История создания коллекции В. П. Ермолаева как части этнографического источника изучения материальной и духовной культуры тувинского этноса (часть 1)

Abstract

Goals. The article deals with one of the most unique collections of Tuva’s National Museum ― a collection of photo documents compiled by its first director, expert in local history, photographer Vladimir P. Yermolaev (1892-1982). Materials. The paper describes the development of V. P. Yermolaev’s collection, its subject, structure and chronological framework. The collection of photo documents by V. P. Yermolaev comprises two segments ― photographs and negatives (glass and film ones) numbering over 4,000 storage items. The V. P. Yermolaev Collection is unique in that it presents somewhat earliest photographs of Tuva’s territory, glimpses of Tuvan people’s life. The earliest photographs date back to 1913. Results. The article systematizes the collection thematically. The photographic heritage of V. P. Yermolaev mirrors everyday life of the feudal Tuva, the Civil War period, formation of industry and transport, development of culture and arts in the Tuvan People’s Republic (TNR), participation of the TNR in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945, etc. The history of receipt and formation of the collection is also paid special attention to. Conclusion. The study reveals that the formation of the collection was gradual and lasted over several decades. The insight into museum records and photo documents as such concludes that V. P. Yermolaev’s collection of photo documents comprises not only negatives but also albums with control prints and photographs largely supplemented with the author’s own comments. The analysis allows concluding that V. P. Yermolaev was one of the first researchers to have used photography as a key method of data collection and research of Tuva’s sociocultural development.