tezkire-i Osmaniye, the official Ottoman identity record. It identifies the student as Abdullah, son of Recep, with his father recorded as İsmail and his mother as Cemile. His date of birth is given as 3 Temmuz 1324 (23 July 1908), and his religion is recorded as Islam. His population registration is listed as House No. 11, Yörük Village, Safranbolu District, Kastamonu.

The reverse side is headed "Üsküdar Mekteb-i Sultanîsi Talebesine Mahsus Kayıt İlmühaberi" and contains Abdullah Efendi's school registration details. It records that his father, Commission Merchant (Komisyoncu) İsmail Efendi, was residing as a tenant at No. 53, Aziz Mahmud Efendi Street, Üsküdar. The student's own residence is recorded as No. 53, Hazret-i Hüdâyî Street, Gülfem Hatun Mahallesi, Üsküdar.

One of the most interesting sections of the document appears at the bottom, where a certificate issued by the student's neighborhood authorities is included. The local imam, muhtar, and respected members of the community officially certify that Abdullah possessed good moral character and respectfully recommend his admission to the school. Their statements are authenticated by their original seals. This remarkable section illustrates that admission to certain Ottoman educational institutions required not only academic qualifications but also formal certification of the student's character and reputation by trusted members of his local community.

The document provides valuable evidence of the close relationship between education, local administration, and religious authorities during the final years of the Ottoman Empire. It demonstrates how neighborhood institutions actively participated in the educational process by verifying the moral standing of prospective students before their admission.

Today, the institution continues its educational tradition under the name Burhan Felek Anadolu Lisesi. Founded in 1847, it remains one of Istanbul's historic educational establishments, making this document an important piece of both Ottoman and Turkish educational history.

Bearing its original revenue stamp and official seals, this document is an outstanding example of Ottoman educational administration. It combines personal identity information, school registration, and community certification in a single official record, offering a rare glimpse into the admission procedures and social values of the late Ottoman educational system.

For collectors and researchers, this is an exceptional historical document connecting Ottoman education, identity records, local administration, and the history of one of Istanbul's oldest schools.

Key Features:

• Type: Ottoman student identity and registration certificate

• Title: Üsküdar Mekteb-i Sultanîsi Talebesine Mahsus Künye ve Kayıt İlmühaberi

• Date: 5 Eylül 1338 (5 September 1922)

• Institution: Üsküdar Mekteb-i Sultanîsi (present-day Burhan Felek Anadolu Lisesi)

• Student: Abdullah, son of Recep

• Father: İsmail Efendi (Commission Merchant)

• Mother: Cemile

• Date of Birth: 3 Temmuz 1324 (23 July 1908)

• Religion: Islam

• Population Registration: House No. 11, Yörük Village, Safranbolu District, Kastamonu

• Residence: No. 53, Hazret-i Hüdâyî Street, Gülfem Hatun Mahallesi, Üsküdar

• Historical Context: Documents the Ottoman student registration system and preserves a rare neighborhood certificate attesting to the student's moral character as part of the school admission process

• Present-Day Institution: The school continues to operate today as Burhan Felek Anadolu Lisesi, whose history dates back to 1847

• Physical Features: Original revenue stamp and official seals

• Collectible Significance: Highly desirable for collectors of Ottoman educational documents, Istanbul history, identity records, school memorabilia, and late Ottoman administrative ephemera