پژوهشنامه مطالعات اسنادی و آرشیوی
سال یکم شماره 1 (بهار و تابستان 1401)

Many descendants of reputed Sadats lived in Mashhad who reached ijtihad. Rajali sources (i.e., sources on science of narrators) show that some of religious scholars of Mashhad who started their education in Mashhad but migrated to Isfahan and Atabat Aliyat, when returned, people referred to them -just like the famous Mujtahids of Qajar era. The purpose of this study was to provide readers with a clear picture and the edited version from the documents of Mashhad in Qajar era that has given us an acceptable vision for document studies of the city. The question is: using the documents, can we introduce an approximate time for document registration in Mashhad and a specific style of document writing of this city? The descriptive-analytical study used archived primary library sources. The results show the sublime position of Mirza Masoum Razavi’s descendants in specific authentication and registration of Shari’a documents in Qajar era. The study explores the role of Sadat Razavi’s dynasty in authentication and document registration in Mashhad in Qajar era, specially the emergence of double registration and the pioneering of one of the dynasties of Sadat Razavi. Generally these mujtahids started their education in Mashhad but migrated to Isfahan or Atabat Aliyat to complete it. They wrote their records on the lower right of the page and perpendicular to the main body (main text). They also invented double registration. Certain people of the dynasty who were registrar of religious issues, wrote concised sentences including at least two to four words in left side of the record, in Arabic language most of the time. Some documents reveal that Mirza Ahmad Razavi made common the shari’a documents registration in his court in 1280 AH.

The main duty of the judicial system is dealing with legal and criminal complaints. This study deals with diverse types of people referring to the judiciary after the constitution (1325-1329 AH). Taking a quantitative approach and applying a descriptive-analytical method (since the materials are archived sources), the study tried to identify and analyze the various people referring to the judiciary. The results show that the people who visited the judiciary were mainly dwellers of cities. At least in the early years after the constitution, one cannot see any effort for establishing courts in non-urban regions. The examination of legal claims between different people shows that financial issues are the main reason of the disputes. Though disputes over real estates can be found among all kinds of people of society, the size of the claimed property is directly related to social strata of the claimer, as dispute over a big properties signifies that that person belongs to first strata or the group of great businessmen. The documents of criminal lawsuits show clearly that the most of nobles and officials of ruling system were involved in forging documents. This was because there was not any exact deed or unclear property boundaries. Unlawful behaviors can be found among the main traditional canons of power, but the registered cases in the documents regarding dealing with the issues is remarkable.

As soon as lithography industry entered Iran, many lithography printing houses were established in Tehran, Tabriz, and other cities and the first lithography printing house was founded in Mashhad by Astan Quds Razavi. From the activity period of the AQR’s lithography house (1294-1344 AH), twenty eight books were identified that most of them bear the name of their scribes on the first and last pages. This study that used the descriptive-analytical method aimed to see that when the Astan Quds Razavi entered this new printing industry, how many active scribes of different parts of AQR interacted with this printing house as a burgeoning cultural sector and the reasons of the convergence and divergence among them. The results of exploring the archived documents -apart from the stylistic and aesthetic issues- show that from amongst the many scribes active in the administrative and cultural parts of Astan Quds Razavi, during the activity period of lithography printing house of the institution, a very limited number of them cooperated with this printing house. This convergence is seemingly in line with personal interests, economic benefits, and other possible issues and the divergence of many of the scribes can be interpreted by the help of the conflict between tradition and modernity. That is, the lithography printing produced a big bulk of books in a very short period of time at a very low cost. Consequently, the growth and expansion of this activity (modernism) resulted in a lower status of AQR’s scribes (tradition). Therefore, the divergence among AQR’s scribes can be considered an impeding factor beside the increasing number of productions of AQR’s lithography printing house on the one hand, and making a negative attitude towards the products of this center among the cultural trustees of AQR on the other hand.

Mashhad has been an immigrant friendly city since the middle of the Qajar era because of its high status in terms of foreign and domestic trading. Therefore, the most powerful merchants and property owners of Mashhad were immigrants, as many Caucasian, Azerbaijani, Yazdi, Isfahani and Tehrani merchants moved to the city. One of the great immigrants was Agha Bozorg, a Tehrani merchant, who moved to Mashhad in 1291 AH. Two generations of his family administered Tehrani Tejaratkhaneh (trading house). Haji Agha Bozorg, Haj Abd al-Hossein, Mirza Mohammad Danesh Bozorgnia, and Ali Sadr al-Ttojjar were the most important influencing, trading personalities of Mashhad who were active in various fields over 70 years. The study tried to see and explicate what economic arena, Tehrani family were active in, and their sociopolitical and economical role and status in Mashhad. The results indicate that Tehrani family started with renting Turquoise mines and then shifted to landholding. They were also active in foreign trade and exporting opium. They turned to leasehold of urban properties and producing compote. Due to doing business in leasehold, they were in contact with Astan Quds Razavi and its developments, but after the Goharshad incident, they sold a huge portion of their properties and moved to Tehran. The new generation of this family, in addition to political activities, having financial support engaged in cultural fields such as publishing periodicals and modern education. Taking a descriptive-analytical method, this study used the archived documents of Astan Quds Razavi, national documentary center, and those of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

British consulate was founded in Mashhad in 1889 AD/1306 AH. The office that was the first foreign political agency in Mashhad, could become the primary executive part of England in a short time. The agency that seemingly operated under the General Governor of India but was not responsible to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country, presented annually its commercial and economical estimates in relatively comprehensive reports to higher authorities. Though the survived reports of the first seven years of the consulate are better compiled than the second seven years, but in the years that is the subject of this study (1896-1903 AD/1313-1321 AH) provide us with accurate field statistics about the economic status of the eastern cities of Iran (i.e., its main field of consulate’s activity). The main content of the annual reports are the types of the imported and exported goods, the name of the regional and international foreign partners (especially Russia, England, and Afghanistan), and the effective transmitting methods. According to the documents, seemingly in the seven years in the region the Russian government was economically superior to British government and the British representatives endeavored to make solutions for balancing the economic power and overcome the long standing rival. Therefore, they tried in their usual economic analysis to include many issues like sociological aspects of the region.

Providing social welfare and establishing related centers have been among the main concerns of human societies throughout history. Therefore, different governments, statesmen, religious leaders, and benefactors with various intentions have endeavored to provide them. One of the most significant and pioneering experiences of Iranians in this regard is the establishment and administration of hospices or nursing homes. The study focused on the establishment and function of Birjand hospice from the late Qajar era to the beginning of the Islamic Revolution. It aimed to reveal the results of the benevolent endeavors of seven decades for maintaining this charity center. Using a descriptive-analytical method, library resources, news and historical evidence including documents, sources and field research, the study tried to see that why and how Birjand hospice was established, what financial resources were used, and who lived there. The results showed that a set of sociopolitical, administrative, religious and individual motivations resulted in the establishment of the charity center.  Despite the political and social changes throughout the decades, the center survived and provided useful social services in society and become crucial in South Khorasan, Qaenat and Birjand region.

Towliat means the office of endowed properties and related affaires. Therefore, the one who is responsible for the office is called motawali (trustee). Atiq Ali Munshi donated many of his properties to the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza in Jumada II, 931 AH that are still permanent endowments. Atiqi deed of endowment is one of the most extensive endowed properties of Astan Quds Razavi. According to the endowment deed, Atiqali Monshi designated his children as the owner of the office, which has been performed according to his will until now. The documents include, among others, the characteristics of the trustees (gender, number, etc.), other positions of the Atiqi trustees in Astan Quds Razavi, the salary of the trustees, the rights of the trustees, etc. Taking a descriptive-analytical method and using the documents archived in Astan Quds Razavi Center and other resources, the study tried to investigate the trustees of Atiqi endowment from the establishment (931 AH) to the end of Pahlavi era.

British consulate in Mashhad had two Consul Generals in the first seven years of its activity: Major General Charles Smith McLean and Ni Elias. McLean was more reputed than Ni Elias but seemingly Ni Elias was a better manager. Providing exact and field reports, the Consulate General tried in those years to recognize the main economic and commercial decisions of Britain in India and England in order to promote Britain’s position in comparison to its rivals, especially Russia. So, it endeavored in the first place to accurately determine the position of the country and then propose major strategies to related decision makers. The related documents on economic issues included foreign and imported goods to the eastern Iran, introduced the trade routes to these cities, and reported the status of their rivals, especially Russia. Moreover, the documents included some analyses that could affects British officials and decision-makers. All the information had been summarized statistically and quantitatively in tables. All the above-mentioned data could give a picture of the economic and social conditions of the eastern cities of Iran of those years (1889-1896 AD/1306-1314 AH).

One of the main fields that has got the attention of activists of women's rights after the Constitution was informing women of society and encouraging them to be more active in society. As a result of Reza Shah’s enthronement and his attention to the modernization project, the women whose activities were in line with the program of the ruling government were encouraged. The government even used schools for implementing its cultural program regarding women. This study sought to analyze and explicate the role of girls’ schools of Mashhad in advancing the women's movement. Using documents and newspapers, it tried to answer the question: What role the girls’ schools of Mashhad played in Reza Shah’s government in advancing the women's movement and the presence of women in the social arena? The results show that the schools played a significant role in awareness of women and their presence in society by providing trainings about health, housekeeping, and child caring. Other related activities were lecturing about the benefits of removing hijab, making women familiar with the activities of female students, establishing charity associations for empowering the needy women and children.

Just before the occurrence of constitutional revolution some riots and crises began in Mashhad. The events made the city the central place for opponents of tyranny, though at the same time deep oppositions could be seen against the constitutional movement. Mashhad’s different social classes consisted of both opposing and advocating groups at the dawn of the constitutional revolution. Strong bonds with Russia or England could be seen as well, making the groups stay against each other. Considering the mentioned conditions, the study tried to see of what social classes Mashhad was composed at the beginning of the constitutional revolution, what political tendencies and affiliations they had, and how the classes affected the sociopolitical structure of Mashhad. Taking a descriptive-analytical method and using library resources and documents pertaining to the consulates, the study tried to find an appropriate answer for the mentioned questions. The results obtained from exploration of related documents on the issue showed that due to political and ethnic-tribal affiliations and aristocratic relationships, the dominant tendency of Mashhad's social classes was reactionary and against the constitution. The situation caused Mashhad’s failure to be just like Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan in being outstanding and pioneering in the constitutional revolution.