Journal of Socio-Cultural Studies of Khorasan

Journal of Socio-Cultural Studies of Khorasan

An Examination of the Supervisory, Interactive and Service Functions of the Civil Registry Office: The Case of Birjand Civil Registry (1928–1971)

Author
Akram Naseri
Assistant Professor, Department of History Education, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/fakh.2025.498949.1704
Abstract
Introduction
Members of society and other social institutions interact with and refer to the Civil Registry Office in various ways. In fact, the needs of these institutions and individuals were considered in the foundational goals of this office during the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi. Reza Shah required personal identity information of eligible individuals to implement mandatory military conscription. Moreover, identity documents were essential for school enrollment and numerous other administrative matters. Since its establishment, the functions of the Civil Registry Office have evolved and expanded, with its supervisory role becoming increasingly prominent in recent years (Alizadeh Birjandi et al., 2019, p. 59).
This study aims to investigate the functions of the Birjand Civil Registry Office from 1928 to 1971 (1307 to 1350 in the Iranian calendar), focusing on the methods used for registering the four vital events (birth, marriage, divorce, and death), changes in individuals' identity information, and the office's interactions with other government institutions. The research seeks to answer the following questions:

What were the main functions of the Civil Registry during the years 1928–1971?
How did the Birjand Civil Registry interact with other government agencies?

Regarding the review of previous research, it should be noted that no independent study has been conducted specifically to explore the factors influencing the functions of the Birjand Civil Registry in recording the four vital events, methods of documentation before the establishment of the registry, the office’s interactions with government agencies, or the process of issuing identification documents during 1928–1971. This gap highlights the novelty of the topic, the originality of the evidence, and its emphasis on archival documents.
 
Methodology
This study aims to examine the functions of the Birjand Civil Registry Office during the years 1928 to 1971 (1307–1350 in the Iranian calendar). It analyzes methods used for recording the four vital events (birth, marriage, divorce, and death), changes in individuals' identity information, and the office’s interactions with other governmental organizations. The research draws on a variety of sources, including archival documents, official records, and oral history interviews conducted with employees of the Civil Registry Office, to evaluate the role of this institution during the specified period.
 
Findings
The available documents and correspondence concerning the functions of the Civil Registry Office can be categorized into three main areas.
- Supervisory Functions
The content of the Civil Registry Office’s documents reveals its supervisory role. These include the verification of registered information against social and familial realities, the monitoring and evaluation of the accuracy of vital event registration, oversight of registry officials’ performance, and the investigation of ambiguous or incomplete cases (Interview with Morteza Amirabadizadeh, Director General of the Civil Registry Office of South Khorasan Province, 14 Azar 1403 [December 5, 2024]).
- Interactive Functions
This category includes correspondence and interactions between the Birjand Civil Registry Office and other governmental and local institutions. These documents emphasize external cooperation and coordination with both governmental and non-governmental bodies for data provision and administrative collaboration. Examples include various requests and referrals to other institutions, cooperation with local organizations and government bodies to access information resources, and administrative coordination for updating data (ibid).
-  Service Functions
As a governmental institution, the Civil Registry Office is responsible for a range of public services. These include name and surname changes, issuing birth certificates, correcting personal information, and providing replacement identity documents. Such services facilitate citizens’ legal and administrative affairs. Additionally, by safeguarding and securing individuals’ data, the office protects citizen identity and helps prevent identity fraud. The introduction of electronic and online services is part of the office’s effort to improve accessibility and convenience for the public (ibid).
 
Discussion and Conclusion
The documents and correspondence from the Birjand Civil Registry Office reflect three major aspects of its functions: supervisory, interactive, and service-oriented. In the area of supervisory functions, the records demonstrate the office’s involvement in issuing birth certificates as an administrative tool for individual identification, issuing death certificates (including for foreign nationals), holding dispute resolution committees to address discrepancies in identity documents, approving personal names, and registering marriages and divorces.
The interactive functions, as reflected in the available documents, include activities such as requesting birth certificates from students during school visits, verifying student identities—particularly age—at the time of school enrollment, and referring individuals with inappropriate surnames to the Department of Statistics and Civil Registration. Other examples of interactive functions include letters exchanged between the Civil Registry and the Tazkira Office, requiring the presentation of a birth certificate when obtaining a tazkira (national identity document). Additional documents refer to communication between various branches of the Khorasan Civil Registry concerning staff transfers. The registry's correspondence with marriage and divorce notary offices further exemplifies this dimension of its operations.
In terms of service functions, the Civil Registry has played a key role in facilitating citizens' legal and administrative affairs through services such as name and surname changes, issuing birth certificates for newborns, correcting identity information, and providing replacements for lost documents. Based on these findings, it becomes evident that the Birjand Civil Registry Office has played a vital role in both foundational data registration and broader societal organization. Through its supervisory, interactive, and service functions, it has contributed significantly to population oversight, administrative efficiency, and social order.
Keywords
Civil Registry Office
Birjand
Identity Document
Birth Certificate
Function

Subjects

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List of SAKMA Documents
19/99714, 1/7309, 14/7675, 23/164636, 17/164636, 15/164643, 1/5985, 2/5985, 1/175074, 2829, 1/4108, 1/71255, 2/71255, 164643, 4/164648, 18/164636, 3/164648, 24/164636, 1/156208
 List of Archive Documents of the Civil Registration Office of Birjand
9740, 8639, 8640, 1/9693, 8752, 8712, 9802, 9803, 9802, 9804, 9600, 9596, 16/15/14/13/12/11/10/6/5/4/3/2/9601, 60/9601, 9657, 9791, 82/80/79/73/63/9601, 71/9601, 9752, 9767, 9771, 9775, 9723, 9750
 List of Documents from the South Khorasan Educational Research Institute
2744, Folder 13A, 899, Folder 4A, 2719, Folder 13A
 List of Documents from Astan Quds
Document No. 2/71559, Organization of Documents and Library of Astan Quds Razavi
Interviews
Amirabadizadeh, Morteza, Director General of Civil Registration of South Khorasan Province, 14/9/1403 [December 4, 2024].
Khajavi Furg, Feyzollah, Deputy and Archive Manager of the Civil Registration Office of Birjand, 10/9/1403 [November 30, 2024].
Roshani, Gholam Abbas, Deputy and Acting Head of the Civil Registration Office during 1958–1980 (1337–1359 SH), 12/9/1403 [December 2, 2024].
Ziaie Ahmad, Archivist in charge of Identity Documents and Public Relations Officer at the Civil Registration Office of South Khorasan Province, 3/9/1403 [November 24, 2024].
Ghos, Kamal, Grandson of Sheikh Mohammad Gawth, 26/6/1398 [June 17, 2019].

  • Receive Date 09 January 2025
  • Revise Date 23 January 2025
  • Accept Date 05 March 2025