Sergei V. Bakhrushin at the Institute of Red Professors: Lectures on the History of the Indigenous Peoples of Siberia (1936)
The publication is to introduce into scientifc use two lectures read by the historian Sergei V. Bakhrushin to his students at the Institute of Red Professors in 1936. The published document thematically falls within the feld of history and ethnography of Siberia. Bakhrushin’s contribution to this scholarship was signifcant: he provided a holistic view on the development of Siberia in the 16th-17th centuries and on situation of the peoples inhabiting it; and introduced into scientifc use a rich body of archival documents. Thus, any unpublished materials from his heritage are of great interest, and particularly, any data on his work in the higher school. The document illustrates his manner of presenting historical material and his style of communication with his audience. Bakhrushin began lecturing to the “red professors” after his exile under the Academic Trial. In contrast to his published works and lectures, the document, being a written reproduction of oral speech, includes some errors and inaccuracies. The lectures are important for understanding historical geography and history of the indigenous peoples of Siberia. However, topical contribution of these lectures is greater: they reveal the foundations of the Marxist concept of colonization and economic development of Siberia imparte to the student, which turned into an interesting synthesis of Marxism and national concept of the Russian colonization of the 17th century. The document has been found in the Russian State Historical Archive (GARF). It is being published according to the modern rules of spelling and punctuation, but some errors and inaccuracies in the historical terms and toponyms are preserved and corrected in footnotes. Сommentary preceding the publication of the document is of particular importance, as it brings the source up to date and characterizes the specifcs of dialogue in the communist institute in the mid-1930s.