OPENING OF THE MUSEUM OF V.I. CHAPAYEV IN CHEBOKSARY AND THE FIRST YEARS OF HIS WORK ACCORDING TO ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS

Abstract

Chapaev is one of the most famous natives of Cheboksary. His name is known not only on the territory of our country, but also abroad. One of the ways to perpetuate the memory of the legendary commander in his homeland was the opening of a museum. The purpose of the study is to analyze the prerequisites for the opening of the Museum of V.I. Chapaev in Cheboksary, to identify the main stages of its creation and the main directions of its activity in the late 1960s – 1970s. Materials and methods. The main research methods were the method of analysis of archival documents and the historical-genetic method. Archival documents have survived that allow you to recreate the history of the emergence of the museum and the organization of its work. Research results. The article provides information about the work done by the staff of the Chuvash Republican Museum of Local Lore in preparing the exposition of the new museum in the 1970s. The attention is focused on the sections of the exposition, which consecrated the periods of life of V.I. Chapaev; described the history of military units associated with the name of the legendary commander; and also talked about the works of literature and the film dedicated to him. On the basis of archival documents, the main directions of the museum’s activity in the first years of its work are revealed: exposition and exhibition, which consisted in the preparation of thematic exhibitions; research, expressed in the study of new publications on the biography of V.I. Chapaev and the history of military units, in the creation of which he was directly involved; collecting, aimed at finding new materials on the topics of the sections of the exposition; cultural and educational, consisting mainly of excursions and lectures. The authors paid special attention to the main events of the first years of the new museum’s activity. Among them are memorable dates dedicated to 60th anniversary of the death of V.I. Chapaev and the 90th anniversary of his birth. Entire complexes of events were timed to coincide with these dates, in preparation for which extensive work was carried out. This work was reflected in the organization of thematic exhibitions, meetings with honored guests, lectures, etc. The article notes the role of A.A. Rozhkova, A.E. Shurkina, V.I. Brovchenkova in organizing the work of the museum. Conclusions. Already from the first years of work, the Museum of V.I. Chapaev has become one of the most visited cultural sites in Cheboksary. It is this museum that is the central “place of memory”, which helps to perpetuate the memory of the legendary commander of the Civil War.