Tomsk Technological Institute and merchants: the experience of business partnership (1890-1910)

Study of relations of Tomsk Technological Institute and Tomsk merchants-entrepreneurs both corporate customers and consumers of scientific and technical and educational services helps to deepen an understanding of history, to strengthen an entrepreneurial capacity of the higher school. Thus it determines the topic of this work. The main aim of the study is to reveal the role of Tomsk Technological Institute as a creator of business environment and improver of the educational and qualification level of Tomsk merchants. In order to achieve the aim of the study the scientific methods are using, and first of all - a historical-anthropological approach. It makes possible to uncover the human constituent in past events, to reconstruct a particular historical situation. The use of latest historical sources provided an opportunity to show partnerships of Tomsk Technological Institute and Tomsk merchants-entrepreneurs. Tomsk merchants, in particular A.P. Karnakov, P.I. Bogomolov, I.M. Nekrasov, took an active part in the preparations for the opening of the Institute. The professors of the Institute E.L. Zubashev, N.V. Gutovskiy, S.V. Lebedev and others entered into business partnership with merchants-entrepreneurs in order to intensify Tomsk industry. During 1900-1910 more than a quarter of all students of the Institute were descended from the merchants. Sons of upper merchants-entrepreneurs Vasiliy Vytnov, Alexander Distler, Alexander Usachev, Peter Eldeshtein etc. were among the students of Tomsk Technological Institute. Later they played an important role in the development of Tomsk and Siberia. For instance, Alexander Distler, who became a mining engineer, continued the family business as owner of a gold-mine. He was a member of the Party of Socialist Revolutionaries, and played a prominent role in the events of the Revolution of 1917 in Tomsk. In April 1917 he was elected to the local board of Tomsk - Narodnoye Sobranie. In 1918 he became a member of the Siberian Duma, and in January 1919 - the Deputy Chairman of the Tomsk City Council - Gorodskaya Duma. At the same time, in January 1919, A.G. Distler participated in the Congress of the Institute for the Study of Siberia in Tomsk, worked in the section of geology and mining. Unfortunately, he was subjected to repression as "an enemy of the people". Distler' school-mate Vasily Vytnov also continued the business of his father and grandfather, Tomsk alcohol manufacturers. He played an important role in the social life of Tomsk. In September 1918, V.P. Vytnov received an offer to serve as a Deputy Minister of Supply of the Provisional Siberian Government. However, the appointment did not take place because the Siberian Government was soon abolished.

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