Imperial Russian Geographical Society Research Articles

Libraries of the European branches of Imperial Russian Geographical Society

The author reviews the history and development of the libraries of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society European branches, namely the Caucasusian, North-Western and South-Western. The library network of the Geographical Society branches supported local scientists and researchers in their studies. The libraries were established through the donations made by the members, other individuals and institutions. Apart from the donations, the library collections were developed through the book exchange. The branches’ own publishing practice facilitated the expansion of book exchange relations with other scientific institutions. The European branches of the Geographical Society published periodicals and continuing publications such as “Bulletins”, “News”, and “Reports”. The book exchange was negatively affected by the First World War and revolutionary events, which resulted in almost absolute termination of contacts with foreign scientific societies.The development of libraries of European branches of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society was inextricably linked with contributing individuals and often depended on the selfless and gratuitous work of employees. The libraries of European branches of the Geographical Society proved to be the centers for science promotion, and their extensive book exchange contacts with national and foreign scientific institutions contributed to the creation and development of sustainable scientific communications.

MICROHISTORICAL STUDIES ON THE EXAMPLE OF RESIDENTS OF THE SAIRAM REGION

In the article, the microhistory of Sairam district is recognized from a new angle, taking as an example. At the same time, an overview of the development of the direction of microhistory is given, giving an understanding of the concept of microhistory. In this context, the views of Italian scientists K. Poni, E. Grandi, J. Levy on the formation of microhistory were analyzed. Researchers of Kazakhstan Abdrakhmanova K.K., Bisembayeva L.A. and other collective studies are reviewed by the method of microhistory. In the course of the article, a general description of Sairam's life at the beginning of the last century was given. In this context, the researches of historian-professor S. Zholdasov were put forward. Famous scientist J. Levi's questions from his sources, starting from demographic indicators, family structures and relations, land-related operations, the demographic situation and population composition, tribal composition, land-related relations in Sairam district were comparatively noted. Due to the lack of tax standards in the land tax policy of the Soviet government in Sairam, there was a mass protest of small people, that is, peasants. As a result, riots and even rampage took place. In the article, as an archival source, the information of the Turkestan department of the "Imperial Russian-Geographical Society" about the population list and composition of the population of Shymkent uyezd in 1922 is given. Opinions were also raised about the names of Karabulak and Mankent settlements in Sairam district. Analyzes were also made on how the different ethnic groups who lived in these settlements tried to distinguish themselves and preserve their peculiarities. A comparative evaluation of the speech style of Karabulak and Mankent Uzbek ethnic groups compared to Tashkent Uzbeks and their sound phonemes is given.

The Role of Scientific Institutions of the Orenburg Region in the Imperial Policy of Acculturation in the Second Half of the 19th — Early 20th Century

The article deals with the actual problem of the influence of scientific institutions of the Orenburg Region on the imperial policy of acculturation of nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples of the Russian Empire in the second half of the 19th — early 20th century. The author states that, despite the turn made by modern researchers from the so-called “colonial approach” to a more flexible concept of “acculturation”, a number of problems still remain little studied. In particular, we are talking about the role of local scientific and educational institutions in the implementation of the imperial policy of acculturation. In the border Orenburg Region in the second half of the 19th — early 20th century, three scientific institutions functioned: the Orenburg Provincial Statistical Committee, the Orenburg Department of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society and the Orenburg Scientific Archival Commission. Created largely on the initiative of the provincial authorities, these institutions were supposed to carry out not only a comprehensive study of the Orenburg Region, but also nomadic peoples living in Central Asia, on the one hand to answer the question of the possibility of spreading the influence of Russian civilization and culture, and on the other to develop specific mechanisms of acculturation policy. Based on the analysis of published and unpublished sources, the author identifies the following mechanisms of acculturation used by scientific institutions of the Orenburg Region: ethnographic and statistical research, museification and construction of the historical narrative of nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples. The author believes that Orenburg researchers, having collected a significant array of sources on the history, ethnography, culture and life of nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples, played an important role in preserving their ethnoidentity.

TURGAI REGION IN PRE-REVOLUTIONARY WORKS: IN THE CONTEXT OF “NEW IMPERIAL HISTORY”

The article deals with the Russian historiographical tradition of the pre-revolutionary period in relation to the Turgai region. The contribution of the main institutions of this region is analyzed: the Orenburg department of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society, the Turgai regional statistical committee, the Orenburg scientific archival commission. As well as the figures of these institutions, who were also officials of the colonial apparatus: V.V. Katarinsky, I.I. Kraft, A.I. Dobrosmyslov and others, as well as Kazakh researchers. From the position of “new imperial policy” the main reasons of research interest dictated by the study of the region for the purpose of further colonization are shown. Nevertheless, these works are of great informational value. The study allows us to define the activities of pre-revolutionary scientists, both research and service, as cultural regeneration, contrary to the modern assessment of Russian scientists characterizing it as an imperial policy of acculturation.

The province authorities influence on the creation of the research program of the Orenburg department of the Imperial Russian Geographical society (1868–1881)

The following paper reveals the role of the regional imperial authority in creating and functioning of the Orenburg department of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society. The decisive role of the Orenburg Governor-General Nikolay Andreevich Kryzhanovsky was shown not only in founding the Orenburg department, but also in creating a research program. One of the key areas of the program was a comprehensive study of Central and Middle Asia in order to produce reliable knowledge which was necessary for an effective policy implementation in the named region. The content study from 1870 to 1881 shows the uneven proportions of publications devoted to Central and Middle Asia. Therefore, in the first years of the organizational activity, the Orenburg Department devoted 60% of its publications to Central and Middle Asia, which corresponded both to the historical situation and to the interests of the regional imperial authorities in many aspects. A decrease in researchers interest from 1875 to 1881 is thoroughly explained by the fact that after the annexation of new territories, the Orenburg Region turned into an internal province of the Russian Empire.

Этнография монгольских народов в Сибирском отделе Русского геoграфического общества

Introduction. The publication highlights efforts undertaken by Siberia Department of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society (since 1851 — Siberia Department, since 1877 — Eastern Siberia Department) to explore the ethnography of the Mongolic peoples. Despite the available related publications are numerous enough, the topic remains somewhat understudied. Since the creation of Siberia Department, its members had made a great breakthrough in the exploration of Siberia, the latter’s natives, their ethnic histories, ethnogeneses, lifestyles, and cultures. It would be impossible to cover the complete scope of works performed by associates of Siberia Department for comprehensive insights into the ethnography of Mongols. Goals. So, the paper attempts a review of scientific endeavors by Siberia Department of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society aimed at ethnographic descriptions of the Mongolic peoples. The Department also contributed a lot to the ethnographic study of the peoples inhabiting regions neighboring with Russia, including the ones populated by Mongolic ethnic groups. The article identifies key directions of research work, significances of writings by the Department’s members for ethnographic research of Mongols, mentions important periods in the history of the Department, and shows who played critical roles in establishing trends within the exploration agenda. Methods. The study rests on the system of principles, approaches and methods inherent to historical science, including both general (analysis, synthesis, description, etc.) and special (descriptive, comparative-historical, etc.) ones. Conclusions. Despite the difficulties faced by researchers affiliated to Eastern Siberia Department when it came to investigate household life and ethnic culture, their activities yielded essential scientific findings, facilitated further historical and ethnographic analyses of the Mongolic peoples. The original artifacts collected by the Department’s members would lay bases for museum collections, their studies still remaining as unique and required by present-day scholars.

Challenges in empire: Eduards Volters’ ethnography on Lithuania, 1882–1918

This article argues that Eduards Volters (1856–1941), an important ethnographer working in the first part of his career with the Imperial Russian Geographical Society, helped demonstrate the value of first-hand observation, social connection, and social context to ethnography through his research in Lithuania from 1882 to 1918. He did so at a time few of his contemporaries embraced his methods. The article seeks to show Volters’ developing theoretical and political strategies during a period of developing Lithuanian nationalism in an emerging Lithuanian nation—a nationalism with which he was in deep sympathy. I focus on the following questions: the meaning of Volters’ travels to Lithuania Minor and Lithuania; his contributions to what are now called borderland identities studies and his critical methodological and theoretical approach to the ethnography of his day. That critical approach involved ethnography as a part of political activism on the part of both researcher and research subjects. The piece will contribute to the critique of centralization of imperialism studies and will explore by comparison Volters’ relationships with both intellectual predecessors and his contemporaries in Lithuania, Europe, and beyond.

Другой Валиханов

Introduction. The constellation of Kazakh public activists from the imperial period is distinguished by the outstanding scientist, traveler, and commissioned officer of the Russian Empire Chokan (Muhammed Qanafiya) Valikhanov. However, another Valikhanov — Gazi — was also substantially involved in important historical events of that period. One can trace quite a number of parallels between the two figures — family ties, tragic destinies. Still, due to some circumstances the latter’s name is not that widely known. Goals. The article aims to explore genealogical backgrounds, professional and personal life of the prominent Kazakh public figure — the most honored representative of the Horde, a regular officer of pre-revolutionary Russia’s army, General and Sultan Gazi Bulatovich Valikhanov. Materials and methods. Comparative insights into documentary sources and available historiography serve to consistently trace key milestones in the biography of Gazi Valikhanov, determine his role in the history of Kazakhstan, comprehend the events and circumstances that influenced the shaping of his personality and fate. Results. The amazing intertwining of Chokan Valikhanov and Gazi Valikhanov’s destinies has led to several historical inaccuracies and preconceived assumptions. But the examined materials attest to that assumptions about somewhat complicated, hostile relationships between the two Kazakh sultans have no serious grounds. In his lifetime Sultan Gazi Valikhanov did a lot: he built a brilliant military career and was simultaneously engaged in research activities as a member of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society, attended the Amu Darya Expedition, was an initiator and co-founder of the Muslim Charitable Society in St. Petersburg, and also assisted some prominent educators and figures of that time, in particular, I. Gasprinsky. Gazi Valikhanov is a worthy ethnic Kazakh of the 19th–20th centuries. His name has been revived from oblivion. However, his life and results of sociopolitical, research activities need further investigation.

Richard Maack and his contributions to the botany of Siberia

A brief account of the biography of Richard Maack (1825–1886) is provided, with an emphasis on his botanical travels and research presented in the context of contemporary politics and sciences. The history of three Siberian expeditions of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society is detailed: to the Viluy River in 1853–1855, to the Amur River in 1855–1856 and to the Ussuri River in 1859–1860. Scientific and curatorial treatments of botanical collections of these expeditions are reviewed. The botanical works based on the Amur and Ussuri expeditions are analysed, and more precise dates of their effective publication are traced from contemporary sources. The corrected nomenclature is provided for Carex wiluica, Chloranthus mandshuricus, Ligustrina and Nymphaea wenzelii. Chloranthus japonicus is re‐established as the correct name for C. mandshuricus in place of the recently resurrected C. quadrifolius. Lectotypes are designated for Carex wiluica, Chloranthus japonicus and C. mandshuricus; the previously designated lectotype of C. japonicus is superseded because of being in conflict with the protologue.

ІСТОРИКО-ПРАВОВА НАУКА ЯК РУШІЙНИЙ ФАКТОР НАЦІОНАЛІЗАЦІЇ СВІДОМОСТІ (ХІХ – ПОЧАТОК ХХ СТ.)

The prospects for the introduction of historical and legal science at the XIX – beginning of XX of century have been determined. under the conditions of the first attempts to introduce the first national universities. It is emphasized that the strengthening of the connection of historical and legal science with the historical past of the formation of national consciousness is characteristic of the isolated period. It has been proven that mostly the very first explorations of jurisprudence marked the history of Ukrainian law as a part of Polish, Austrian, and Russian law emphasizing the principles of "common origin", in parallel Ukrainian law as an individual historical development was unfortunately not considered. Based on today's military events in the country, one of the most urgent tasks of science is the separation from the Russian concept and the Polish one, de-idealization of the missionary role of Austria. Universities in Kharkiv, Kiev, Odessa, Lviv, Chernivtsi, numerous scientific societies that emerged during the 70-90s: historicalphilological at the Kharkiv, Kiev and Odessa universities, Nestor Chronicle Historical Society, Southwestern Division of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society, Shevchenko Scientific Society in Lviv, Ukrainian Scientific Society in Kiev and others. initiated the development of historical and legal thought. The first Ukrainian scientific schools appeared in the university environment, although university scholars had to balance the pressure from the outside and their own internal academic values and ideals.

State Support for Activities of Siberian (East Siberian) Department of Imperial Russian Geographical Society in Second Half of 19th Century

Using the example of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society (IRGS) and its Siberian Department (SD), the topical problem of interaction between public organizations and government in Russia in the pre-Soviet period is touched upon in the article. The idea is substantiated that public organizations, depending on the significance of the work performed, received legal support and material and financial assistance from the state. The internal and external political prerequisites for the establishment of SD IRGS, the participation of the department in the development of Eastern Siberia and the Far East are shown. The influence of the higher Siberian administration on the organization of scientific and expeditionary activities of the department is considered. It is noted that the annual state subsidy was the core of the budget of the IRGS and its branches. Data that demonstrate the ratio of funds received by SD IRGS from the state treasury and other sources are given. It is emphasized that the participation of the state in the material and financial support of the department was not limited to the granting of a subsidy: the opportunity to use free postage of parcels and written correspondence was given to SD IRGS. The central authorities and the highest Siberian administration allocated additional funds for scientific expeditions and trips of members of the department. Based on the information provided, it is concluded that the state thereby guaranteed the existence of society.

Geographic scouts of Central Asia

In the second half of the XIX century . Russia pursued an active policy in the Central Asian khanates, firmly determined to move its border beyond a wide strip of deserts and semi-deserts. At the same time, the rivalry between the Russian and British Empires for influence and control over the Central Asian khanates unfolded. It was a political, diplomatic and geopolitical duel, the so-called “Big Game”, in which intelligence played one of the main roles. To fulfill the tasks facing the intelligence, Russia has attracted scientific historical-geographical and military-topographic expeditions under the auspices of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society (IRGO). It was they who at the end of the XIX century. In a certain part became one of the main activities of the IRGO.The best officers of the General Staff were attracted to participate in them. It was their heroic efforts that made it possible to fill in the gaps in the knowledge of Central Asia and, especially, its western part of Uyguria (East Turkestan) and Inner Mongolia.In recent decades, due to the geopolitical processes that are taking place in the Eurasian space, historical, geographical achievements that have become world-wide have again attracted attention. Again, we have to hear about a new “Big Game” that takes place for the same values — resources, territories, trade routes. The tasks and political and technological methods of conducting geopolitical rivalry have changed. However, gratitude should remain in memory for having contributed to the implementation of the foreign policy of the Russian Empire by conducting intelligence research of the expanses of Central Asia.

К проблеме институционального оформления кавказоведения в императорской России

This article discusses the history of the scientific institutions functioning established in the second half of the XIX century in Caucasus to study it. Particular attention is paid to the role of the mili-tary department in the construction of the institutional space in Caucasian studies, which is little studied in historiography. Attention is drawn to the participation of the military in the work of the Caucasian Department of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society (IRGO), as well as to the main directions and results of the Military History Department activities at the headquarters of the Caucasian Military District. Based on the works of pre-revolutionary authors, as well as docu-ments from the Russian State Military Historical Archive, it is concluded that the military admin-istration of the Caucasus took an active part in organizing the scientific study of the region. Rep-resentatives of the local headquarters occupied leading positions in the Caucasian department of the IRGS. Some military men became active participants in the geographical, ethnographic and linguistic study of the Caucasus, including I.I. Khodzko, I.I. Stebnitsky, P.K. Uslar, A.V. Komarov. Created at the headquarters of the Caucasian Military District, the Military History Department gained the status of an important scientific and educational center on the Caucasian outskirts of the empire. His research practices formed an empirical basis for further scientific study of the military past of the Caucasus.

СОЗДАНИЕ НАУЧНО-ПРОМЫШЛЕННЫХ ВЫСТАВОК ПО РЕЗУЛЬТАТАМ ЭКСПЕДИЦИОННОЙ РАБОТЫ ВОСТОЧНО-СИБИРСКОГО ОТДЕЛА ИМПЕРАТОРСКОГО РУССКОГО ГЕОГРАФИЧЕСКОГО ОБЩЕСТВА ВО ВТОРОЙ ПОЛОВИНЕ XIX — НАЧАЛЕ XX ВВ.

The article presents the history of the creation of scientific and industrial exhibitions based on the results of the expeditionary work of the East Siberian Department of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society in the second half of the 19th – early 20th centuries. Participation in the design of exhibition pavilions of masters and collectors is considered. The educational work of the artistic intelligentsia was aimed not only at creating collections of unique art objects, which included materials from scientific expeditions, but also at presenting the best works to the inhabitants of Baikal Siberia. Artists and collectors participated in the design of international and regional exhibitions, which demonstrated rare and valuable exhibits based on the results of the scientific work of a public organization. As a result of the study, documents on the history of the creation of scientific and industrial exhibitions from the archives of the Irkutsk Regional Art Museum named after I.I. V.P. Sukachev and the State Archives of the Irkutsk Region. Letters and correspondence of members of the society about the construction of work plans for exhibition projects provide an opportunity to present in detail the features of the collection of objects, the formation and maintenance of contacts between scientists, collectors, Siberian and Western artists. Thanks to the presentation of the collections at the exhibition pavilions, the knowledge of the inhabitants about the unique historical places of Baikal Siberia was expanded. As a result of a detailed analysis of archival documents, the features of the design of exhibitions were determined and the educational work of the artistic intelligentsia was studied. The study confirmed that the process of creating scientific and industrial exhibitions based on the results of the expeditionary work of the society was aimed at familiarizing residents with the cultural and natural heritage, replenishing the museum's funds with paintings created by masters of Baikal Siberia.

FOR THE 105th ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOUTH USSURIYSK BRANCH OF THE RUSSIAN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY

In 1916, the South Ussuriysk branch of the Amur Department of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society was created in the city of Nikolsk-Ussuriysk. It was a public organization whose main task was to study the natural resources of the south of the Far East (Ussuriysk Territory). The branch became the first scientific organization in Primorye which carried out scientific research work and published its results («Izvestia», «Notes», scientific articles and monographs). South Ussuriysk branch specialized in studying the flora of the Far Eastern region. The need to find funds for scientific research led to the creation of economic and commercial structures – Factory of educational materials, an agricultural farm, a silk station, etc. The branch became one of the organizers of the First Congress on the study of the Ussuri region in natural history (1922). In 1929, due to duplication in research, the department was reorganized – scientific departments moved to the Far Eastern Regional Research Institute as a branch, economic departments – to various state structures. The branch had been the part of the institute until the beginning of 1932, later the Gornotezhnaya station was created on the basis of its scientific subdivisions, which in the same year became part of the Far Eastern branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

Лица иркутской школы археологии: Михаил Михайлович Герасимов

Mikhail Gerasimov, a well-known Soviet anthropologist, the creator of a unique method of plastic reconstruction of the face from the skull, was born on September 15, 1907 in St. Petersburg. In 1912, the Gerasimov family moved to Irkutsk, where his father received the post of doctor of the Irkutsk resettlement center. Irkutsk, as the capital of the vast Siberian region from the Yenisei to the Pacific Ocean, had a multifaceted socio-cultural life. In 1851, a department of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society was organized in Irkutsk as the first scientific organization to study all aspects of the nature, history, and peoples of Siberia. In 1918 Irkutsk University was opened, which became the main center of scientific and educational activities. With Irkutsk are connected the discoveries of the first Paleolithic site, the first Neolithic burial ground, the first multilayered site in Russia. At Irkutsk University, Berngard Petri created the multidisciplinary Irkutsk School of Archaeology (Paleoethnology). Mikhail Gerasimov was formed as a researcher in the system of this school, where he received archaeological, anthropological, geological, and paleontological training. He made the first face reconstructions from the skull in 1927 and 1929. The archaeological activity of Mikhail Gerasimov relates to Irkutsk, where he was engaged in research of Stone Age campsites and burials. It distinguishes two periods: pre-war (1919–1937) and post-war (1956–1960). He studied burials in Irkutsk and its vicinity, as well as at the mouth of the Selenga River, participated in excavations of the Paleolithic site Verkholenskaya Gora, discovered the Paleolithic site Pereselenchenskii Punkt in Irkutsk, the multilayered site Ust-Belaya, and a number of Stone Age campsites in Khabarovsk. His biggest achievement was the discovery and excavation of the Malta Paleolithic site with unique dwelling complexes and bone sculptures. The socio-political situation in the country forced Mikhail Gerasimov in 1937 to engage in physical anthropology to develop and implement the method of reconstruction of the face from the skull. Archaeology has faded into the background. Mikhail Gerasimov was able to return to Irkutsk for the excavations of Malta, Ust-Belaya, Fofanovo burial ground in 1956–1960. In the process of these works, under his influence, a team of young archaeologists was formed at the Irkutsk State University, which made up a new generation of the Irkutsk School of Archaeology.

Коллекция экспедиционных фотографий А.И. Скасси в собрании отдела рукописей и книжных памятников Научной библиотеки ТГУ

The article highlights the almost unexplored issue of the collection of photographs preserved in the Department of Manuscripts and Book Monuments of the Scientific Library of Tomsk State University. The photographs were taken by August Ivanovich Skassi. The author of the article managed to find biographical information about the photographer. As a military topographer, Skassi participated in scientific expeditions in Central and Central Asia. Knowing about his work, Grigory Nikolaevich Potanin invited Scassi on an expedition to China and Tibet, which lasted three years -from 1884 to 1886. It is known that Scassi made a topographic survey of the area along the route of Potanin's journey (more than 7 thousand kilometers long). In addition, he took about 200 photographs, which depicted the urban landscapes of China and the people who met on the expedition path. The author of the article notes that the works of G.N. Potanina, A.I. Scassi, A.V. Potanina in the Chinese expedition were awarded medals of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society. Potanin highly valued the photographs of Skassi and kept some of them in his personal collection. It is known that in 1920 G.N. Potanin died and was buried in Tomsk, and his collection of photographs, together with his manuscripts and the library, first came to the Siberian Research Institute, and then to the library of Tomsk University. And a few decades later, a library employee N.V. Vasenkin carried out the attribution of these photographs. The collection of 16 photographs is stored in the collection of the Department of Manuscripts and Book Monuments of the Scientific Library of Tomsk State University as part of the Potanin fund. The photographs depict the Buddhist monasteries of Gumbum, Kadan-Syume and Wutai, the shrine of Yun-zhao-si in Wutai, the streets and individual buildings of Chinese cities and villages. The collection contains photographs of the family of the Dzungarian prince and the family of a Mongol official from Amdos, as well as portraits of ordinary people in China. Photographs of Tangut men in national clothes and servants of the Buddhist monastery Labran are unique. Most of the photographs are pasted onto cardboard or forms from the photo studio where they were printed. Many of the photographs have handwritten text made by G.N. Potanin. The photographs are well preserved, but are damaged: the paper has turned yellow, there are tears along the edges, and others. The collection of photographs by A.I. Skassi has reliable information about the history and culture of China and is an important historical source.

«Музеи для общества»: о работе коллекционеров в городах Иркутской губернии во второй половине XIX века

Relevance. In the second half of the 19th century, there was a noticeable increase in the interest of citizens in museums, which is confirmed by the preserved historical documents. The plots presented in the article make it possible to understand the principles and directions of work of collectors in the cities of the Irkutsk province. As a result of the study of objects, the creation of art, ethnographic collections of museum funds, the research capabilities of scientists are expanding. The purpose is to trace the process of organizing the work of collectors in the cities of the Irkutsk province to develop the museum space as a center of the scientific community in the second half of the 19th century. Objectives: to identify documents from the collections of the archives of Irkutsk, which give an idea of the main stages in the formation of thematic areas of museum collections; follow the work of collectors as part of scientific teams in the creation and design of expositions and exhibition spaces; consider the areas of work of collectors in the acquisition of museum collections; determine the role of collectors in understanding the significance of museums for the development of Siberian society and the study of the region. Methodology. When writing the article, the following are included: the principle of historicism, objectivity, scientific character, problem-chronological and historical-genetic methods. Results. In the collections of the archives of Irkutsk there are documents that confirm the versatile work of col-lectors to maintain the museum business. In the second half of the 19th century, there was an increased interest of citizens in museums as scientific and educational centers for the study of the cultural and natural wealth of the region. Conclusions. Collectors of the Irkutsk province unite in the process of holding events organized by various museum spaces. The involvement of many citizens in significant exhibition and educational projects confirms that the public participated in the creation of museums. An increased interest in the study of the region was manifested as a result of determining the importance of museums for the development of society. Documents about the museum at the East Siberian Department of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society made it possible to restore the work of collectors.

Восточная экспедиция Вацлава Серошевского и Бронислава Пилсудского 1903 года: Eastern Expedition of Wacław Sieroszewski and Bronisław Pilsudski in 1903

The article presents the history of the Eastern Expedition of 1903, which was organized by the Imperial Russian Geographical Society. It was organized with the assistance of well-known Russian scientists and public figures. The purpose of the expedition was to conduct basic research in East Asia on the territory of north-eastern Manchuria (Dauria), in Japan, Korea and China. On the ground, the members of the expedition Sieroszewski and Piłsudski were actively supported by Russian officials and official representatives of the authorities. Due to the deterioration of Russian-Japanese relations, as well as the high cost of living in Hokkaido, the expedition ended in the autumn of 1903, having passed only two stages – research in Manchuria and Hokkaido. Three collections were collected during the expedition – on the culture of Barguts, Solons, Ainu and Japanese – which are kept in Kunstkamera.

A romantic nation: Eduards Volters’ concepts of ethnographical-statistical studies of Lithuania

The aim of this paper is to show the academic links inherent in the idea of ethnographical-statistical studies of Lithuania conceived by the Latvian ethnographer Eduards Volters (1856–1941). In as early as the end of the nineteenth century, the Latvian linguist and ethnographer was working at the Imperial Russian Geographical Society and was developing ethnographical-statistical studies to determine the “tribal” composition of the population. In an original way the theory integrated the concepts of the history of ideas and ethnographical statistics. In 1930 Volters engaged in the activities of the Lithuanian Scientific Society and introduced the concept of “the soul of a nation” in his ethnographical-statistical studies. The author of this article tests the hypothesis that the beginnings of “the soul of a nation” concept in relation to the Lithuanians are connected with the historical anthropological perspective. The author theoretically analyses the rhetoric of Volters’ idea of ethnographical statistics from the following points of view: (1) ethnographical-statistical studies of Lithuania, (2) a romantic nation, and (3) the idea of science and education.