Ottoman Identity Document 1913 İstanbul Armenian Citizen Mariam Manoukian Armenia

Ottoman Identity Document (Tezkire-i Osmaniye) – Mariam Hanım Manukyan (Üsküdar, 1913)

Description:
An original Ottoman identity document (Tezkire-i Osmaniye) issued to Mariam Hanım Manukyan, daughter of Karnik Efendi Manukyan and Madam Makseyler (Nidaklar Randa? – partially illegible). Dated 18 Eylül 1329 (1 October 1913), the document bears official Ottoman fiscal stamps and seals, with some tape reinforcement on the reverse but all text remaining legible.

The Tezkire-i Osmaniye was the official identity certificate of Ottoman subjects, containing detailed information such as name, parentage, birthplace, religion, physical traits, and address. Commonly known as “kafa kağıdı” (head paper), it gained this nickname because men folded and carried these documents inside the small pockets of their fezzes, effectively keeping their identification “on their head.” When asked by authorities to identify themselves, they were told “Kafa kağıdını çıkar!” (“Take out your head paper!”). Failure to produce it often resulted in questioning or detention. This system reflects the highly bureaucratic yet personalized identification practices of the late Ottoman Empire.

In this document, Mariam Hanım Manukyan is identified as a Christian (Ermeni) resident of Üsküdar, one of Istanbul’s most historically diverse districts. Her address is listed as: Istanbul Province, Üsküdar District, Osman Ağa Neighborhood, Mandıra Street, House No. 23 (6/53).

She was born in Istanbul in 1322 (1906 CE), into the Manukyan (Manoukian) family—an Armenian household, typical of the multicultural social fabric of late Ottoman Istanbul. Armenians, Greeks, and Jews were integral to the city’s social and economic life, particularly in neighborhoods like Üsküdar, Pera, and Kumkapı, where non-Muslim Ottoman citizens lived and traded freely under the millet system.

Key Features:

• Document Type: Tezkire-i Osmaniye (Ottoman Identity Certificate)

• Holder: Mariam Hanım Manukyan

• Father’s Name: Karnik Efendi Manukyan

• Mother’s Name: Madam Makseyler (partially illegible)

• Birthplace and Date: Istanbul, 1322 (1906 CE)

• Religion (Millet): Christian (Armenian)

• Residence: Istanbul Province, Üsküdar District, Osman Ağa Neighborhood, Mandıra Street, House No. 23 (6/53)

• Date of Issue: 18 Eylül 1329 (1 October 1913)

• Material: Handwritten Ottoman official document, with fiscal stamps and seals

• Condition: Moderate – minor tears and tape marks on the reverse, but the text and seals remain legible

• Historical Significance:

  • A rare example of a female Armenian Ottoman citizen’s identity document from pre-Republican Istanbul.

  • Reflects the ethno-religious diversity of Üsküdar and the Ottoman population registry system.

  • Offers valuable insight into women’s documentation and status in the early 20th century Ottoman Empire.

  • A tangible artifact illustrating the integration of Armenian citizens within the bureaucratic and civic structure of late Ottoman society.