Обзор писем С. О. Шмидта к С. М. Томсинскому из фонда Государственного архива Пермского края. 1963-1982 гг.

Abstract

The article reviews letters of the outstanding Russian scientist, educator, and public figure Sigurd Ottovich Schmidt (1922–2013) to the Perm historian Solomon Markovich Tomsinsky (1905–84). The letters are stored in S. M. Tomsinsky’s personal provenance fond in the State Archive of the Perm Region. Chronologically, 23 letters cover the period from 1963 to 1982 . The letters are typewritten, their authenticity is confirmed by S. O. Schmidt's personal signature. The main topic of correspondence is creation in Perm of the Department of the Archeographic Commission of Academy of Sciences of the USSR and of the Ural Archeographic Yearbook. The letters testify to active participation of Sigurd Ottovich in these processes. In 1968, when he was the head of the Archeographic Commission of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, Schmidt’s first letter to S. M. Tomsinsky proposes an idea of creating the Commission’s branch in Perm, as is the case with Vologda and Siberia, and of establishing a publication similar to “Archeographic Yearbook” on “local” topics, but of a broader profile. The letters discuss structure of the proposed anthology, its status, composition of the editorial board. The letters indicate that S. O. Schmidt attached great importance to the educational component of historical science, in which connection he expressed his wish for involvement of a wide range of authors from various scientific centers in Moscow, Leningrad, the Ural region, Siberia. He advised to involve employees of archives, museums, local historians (for example, B. N. Nazarovsky, L. S. Kashikhin). As a professor, he considered it important to publish students’ and postgraduates’ papers in the yearbook. In general, S. O. Schmidt’s wishes were respected, and in 1971 the first “Ural Archeographic Yearbook” was published and highly appreciated by him. Also S. O. Schmidt’s letters shared his scientific plans, offered brief information on work trips, mentioned acquaintances and colleagues. Discussion of books that S. M. Tomsinsky sent to Sigurd Ottovich held a special place in the correspondence. Sharing his impressions, the author raised the problem of local history studies; he considered several publications in the context of his own or his correspondent's scientific interests and also judging on their contribution to the development of national historical thought and to the broadening of its agenda. The correspondence bespeaks of warm relations between two scientists. The letters contain information on their professional interests and highlight the process of creating the “Ural Archeographic Yearbook,” being an important source testifying to versatile interests of S. O. Schmidt and his contribution to the national historical science.