Circulars of the West Siberian school district as a source of study of legislative activity in the field of Museum Affairs of the Imperial Tomsk University (1886-1916)

For the first time in the Museum literature, the article gives a source-study characteristic of circulars of the West-Siberian educational district. Information about the origin of the source is reported. It is revealed that circulars were published monthly in Tomsk during the years 1886-1916. They were published at the initiative of the first Trustee of the school district, Professor V. Florinski. Later, they were edited by the school district managers, who successively succeeded each other in this position. The research involved the entire body of sources published monthly and compiled into annual journals, totaling 31 volumes. As a result of internal examination of the sources involved, the reliability of the act documents was determined, and the structure of their publication was clarified. The circulars of the school district included three groups of act documents, the first of which was made up of legislative provisions of the higher state authorities, the second included orders of the Ministry of national education. The third group was formed by the orders of the heads of the West Siberian educational district. Along with other information related to the field of education, the circulars contain important information regarding the work of museums in the Imperial Tomsk University. They can be classified as follows. First of all, these are documents on praise for donors who donated to the needs of University museums. It is important to note that in contrast to other publications, the circulars name the names of donors, including the Tomsk publicist A. Adrianov, the Biysk merchant I. Kotelnikov, and the Krasnoyarsk teacher I. Savenkov. The collections and Museum items transferred to University museums are described in detail. The completeness and detail of these descriptions suggests that their author was the creator and first head of the Archaeological Museum, and at the same time the Trustee of the school district and editor of circulars, Professor V. Florinski. The source in question includes orders regarding Museum employees, their working hours, and pay. In addition, regulatory documents that reveal the process of acquisition and replenishment of Museum funds are identified. They allow us to exactly establish that the Museum development of the Tomsk University was carried out in accordance with Russian laws. This fact is important to emphasize, since it determined the material and financial stability of museums, and also showed the interest of public authorities in the creation and functioning of University museums. The article concludes with a well-founded conclusion that the circulars of the West Siberian educational district are a comprehensive source that provides reliable information for the study of legislative measures in the field of Museum Affairs of the Imperial Tomsk University.

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