On the question of voluntary non-political public associations in Ryazan Province in the late 19th - early 20th centuries

The article deals with the activities of voluntary non-political associations for the protection of human life and health, which were widespread in the Russian Empire in the late 19th - early 20th centuries. The investigation shows that central and regional governments often provided support in the establishment of such associations because of their usefulness and loyalty. In addition, most of these associations were under the patronage of the imperial family, and, as a result, they got a semi-governmental or semi-public status. In Ryazan Province among organizations of this orientation there were voluntary firefighting associations, as well as the regional departments of the Russian Red Cross Society and the Russian Water Rescue Society. The period of mass establishment of voluntary fire-fighting societies was the end of the 1890s, which was largely due to the publication of the standard ("normal") regulations. Principles of this large group of associations at the regional level are considered by the example of the Ryazan Voluntary Fire-fighting Society, which was a part of the Russian Imperial Firefighting Society. The study of the documents shows that the association consisted of several categories of members with different rights and obligations, and the leadership of the society included representatives of the local authorities and the police. The association successfully carried out firefighting activities and, in addition, it initiated the establishment of a special insurance company from the effects of fire for the city residents. Another public organization that made a significant contribution to the life safety of the population in Ryazan Province at the turn of the 20th century was the department of the Imperial Russian Water Rescue Society. The society set up rescue stations and posts in the most dangerous areas of reservoirs, it also led educational work with the population on the prevention of accidents on water. One of the most well-known humanitarian organizations of a nationwide scale, which had a department in Ryazan Province, was the Red Cross Society. Governor N.S. Bryanchaninov took an active part in the work of the Ryazan Committee of the society. The Ryazan Red Cross Society played an important role in the organization of assistance to victims of crop failures of the late 19th century. The documents of the State Archive of Ryazan Oblast provide insight into the structure, membership and finances of these organizations, as well as evidence of the active participation of high-ranking regional officials in their work. The article concludes that, despite the cautious attitude of the authorities to all "amateur" associations, the administration preferred to rely on the voluntary initiative, to exploit its potential and to promote its activities during emergencies.

Keywords

Authors

References