A. V. Shemansky's contribution to the preservation of the former royal residence in Peterhof

Abstract

The study is devoted to the activities of A.V. Shemansky in the museum organization established on the basis of the former Peterhof imperial residence in 1925-1937. A student of Leningrad University, who has gained experience in preserving the historical and artistic heritage in his native Tambov province, gets a job in the Management staff of the Peterhof palaces-museums. In the mid-1920s, there was an active search for new forms and contents of museums. Unsuccessful experiments led to the closure of expositions and the repurposing of former royal palaces for the needs of the young Soviet state. A.V. Shemansky joined the working group on the creation of a new type of museum exposition from the first days of his work. The study of the activities of A.V. Shemansky as deputy for scientific work made it possible to consider the policy of power in relation to the symbols of the royal system on the example of the Peterhof palace. The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, objectivism and systematic scientific analysis. The article is based on extensive archival materials from various repositories and pre-war travel guides to Peterhof and the suburbs. The scientific activity of A.V. Shemansky has not yet become the subject of a separate study. The name of the Peterhof researcher is often found in studies of the biographies of his closest associates: N.I. Arkhipov and S.S. Geichenko. Also, the activity of our hero is noted in the works devoted to the method of thematic exposition. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that, based on specific historical material, the ways of creating museum expositions in the conditions of the prevailing state ideology are shown. The study reveals the importance of the role of A.V. Shemansky in the development and popularization of Peterhof Palace museums. A. V. Shemansky was a true guardian of cultural heritage, opposing the closure of museums and the transformation of historical sites into parks of culture and recreation. In the name of the true mission of the museum business, A. V. Shemansky sacrificed himself and survived a terrible ordeal, going through the investigation and the camp.