Ottoman Archive Genealogy Research & Translation

$30-250 USD

Closed

Posted 7 days ago

$30-250 USD

Paid on delivery

I am looking for an experienced researcher who can conduct genealogical research in the Ottoman Archives in Istanbul concerning a Bulgarian Christian family from the Plovdiv (Ottoman Filibe) region during the 19th century. At this stage, my first objective is to establish what relevant records survive and whether they can be used to reconstruct family relationships. More specific family names, locations and dates will be provided privately to suitable candidates. I am particularly interested in researchers with practical experience in: -Ottoman nüfus defterleri (population/census registers) -19th-century Ottoman genealogical research -Christian/non-Muslim populations of Ottoman Bulgaria or the Balkans -Ottoman tax, property and other administrative registers -Ottoman-Turkish paleography -Research in the Ottoman Archives in Istanbul The eventual objective is to find primary historical records that may identify individuals and family relationships, including population, birth/marriage-related, property, tax or other relevant records. For records discovered, I would expect clear archival references/call numbers, and where possible high-resolution scans or photographs of the relevant documents. Relevant entries should be accurately translated into English, particularly names, dates, relationships, places and other genealogically important information. When applying, please briefly explain: Your experience researching Ottoman population registers and other archival material. Whether you have previously researched Bulgarian/Balkan Christian families in Ottoman records. Whether you have direct access to the Ottoman Archives in Istanbul and can conduct research there if necessary. Whether you can first identify the relevant surviving registers and archival references before beginning a larger research project. Examples of similar Ottoman archival or genealogical research you have previously undertaken. Please do not send a generic genealogy or translation proposal. I am specifically looking for someone with practical experience locating, reading and interpreting original Ottoman archival records. The project can begin with a small initial research phase to establish what records are available and assess the potential for further genealogical research.

Project ID: 40645179

About the project

3 proposals

Active 5 hours ago

Location: Istanbul, Türkiye

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3 freelancers are bidding on average $192 USD for this job

@edasevinc02

I want to be upfront: I don't have direct practical experience researching Ottoman population registers or Balkan Christian family records specifically, and I haven't worked in the Ottoman Archives before. I'm based in Istanbul, so physical access to the Archives and consistent, ongoing on-site work is straightforward for me — no logistical delay in getting started. I also have a long-standing personal interest in history, particularly Ottoman history, which is part of why this project caught my attention in the first place — this isn't just a job to me, I'd genuinely enjoy digging into it. Alongside that, I do serious academic research and writing regularly, so I'm comfortable with the kind of careful, source-by-source verification this project needs, and I don't cut corners on accuracy or clarity when documenting findings. Given that, I think I could realistically contribute to exactly the first stage you described: identifying which registers and record types survive for the Filibe/Plovdiv region and assessing whether they're usable for reconstructing family relationships, before committing to a larger research phase. I'd rather start small, show you what I find, and let that determine whether it makes sense to continue. I'd prefer to discuss scope, timeline, and pricing directly once I understand more about the specific family details — I'm flexible on both and happy to shape it around what makes sense for this first exploratory phase.

$200 USD in 10 days

5.0

(1 review)

2.1

@fatiho003

osmanlıcama güveniyorum ve daha önce osmanlıca eseler okudum osmanlı tarihi hakkında bilgim var tarih kitapalrında yazan bilgilerden ziyade beni hakikate götürecek gerçek bilgilere ulaşmayı severim.

$220 USD in 15 days

0.0

(0 reviews)

0.0

@byaffanq

Dear Employer, I specialize in 19th-century Ottoman paleography (Rik’a, Siyakat) with direct, hands-on experience at the Ottoman Archives (BOA) in Kâğıthane, Istanbul. I can effectively conduct your genealogical research for the Filibe (Plovdiv) region. 1. Archival & Paleography Experience I routinely search and transcribe 19th-century Ottoman administrative records, specifically nüfus defterleri (population registers), temettüat (income/property tax), and cizye (poll tax) records. I provide exact archival references (fon/gömlek/sıra no) alongside accurate English translations. 2. Non-Muslim Balkan Context I have researched 19th-century Christian populations in Ottoman Bulgaria. I am experienced in identifying non-Muslim households using patronymics, physical descriptors, and village-level tax registers prior to formal surname usage. 3. Direct Access Based near Istanbul, I have direct access to the BOA reading rooms to inspect physical registers and acquire high-resolution digital scans directly. 4. Two-Phase Assessment Strategy I fully support a small initial phase. First, I will audit the archive catalogs for surviving 19th-century registers for your specific Filibe locale, providing exact call numbers and evaluating potential family record matches before proceeding further. 5. Past Work I have previously indexed 1830s–1870s Balkan census records, producing structured family lines with side-by-side Ottoman-to-English transliterations.

$155.56 USD in 3 days