Review of the personal collection of A. A. Bashmakov and M. N. Bashmakova in the Bakhmeteff Archive of Russian & East European Culture

Abstract

The subject of the study is the archival fund of A. A. Bashmakov and M. N. Bashmakova in the famous archive of Russian emigration - the Bakhmeteff Archive. Most of the documents consist of correspondence, manuscripts of essays, lectures, copies of publications by A. A. Bashmakov and M. N. Bashmakova created during their life in Paris (1924-1958). After the death of Maria Nikolaevna, Alexander Chekan, priest of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Paris, donated their collection to the archive. The purpose of the article is to introduce the contents of this archival fund to Russian researchers, which is of significant interest to specialists in the history of emigration, foreign archival Rossica, and the history of the Civil War. The article presents documents which highlight Mr. and Mrs. Bashmakov's family ties, circle of contacts, scientific and social activities, publications. The author reviewed an extensive archival material, not introduced into scientific circulation before, gave an overview of it, noted a number of remarkable documents that provide new information about the activities of A. A. Bashmakov and his wife in pre-revolutionary Russia and in emigration, and their socio-political views. Despite the presence of several articles about A. A. Bashmakov, valuable archival materials remained outside the field of view of researchers, including his personal collection in the Bakhmeteff Archive. The materials of this archive, difficult to access for Russian researchers, have not been used before in scientific works. In addition to issues related to A. A. Bashmakov’s contacts with other émigré figures, the article is the first to study in detail the origin and content of the memoirs of his wife M. N. Bashmakova and daughter N. A. Bashmakova.