Journal of Documentary and Archival Studies

Abstract The cultural and social transformation of Iran during the Second World War (1939–1945) can be regarded as one of the key moments in the country’s transition from tradition to modernity. This study, employing a historical-analytical method and based on documentary and press materials, seeks to answer the following question: How did the Allied presence in Iran lead to a redefinition of the country’s cultural and social structures? The hypothesis of the research posits that although the military occupation of Iran and direct contact with foreign forces constrained the nation’s political sovereignty, it nevertheless generated a structural dynamism within educational institutions, the media, and patterns of urban lifestyle at the social and cultural levels. Analysis of the data indicates that the Second World War provided the conditions for the emergence of a new discourse of cultural modernization and the reconfiguration of social relations—a discourse in which concepts such as literacy, urban order, the role of women in society, and the very notion of “progress” were redefined. Consequently, this period may be viewed as a turning point in the cultural history of Iran, one that accelerated the country’s passage from tradition toward modernity.

Abstract Abstract

This study examines the historical and institutional evolution of the concept of document validity in Iran, tracing its transition from religious legitimacy and personal trust in traditional notarial practices to legal and technological credibility in modern registration and digital systems. The research argues that document validity in Iran is not solely a legal construct but a product of a long-standing cultural and social continuity of trust that has transformed over time from personal to institutional and, more recently, to technological forms. In early stages, legitimacy derived from the moral and religious authority of scholars and local notaries, while documents embodied ethical and spiritual trust within society. With the administrative reforms of the Qajar era and the centralization of state power, legitimacy shifted toward bureaucratic structures, marking the rise of institutional trust. The 1931 Registration Act consolidated this transformation, making official documents the basis of legal certainty and archives the institutional memory of trust. In the digital age, a new phase—technological trust—has emerged, transferring credibility from human intermediaries to electronic systems. Yet the moral and cultural foundation of trust remains essential. Employing a descriptive–analytical method grounded in historical, jurisprudential, and sociological approaches, this study demonstrates that the evolution of document validity in Iran reflects an enduring link between legitimacy, trust, and institutional memory—one that connects the traditional notarial register to the modern digital platform.
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Abstract Abstract
The emergence and expansion of the electric power industry, as one of the principal driving forces behind urban modernization, paved the way for the replacement of traditional lighting methods in the city of Sabzevar. The present study employs the historical method and draws upon newly discovered archival documents to examine the process through which the electric power industry was introduced, established, and expanded in the city. The findings indicate that this transformation began in 1928 (1307 SH) through the initiative of Mohammad Sorkhosh-Nia. Subsequently, the efforts of Haj Mohammad Hossein Dowlatabadi and Hossein Ghani in expanding generating capacity and extending the electricity distribution network played a significant role in consolidating and developing the electric power industry. Ultimately, with the establishment of the Sabzevar Regional Electricity Company, scattered individual initiatives were replaced by a centralized and institutionalized system of management. This transformation laid the foundations for the sustainable expansion of the urban electricity network and significantly increased public access to electric power.
Introduction
Sabzevar, as one of the strategic centers located along the Silk Road and one of the principal commercial hubs of Khorasan, has long maintained a pioneering position in the adoption of modern technologies. The introduction of electric power into the city represented not merely a technological innovation but also a turning point in the transformation of its social and economic structures, as well as its system of urban administration. Prior to the establishment of the electric power industry, Sabzevar's urban lighting system relied on traditional lighting devices, including kerosene lamps, oil lanterns, and candles, which were fueled by oil and mazut. Even the efforts undertaken by the private sector in 1930 (1309 SH) to import and sell mantle lamps on an installment basis reflected the growing public demand for higher-quality lighting prior to the establishment and expansion of the urban electricity network.
Despite the significance of this technological transition, existing studies on the local history of Sabzevar, including the works of Bayhaqi, Amin, Seyadati, and Motavalli-Haghighi, as well as specialized studies on the electric power industry in Khorasan, particularly those conducted by Soaloni and his colleagues, have largely been limited to scattered references and lack a structural analysis of the relationship between the development of electric power infrastructure and the city's economic and social transformation. Furthermore, most existing accounts date the establishment of Sabzevar's first power plant to the period between 1930 and 1932 (1309–1311 SH). However, evidence published in contemporary newspapers, particularly Azadi during 1927 and 1928 (1306–1307 SH), indicates that the Municipality of Sabzevar had already initiated efforts to replace the traditional oil-based lighting system with electric lighting. These discrepancies between the prevailing historical narrative and documentary evidence form the basis of the present study and underscore the need for a reassessment of the origins and early development of electrification in Sabzevar.
Accordingly, the gap between the prevailing historical narrative and the available documentary evidence gives rise to the central research question of the present study: How did the transition from the traditional lighting system to an urban electric power system in Sabzevar take place, and what role did local actors play in managing and directing this structural transformation during the period from 1928 to 1978 (1307–1357 SH)?
Research Method
The present study employs the historical method and an analytical approach, drawing upon primary sources and newly discovered archival documents. In order to construct a documented account that extends beyond oral narratives, the study utilizes a diverse collection of archival records and specialized repositories covering the period from 1941 to 1977 (1320–1356 SH). The documentary foundation of this research was established through the collection, examination, and analysis of archival materials preserved in the National Library and Archives of Iran, the Sabzevar Municipality Archives, the Sabzevar City Museum, and, in particular, the specialized archives of institutions associated with the electric power sector, including the Sabzevar Electricity Company Archives and the Sabzevar Electric Power and Industries Joint Stock Company. The documentary corpus comprises a wide variety of materials, including official and personal correspondence, the legal statutes of former electricity companies (notably the Dowlatabadi Lighting Company), and financial records, such as electricity bills.
n this study, documentary content analysis has been employed to reconstruct the process through which the management of the electric power industry evolved from a traditional system to an institutionalized form of administration. The identification, collection, and analysis of these newly discovered archival materials extend beyond the presentation of a descriptive account; rather, they seek to address existing gaps in the economic and social historiography of the Pahlavi Period by providing a structural analysis of the relationship between technical infrastructure and transformations in urban governance. Furthermore, the use of documentary evidence drawn from multiple institutions, together with the cross-examination of their records, substantially enhances the credibility of the research findings and provides a well-documented, coherent, and relatively comprehensive account of the emergence and development of the electric power industry in Sabzevar.
Conclusion
The analysis of the development trajectory of the electric power industry in Sabzevar (1928–1979) demonstrates that this process extended beyond a mere technical transformation and reflected a complex transition from traditional structures to modern patterns during the Pahlavi era. The findings of the study explain this transformation at three analytical levels:
First, from an economic perspective, the development of the electric power industry began with a model based on “individual initiative and merchants’ risk-taking.” The transition from the importation of electrical equipment by pioneers such as Mohammad Sorkhosh-Nia and Dowlatabadi to the establishment of the “Sabzevar Electric Power and Industries Joint Stock Company” in 1947 (1326 SH) indicates the maturation of local investment and the shift from scattered individual activities toward the institutionalization of industrial enterprises.
Second, from a social perspective, the process of electrification reflected the class divisions within society. The existence of a dual system of electricity distribution—distinguishing between meter-based consumption for affluent households and flame-based lighting for lower-income groups—indicates that electric power technology was initially adopted primarily by the commercial sector and the more affluent strata of society before gradually extending to other social groups and urban areas.
Finally, from a structural perspective, the development of the electric power industry in Sabzevar resulted from the interaction between private investment and the facilitating role of public institutions, particularly the Municipality and the Governorate. The management of the industry, which initially emerged through the initiative of local merchants and under local administration, gradually shifted toward state control and the concentration of authority within regional institutions in response to expanding national policies and administrative requirements. Overall, the development of the electric power industry in Sabzevar represents a notable example of the process of urban modernization in Iran's second-tier cities, where the combination of entrepreneurial initiatives by development-oriented merchants and the support of administrative institutions laid the foundation for urban infrastructure development and broader urban transformation.

Abstract This article examines the interaction and connection between two important socio-historical institutions, namely the bazaar and the clergy, in the social context of the city of Mashhad in the years leading up to the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. This research argues that in Mashhad, as one of the prominent religious and political centers of the country, a complex, multi-layered, and intertwined relationship was formed between these two institutions, which played a fundamental role in guiding the revolutionary developments. Using library, documentary, and oral history methods, this article seeks to answer the question of how the institutions of the bazaar and the clergy were connected to each other in religious, economic, social, and political fields, and what effect did this connection have on strengthening popular movements in Mashhad? The main hypothesis of the research is that the existence of an overlapping and interactive network between the bazaar and the clergy was a key factor in strengthening popular movements and resistance against the Pahlavi regime. The research findings show that these two institutions played a complementary role in a strategic and supportive relationship, in such a way that the market received legitimacy and guidance from the clergy, and the clergy received financial and social support from the market.

Abstract Abstract
This study examines the legal and commercial challenges confronting the port of Bushehr during the final years of the Qajar period, drawing on British consular records from 1911–1913 CE (1290–1292 SH). It focuses on identifying the nature of commercial and legal disputes and examining the role of the British Consulate in addressing and pursuing such claims. Employing a historical-analytical approach, combined with documentary research and qualitative content analysis, the study examines a three-page consular document as a case study. The findings indicate that commercial disputes, financial claims, and customs-related issues, amid the weakness of the Qajar state's judicial and executive institutions, created conditions conducive to consular intervention. In this context, the British Consulate went beyond its conventional administrative and diplomatic functions by pursuing claims and protecting British subjects and commercial interests. The document further demonstrates that consular records were not merely administrative accounts of commercial relations; rather, they reflected asymmetrical power relations and functioned as mechanisms through which Britain exercised economic and legal influence within Bushehr's commercial environment.
Extended abstract
Background and Research Problem
During the Qajar period, the port of Bushehr was one of the most important centers of maritime trade and a major hub connecting Iran to the Persian Gulf and international markets. The expansion of commercial activities in the port, accompanied by the growing presence of foreign merchants and companies, gave rise to a range of legal disputes and challenges concerning commercial transactions, financial claims, customs matters, and merchants’ obligations. Under these circumstances, the weaknesses and inadequacies of the Qajar state’s judicial and executive institutions, together with the extensive presence of foreign diplomatic and consular representatives, particularly those of Britain, led some commercial disputes being pursued outside the regular jurisdiction of Iranian official institutions and pursued through consular intervention. Accordingly, the central problem addressed in this study is to examine the nature of the legal challenges surrounding trade in Bushehr and to elucidate the role of the British consulate in addressing such disputes.
Research Objective
The primary objective of this study is to identify the major legal issues and disputes associated with trade in the port of Bushehr and to analyze the manner in which the British consulate intervened in these disputes. The study also seeks to determine the extent to which consular records can illuminate the legal and commercial relations of Bushehr and reveal the relationship between Iran’s judicial institutions and the interests of British subjects and merchants.
Research Method
This study employs a historical-analytical approach based on documentary research. Its primary data are drawn from British consular records concerning the port of Bushehr for the period 1911–1913 (1290–1292 SH). Among these records, a three-page document was selected as a case study, and its contents were examined using qualitative content analysis. The analysis focuses on the types of disputes, the subjects of contention, the parties involved, the manner in which the consulate pursued the cases, and the relationship between legal issues and British economic and political interests.
Research finding
The findings indicate that a substantial proportion of the issues reflected in the document concerned commercial disputes, financial claims, and customs disagreements. The document demonstrates that the British consulate did not merely act as an administrative intermediary in such cases. Rather, through correspondence, the pursuit of claims, and the protection of British subjects and commercial interests, it intervened in the process of resolving disputes. This situation was associated, on the one hand, with the limited capacity of the Qajar state’s judicial and executive institutions to manage commercial disputes effectively and, on the other, with Britain’s stronger economic and political position in the region.
Accordingly, the legal issues reflected in the document cannot be regarded merely as disputes between individuals or merchants. Rather, these claims and disputes emerged within the broader context of political, economic, and legal relations between Iran and Britain.
Conclusion
The examination of the case study demonstrates that British consular records, in addition to their administrative and legal value, constitute an important source for reconstructing the history of trade and legal relations in the port of Bushehr during the final years of the Qajar period. These records indicate that weaknesses in Iran’s domestic legal and judicial structures, together with the growing influence of foreign powers, created conditions in which consular representatives could play an effective role in commercial disputes and in protecting the interests of their nationals. From this perspective, consular records not only reflect the legal challenges associated with trade in Bushehr but also reveal asymmetrical power relations and the interconnectedness of commerce, law, and political influence in southern Iran during the late Qajar period.

Abstract Abstract Persian paintings, particularly the works of Kamāl al-Dīn Behzād, have long been regarded as valuable visual sources for understanding various aspects of historical realities, including lifestyles, clothing, architecture, and related social and cultural practices. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between women’s clothing and the physical characteristics of architectural spaces depicted in Behzād’s miniatures. The main research question is: What relationship exists between women’s clothing and architectural features in Behzād’s miniatures? The study adopts a descriptive-analytical method and a qualitative approach. The study population of the study comprises 13 miniatures attributed to Kamāl al-Dīn Behzād. The findings indicate that there is a limited relationship between women’s clothing as depicted in the miniatures and the types of architectural spaces. This relationship was observed primarily in certain chromatic correspondences between women’s clothing and architectural elements, with some miniatures exhibiting a degree of color harmony between the characters’ garments and the colors employed within the architectural spaces. However, no significant relationship was observed in other elements, including the form of women’s clothing and the relationship between the decorative motifs of garments and architectural elements. The simultaneous presence of clothing and architecture in the miniatures appears to have been shaped more by the painter’s artistic choices, the demands of artistic expression, and the narrative nature of the works than by an intention to provide an accurate representation of the social realities of the period. literature of review To date, numerous studies have been conducted on Timurid miniature painting, women’s clothing, and architectural spaces, each addressing one aspect of the subject under investigation in the present study. Razannejad Yazdi et al. (2017), in their article entitled “An Examination of the Social Status of Women with an Emphasis on Women’s Clothing in Timurid-Era Miniatures,” analyze women’s clothing as depicted in the miniatures of this period. According to this study, women in the Timurid period were depicted in the miniatures in accordance with their social status: court women portrayed in luxurious clothing, while women from the general population were depicted in simpler clothing. Mohammadi (2024), in the article entitled “An Examination of the Social Status of Court Women in Timurid Miniatures,” analyzes the roles of women at court and the ways in which they were represented in Timurid miniatures; however, the study focuses primarily on the courtly context rather than on architectural elements. This study demonstrates that Timurid miniature painting was not merely an artistic form but also a significant visual source for understanding the roles, social status, and lifestyles of women of the Timurid dynasty within the political and cultural context of the period. Kazempour et al. (2018), in their article entitled “Reconstructing Timurid Architectural Ornamentation in the Miniatures of Kamāl al-Dīn Behzād,” provide a detailed analysis of architectural ornamentation in Behzād’s works. An examination of three works by Kamāl al-Dīn Behzād reveals that key features of Timurid architecture—including arches, portals, architectural forms, tilework, and characteristic decorative elements—are represented across settings such as bathhouses, palaces, and mosques. David J. Roxburgh (1999), in his article entitled “Kamāl al-Dīn Behzād and the Concept of Authorship in Persian Painting,” argues that, through innovative compositional strategies, close attention to the details of everyday life, the depiction of diverse human expressions, and the careful integration of figures with their spatial settings, Kamāl al-Dīn Behzād introduced a new form of realism into Persian miniature painting. This new form of realism was not merely the product of Behzād’s individual genius; rather, it emerged from the interplay of established workshop traditions, courtly patronage, and the growing need to render the social realities of his time in a more tangible and perceptible manner. The distinctive feature of the present study lies in its comparative examination of the relationship between women’s clothing and the architectural features of the spaces depicted in the miniatures. In most previous studies, attention has been devoted exclusively to one of these two elements, while the relationship between them has received comparatively limited analytical attention. Research method This study adopts a qualitative approach and employs a descriptive-analytical research methodology. All miniatures relevant to the subject of this study were collected from a range of sources and systematically examined. A comparative analysis was then conducted across elements such as clothing styles, colors, spatial settings, motifs, and decorative elements in order to determine whether a relationship exists between women’s clothing and architectural features. Study population Based on the scholars of miniatures’ examination, a total of 99 miniatures attributed to Kamāl al-Dīn Behzād were identified in which architectural elements are depicted with notable precision and diversity. In the present study, a total of 13 miniatures from illustrated Timurid manuscripts attributed to Kamāl al-Dīn Behzād were subjected to detailed analysis. The aim was to comparatively examine architectural features and women’s clothing within a common analytical framework. Of the 13 miniatures examined, only two examples, selected for their particularly close correspondence and clarity in the representation of the subject. Conclusion Given the realism associated with Behzād’s miniature painting and the longstanding interplay between architecture and patterns of life, one would expect women’s clothing in these miniatures to correspond more closely with the architectural features of the depicted settings. However, the findings indicate that this relationship is reflected only to a limited extent, primarily through color and other minor forms of visual correspondence. This negative finding is nevertheless significant, as it demonstrates that even in ostensibly realistic miniatures, the visual representation of everyday life—particularly women’s clothing—does not necessarily correspond to the same degree of specificity or fidelity as the representation of architectural features. In other words, the limited correspondence between women’s clothing and architectural features should not be regarded as a shortcoming of the study; rather, it highlights the representational constraints of Timurid miniature painting and provides a basis for comparative studies of other artistic schools and periods.

Abstract Graffiti is a means of communication for those who want to share their thoughts with others. During the Islamic Revolution of the Iranian nation, graffiti became an important medium as a method of political and social activism in a short time and, along with other means of mass communication, played a significant role in arousing public opinion against the Pahlavi regime, so that in the second half of 1978, graffiti in various forms and themes formed part of the discourse of struggle. In the meantime, some photographers, with or without paying attention to this category, recorded images of graffiti in cities. The photos that are today referred to as documentary photos can play an important role in understanding and perceiving the messages of the people who took to the streets at that time and shouted these demands and beliefs. In the city of Mashhad, these graffiti can also be seen in a number of images taken by photographers at that time. This article attempts to re-read the graffiti with a documentary approach and in a descriptive-analytical manner, examining the messages and concepts of graffiti during the revolution in the city of Mashhad, and to some extent help understand the intellectual angles and demands of the people and the reasons for their uprising and protest.

Abstract One of the important issues in explaining the Iranian bureaucracy is the study of its financial and accounting organization in the past centuries. This organization, called "Istifa", has undergone certain changes and developments. Research on each of its components can help to understand the Iranian financial and economic system. One of the issues that has been less addressed is the financial offices in the Iranian bureaucracy. What these offices were and what changes they had in terms of number, type and function is the main issue of the present article. The aim of this article is to identify these offices and their thematic division during the period in question.
The statistical population studied was mostly sources and treatises on Siyaq and Istifa. This article has been compiled using a descriptive-historical method.
The results of this research show that the number of offices changed in the period in question, the largest number being related to the fourth century and the smallest to the twelfth century and the Afshari period. In terms of function, the books can be divided into income books, expense books, and books that were more specifically dedicated to recording the income and expenses of the provinces. Of course, some books were compiled for budget forecasting, which was more obvious in the Qajar period. Some of these books, such as journals and documents, existed in all periods, while others were specific to a period or were merged into other books. A thematic study of the books shows that the Iranian financial organization followed a systematic process for recording financial calculations.

Abstract Policymakers generate digital records on a daily basis, a portion of which is preserved in archival repositories. However, access to these archival resources remains severely restricted for a multitude of reasons, including data protection, information sensitivity, national security concerns, and intellectual property rights. Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds significant potential for enhancing access to archives, yet its application in this domain remains largely experimental. Beyond the skill gaps that contribute to the continued obscurity of archives, it is imperative to examine issues of distrust and misunderstanding. This paper argues that although public officials, archivists, and academics are guided by similar professional principles—often codified in their respective ethical codes—these principles are seldom shared or transparently communicated across these professional boundaries. This lack of dialogue fosters a climate of mutual distrust among stakeholders. Furthermore, a distinct distrust in the technology itself presents a significant barrier to the effective implementation of AI tools. Consequently, the authors propose that the explicit articulation and discovery of a shared professional ethic among stakeholders can serve as a foundation for deeper human collaboration. Such collaboration, in turn, is posited to catalyze the development of trust in AI systems and tools. This research is grounded in semi-structured interviews with thirty experts, including public officials, archivists, historians, digital humanities scholars, and computer scientists. Previous research has predominantly focused on the preservation of digital records rather than on access to them and has centered more on the role of archivists than on that of records producers, such as public officials. This article represents a pioneering effort to examine the application of AI in digital archives through the critical lenses of trust and collaboration across the entire records continuum.

Abstract Mashhad is one of the historical cities of Iran, formed based on the existence of a holy place. Several written documents have described Mashhad, but so far, no study can be found that has described the boundaries and structure of its historical neighborhoods. Applying a descriptive-analytical method, this applied research explored a document from Golestan Palace as a case. It tried to answer the question: How was the morphology of Mashhad’s historical neighborhoods in the Qajar period, based on Colonel Julius Delmage’s map? The results showed that the administration system of Mashhad was based on six major neighborhoods. Every neighborhood, based on spatial features and residents, had different structures and different service pilgrimage spaces. All of these have been formed based on their accessibility to the central pilgrimage space of Mashhad and its gates. The formation of most caravanserais in the Paein Khiaban, Sarshour, and Noghan neighborhoods indicates more pilgrimages in them. Moreover, most of urban service spaces and guard places had been located in Sarab neighborhood, indicating that this neighborhood was the resident of the nobles. Eidgah neighborhood is considered the most religious neighborhood of Mashhad as it embraces more mosques and tekyehs, while the central part of the city and Sarab and Noghan neighborhoods are more famous for education.

Abstract Mashhad as the capital of Afsharid dynasty and holding the holy shrine of Imam Reza, experienced many ups and downs over Afsharid period. All trustees of Astan Quds were of Sadat Razavi and Hosseini families, but their power and authority diminished over time, as the dominant power of the Afsharid dynasty was settled in Mashhad and the kings could control and interfere more easily with different matters of Astan Quds Razavi. Nader Shah and his successors usually made decisions for the trustees on the way of managing Astan Quds, on the way of its cooperation with other organizations and government agents, and on other significant issues. The trustees’ activities and power were limited and the number of employees was reduced in this period. Holding Shias’ specific religious and ritual ceremonies like those common in the Safavid era became more confined. The religious ceremonies of Muslims, especially Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and Iranians’ national celebration (i.e., Eid Nowruz) were hold magnificently. Nader Shah specifically emphasized on building and developing religious places, maintained his relationship with Shia scholars and employed them in managing the administrative organization of the Holy Shrine and Jame’ Mosques. This study tried to explore Nader’s religious policies and behavior using the mentioned issues and the survived documents from the period.

Abstract Titles are of the main yet under-researched issues in Qajar era. This study aimed to investigate the titles in Astan Quds Razavi and their relationship with seals in the organization in the Qajar era. Discussing such issues as the history of titles in Iran and Astan Quds Razavi in Qajar era, this study explored the relationship between titles and family seals, personal seals, and jobs and the reasons and ways the titles were produced. This study tried to fill the gap regarding the titles and their relationships with the seals and their functions in administrative parts. The results showed that following the formation and proliferation of some titles in the Qajar era, various titles began to be used in the administrative organizations of Astan Quds Razavi. The survived titles can be categorized into hereditary and non-hereditary under family, personal, and job titles. Titles are issued by the king, custodian and governor of Khorasan and their holders were bestowed, given the requested title, the occupational and financial prestige. Seemingly, there has been a direct relationship between the seal and the titles in Qajar era. Many of the title holders added the title to their seals as a criterion.

Abstract This research tried to investigate the initiatives and activities of Rahim Khan Chalabianlou, one of the Khans and heads of tribes in Azerbaijan, in misleading the goals of the constitutional revolution and constitutionalists in Azerbaijan area. Moreover, the study delt with the important issue of the role of Russians in fueling the movements. The research hypothesis is that Russians influenced Rahim Khan’s initiatives and movements to mislead the constitutional revolution and to interference in Azerbaijan region. They sometimes overtly showed their cooperation and sometimes they covertly cooperated. Rahim Khan's initiatives like suppressing the revolution of people of Tabriz and making insecure the Azerbaijan region through attacking the telegraph office and cutting the telegraph wires, robbing the postal packages sent from Europe, attacking Ardabil, and conquering the city paved the way for Russia's interference in Iran’s affairs, especially the northern Iran that they assumed their influence area competing with the British government. The study used a descriptive-analytical method and focused on documents and library resources. The results showed that among the initiatives of Rahim Khan were leading Chalabianlou Tribe in attacking Tabriz in the constitutional period, killing Azerbaijani constitutionalists, and making insecure the trading routes of the region. Alongside the attacks, the tsar Russian government supported covertly Rahim Khan’s initiatives and activities. 

Abstract The territorial disputes with neighboring countries and internal insecurities in the Qajar period made it necessary to implement governmental reforms in the army structure. Taking an analytical approach, focusing on archives, and relying on documents of Astan Quds Razavi over 1268-1292 AH, this study tried to examine the organizational structure of the Qajar army. This study intended to see how the organizational structure of the Qajar army was and what the position of arsenal section (Qourkhaneh) was in this structure. Reviewing the related literature showed lack of conducting studies on this issue. The results showed that the Iranian army during this period, despite its inefficiencies, featured with a cohesive system divided into four sections: cavalry, infantry, artillery, and the arsenal. This structure was part of a higher hierarchical structure that embraced Qajar Khans, royal and provincial servant cavalry, military corps (including adjutants and pioneers), soldier corps (including infantry soldiers), and extra-military corps (including small local cavalry and infantry units). In this structure, the arsenal came under the pioneers section and was responsible for fabricating and repairing weapons as well as providing the necessities. The section was composed of the people of two sub-sections: officials and manufacturers, whose salaries and wages were paid through drafts.

Abstract The genealogy of old families and examining their social activities indicate that certain professions have been hereditary and continued for many generations, so that the occupations would be considered part of their historical identity. Examining the history of influential families of Mashhad shows that hereditary professions, even artistic or religious ones, continued for several generations in some families associated with the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (AS). Regarding medicine, some member of old families have been well-known to the people of Mashhad for several generations as physicians. The Shamlu family is considered one of the old families of Mashhad, whose genealogy indicates the presence of physicians for three generations (i.e., from Mirza Gholam Ali Sadr al-Ateba’ to his descendants). This study sought is to explore the history of the Shamlu family and the continuation of the medical profession within this family. Therefore, through examining family documents and oral history, this study dealt with two fundamental questions about the history of this family, medical narratives, and family heritage.

Abstract Among the few endowment deeds of Astan Quds Razavi survived from the Timurid period is a copy of endowment deed belong to Khajeh Jalal al-Din Ahmad Estarabadi. According to the document that has been recorded in a literary-historical collection of the nine and early 10^th century (AH), the holder endowed a Tekyeh and a Bath in Estarabad to the lightening of Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (as) and helping the poor Muslims. The results showed that the endower and the trustees was among the Shiite authorities and Sadats of Estarabad in the Timurid and early Safavid periods. Moreover, the results showed that Estarabad was one of the most significant Shiite centers in the period, and some prominent scholars of the region served in the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (as). The properties specified by the endowment have become part of the neighborhoods of Estarabad following the expansion of this city in later periods. Moreover, due to the expansion of the Holy Shrine and the increase of pilgrims, an increasing need of the Holy Shrine has been providing lighting and supporting pilgrims.