On the Fontanka River by the Obukhov Bridge: Economic Activities of the Russian Academy in the 1780s — 1790s

Abstract

The entire history of the St. Petersburg Imperial Russian Academy (1783—1841), being relatively short, can be divided into two periods: the first, which took place on the Fontanka embankment, and the second — on Vasilievsky Island. The article deals with the first period of this institution’s activity associated with the names of Catherine II, E. R. Dashkova, Paul I. However, the research does not focus on publishing the first dictionary of the Russian language or other scholarly works of academicians who already have a rich bibliography, but on the events of economic nature. The article traces the Academy's initial search for temporary premises, followed by acquiring its own real estate; it analyzes the financial side of its existence — budget and off-budget income — ways to increase capital, construction activities and dealing with renters. The author also examines the events which resulted in the loss of the entire economic complex created by the Russian Academy on the Fontanka embankment. The main sources of the research were archival documents: minutes of the Russian Academy’s meetings, account books, business correspondence.