Metadata : Headquarters of the Chief Police Officer (Полицмейстер (Politsmeister)) of Tbilisi
Collection
- Country:
- Georgia
- Holding institution:
- The Central Historical Archive of Georgia
- Holding institution (official language):
- საისტორიო ცენტრალური არქივი
- Postal address:
- 1, Vazha-Pshavela, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Email:
- info@archives.gov.ge
- Country:
- Georgia
- Holding institution:
- The Central Historical Archive of Georgia
- Holding institution (official language):
- საისტორიო ცენტრალური არქივი
- Postal address:
- 1, Vazha-Pshavela, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Email:
- info@archives.gov.ge
- Reference number:
- f. 84
- Title:
- Headquarters of the Chief Police Officer (Полицмейстер (Politsmeister)) of Tbilisi
- Title (official language):
- თბილისის პოლიცმეისტერის სამმართველო
- Creator/accumulator:
- Headquarters of the Chief Police Officer of Tbilisi
- Date(s):
- 1805/1917
- Date note:
- start date approximate
- Language:
- Russian
- Extent:
- 12,536(?) files
- Type of material:
- Textual material
- Scope and content:
-
In 19th century Russian Empire, the Politzmeister, or Chief Police Officer, filled multiple roles beyond mere policing and surveillance. Hence, the archival materials of the Headquarters of the Politzmeister refer not only to law enforcement but to a wide array of administrative matters, such as residence permits and the registration of residents, ownership of real estate, sanitation control etc. The Jewish inhabitants of Tbilisi and the region are mentioned in general materials, such as residents' lists and various reports or papers on local printing houses, and also in files relating directly to Jewish individuals and institutions.
The Jewish-related files of the collection can be divided into the following thematic groups:
1. Documents related to Jews' residence rights and status. Expulsions of Jewish families and individuals are mentioned in several files. Papers from 1837 mention the cancellation of an order to expel the Edelson family. Materials from the 1900s and the 1910s mention expulsions of Jewish individuals convicted of political and other offences; a file from 1907 mentions Jews expelled to the Governorate of Astrakhan for organising an illegal dining house; files from the 1910s include lists, surveillance materials and other papers related to Jews living in Tbilisi without a permit, such as a file from 1917 listing the Jewish workers of the local state theatre, living in Tbilisi illegally. Several files are related to the issuance of residence permits and to the registration of Jewish visitors of Tbilisi – merchants, artisans and others.
2. Data on the Jewish residents of Tbilisi, mostly from the 1900s and 1910s: lists and reports of Jewish residents; correspondence on the approval of the appointment of M Markus as a local rabbi and on the appointment of other communal functionaries in Tbilisi (1912). A file from 1897 includes a report on Jewish and Muslim religious schools.
3. More than a few files include data on the persecution of Jews suspected in illegal political activity, including correspondence on Jewish individuals wanted by the police and on secret surveillance of suspects. Files from 1910 and 1911 include reports and circular letters on the activities of the Jewish social democratic party Bund.
4. Several files include on persecution of suspects of administrative and criminal offences, such as an 1899 file mentioning Aizik Mendelbaum and several other individuals suspected of counterfeiting and a 1909 file on Jewish individuals sentenced to death for ransom kidnapping.
- Archival history:
- In the 1920s the materials of the Russian administration in Tbilisi were transferred to the newly established Main Historical Archive of Georgia. In 1939 this archive became part of the Central State Historical Archive of Georgia, the predecessor of the current Central Historical Archive.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- The City Police office of Tbilisi was established 1801; in 1825 it was reorganised into the Headquarters of the Chief Police Officer (Politsmeister). The Politsmeister supervised the local police force and was in charge of implementing laws and regulations throughout the city. His duties included conducting surveillance of the local population, pursuing criminals and political activists and dealing with administrative functions such as fire and sanitation control. The office was abolished in 1917.
- Access points: locations:
- Tbilisi
- Access points: persons/families:
- Edelson
- Markus, M
- Mendelbaum, Aizik
- System of arrangement:
- The collection includes three inventories.
- Access, restrictions:
- The collection is open for reference at the Central Historical Archive of Georgia.
- Finding aids:
- A list of files is available at the Central Historical Archive of Georgia. A list of Jewish-related files is available at the CAHJP in Jerusalem.
- Author of the description:
- Alex Valdman (Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People), 2017
- Reference number:
- f. 84
- Title:
- Headquarters of the Chief Police Officer (Полицмейстер (Politsmeister)) of Tbilisi
- Title (official language):
- თბილისის პოლიცმეისტერის სამმართველო
- Creator/accumulator:
- Headquarters of the Chief Police Officer of Tbilisi
- Date(s):
- 1805/1917
- Date note:
- start date approximate
- Language:
- Russian
- Extent:
- 12,536(?) files
- Type of material:
- Textual material
- Scope and content:
-
In 19th century Russian Empire, the Politzmeister, or Chief Police Officer, filled multiple roles beyond mere policing and surveillance. Hence, the archival materials of the Headquarters of the Politzmeister refer not only to law enforcement but to a wide array of administrative matters, such as residence permits and the registration of residents, ownership of real estate, sanitation control etc. The Jewish inhabitants of Tbilisi and the region are mentioned in general materials, such as residents' lists and various reports or papers on local printing houses, and also in files relating directly to Jewish individuals and institutions.
The Jewish-related files of the collection can be divided into the following thematic groups:
1. Documents related to Jews' residence rights and status. Expulsions of Jewish families and individuals are mentioned in several files. Papers from 1837 mention the cancellation of an order to expel the Edelson family. Materials from the 1900s and the 1910s mention expulsions of Jewish individuals convicted of political and other offences; a file from 1907 mentions Jews expelled to the Governorate of Astrakhan for organising an illegal dining house; files from the 1910s include lists, surveillance materials and other papers related to Jews living in Tbilisi without a permit, such as a file from 1917 listing the Jewish workers of the local state theatre, living in Tbilisi illegally. Several files are related to the issuance of residence permits and to the registration of Jewish visitors of Tbilisi – merchants, artisans and others.
2. Data on the Jewish residents of Tbilisi, mostly from the 1900s and 1910s: lists and reports of Jewish residents; correspondence on the approval of the appointment of M Markus as a local rabbi and on the appointment of other communal functionaries in Tbilisi (1912). A file from 1897 includes a report on Jewish and Muslim religious schools.
3. More than a few files include data on the persecution of Jews suspected in illegal political activity, including correspondence on Jewish individuals wanted by the police and on secret surveillance of suspects. Files from 1910 and 1911 include reports and circular letters on the activities of the Jewish social democratic party Bund.
4. Several files include on persecution of suspects of administrative and criminal offences, such as an 1899 file mentioning Aizik Mendelbaum and several other individuals suspected of counterfeiting and a 1909 file on Jewish individuals sentenced to death for ransom kidnapping.
- Archival history:
- In the 1920s the materials of the Russian administration in Tbilisi were transferred to the newly established Main Historical Archive of Georgia. In 1939 this archive became part of the Central State Historical Archive of Georgia, the predecessor of the current Central Historical Archive.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- The City Police office of Tbilisi was established 1801; in 1825 it was reorganised into the Headquarters of the Chief Police Officer (Politsmeister). The Politsmeister supervised the local police force and was in charge of implementing laws and regulations throughout the city. His duties included conducting surveillance of the local population, pursuing criminals and political activists and dealing with administrative functions such as fire and sanitation control. The office was abolished in 1917.
- Access points: locations:
- Tbilisi
- Access points: persons/families:
- Edelson
- Markus, M
- Mendelbaum, Aizik
- System of arrangement:
- The collection includes three inventories.
- Access, restrictions:
- The collection is open for reference at the Central Historical Archive of Georgia.
- Finding aids:
- A list of files is available at the Central Historical Archive of Georgia. A list of Jewish-related files is available at the CAHJP in Jerusalem.
- Author of the description:
- Alex Valdman (Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People), 2017
