Alexander Semenovich Latsinsky and the restoration of the General Staff Library in the 1900s

Abstract

The author examines the contribution of Alexander Semenovich Latsinsky, librarian of the General Staff Library, to the revival of the institution after the fire of 1900, and his work up to his resignation in 1910. Latsinsky was the author of several military historical works. Despite working for the library since 1874, Latsinsky did not have relations with some of his immediate superiors, which did not prevent him from receiving support in publishing works from the military ministers. Being the oldest employee of the General Staff, Latsinsky was dissatisfied with his status and repeatedly applied for advancing his rank. The repair works after the library fire took about 10 years. The military authorities allocated large sums for the library revival and monitored the quality of the work performed. The library collection was often moved from place to place before finally it was put on shelves on the library premises. But even in such conditions, the library collection was being developed, in particular with the private collections of generals A. K. Puzyrevsky, D. P. Dokhturov, and K. I. Velichko. The contribution of the special library commission made it possible to arrange the books on the bookshelves in a short time frame.