N.K. Auerbakh and his contribution into Siberian museum science in 1920’s

In order to examine Auerbakh’s scientific contribution, there is a need to emphasize his museology works. Good humanitarian education allowed him to be successful not only in archaeology but also in the museum sphere. Thus, while working in Krasnoyarsk museum in early 1920s, Auerbakh initiated the development of excursion routes for children and adults to archaeological sites nearby the city. Scientific activities have made him one of the prominent researchers of Siberia and let him to be a founding member of such significant organization as The Society of study on Siberia and its productive forces, and take place in edition of Siberian Soviet Encyclopedia. As soon as he arrived in Novosibirsk he expanded his local activities. N.K. Auerbakh emphasized the need to work together: local history studies and museums. He believed that it would help to provide a scientific consultation of regional specialists. He thought the regional specialists would help government authorities to preserve memorials. Besides, Auerbakh called for engaging of museums with the public. His appeal was supported by general trend in the development of regional studies. Thus, the agreement on socialist competition between the Ural Bureau of regional studies and The Society of study on Siberia, signed in 1930, motivated cultural layers to disseminate research work among the population. His article «The state of museum science in Siberian region», written together with G.I. Cher-emnykh, gives an exhaustive analysis of 13 Siberian museums in the end of 1920's. The researchers sought to deal with all the issues in the activities of museums. Primarily, they discussed the economic situation of museums: placing and funding rate. Unfortunately, indicators reflected the plight of practically all museums. Then authors discussed the size of the membership and the structure of Siberian museum fund. They conclude that most of exhibition items refer to naturally-historical cycle. N.K. Auerbakh and G.I. Cheremnykh suggested dividing this department into more specialized small ones. The authors observed that there were ethnographic, eastern and other unusual departments in the museums. They wrote, that the museum expositions moved towards simplification, and it promoted higher museum attendance. Summing up, one can say that Museum activity of N.K. Auerbakh interrupted by premature death has not lost its significance until our days.

Keywords

Authors

References