Abstract

Introduction. The article examines the charitable activities of the American Relief Administration, known as the ARA, during the famine of 1921-1923 in Simbirsk province. Materials and methods. The research is based mainly on previously unpublished archival materials. Photocopies of the documents of the so-called Russian Mission of the ARA itself, transferred by the Archive of the Hoover Institute to the State Archive of the Russian Federation, documents of the State Archive of the Russian Federation and the State Archive of the Modern History of Ulyanovsk region, were used. The periodical Russian and American press of those years and other sources are also analyzed. The methodological basis for writing this work was general scientific, source-based and special historical methods. Results. The author thoroughly examines the charitable activities of the foreign philanthropic organization. For the first time, they have shown the scale of supplies of food and medicines to the suffering population of this Russian territory. With some wary attitude towards foreigners on the part of the Soviet authorities, the author especially notes their support for the activities of the ARA, which saved the population from starvation and disease. The article notes the positive role of authorized representatives of the central Soviet government, the local Bolshevik party organization, the police and the Chekists in the rapid promotion of foreign aid and the protection of ARA cargo. At the same time, some difficulties in the relationship between Soviet officials and foreign philanthropists are shown. Basically, as can be seen from the article, they were objective in nature. Conclusion. The author concludes that the help of the American organization was very important for the hungry and sick population of the Simbirsk province. The ARA worked closely and productively with the local authorities in the rescue of people. It saved the lives of tens of thousands of people and contributed to the restoration of the economic life of this territory.

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