Research and organizational activities of historians of the second half of the 20th century on the preparation of fundamental works on the history of the Siberian region

The article is devoted to the study of the unique experience of coordination of historical research on the important phenomena and processes of the socio-economic and cultural life of one of the biggest macro-regions of our country, Siberia. For the first time in the historiography, the research and organizational work on the creation of fundamental works reflecting regional history is investigated. The research is carried out on the basis of archival sources and materials that are first introduced in the scientific use. The research showed that the research and organizational work on the creation of fundamental generalizing works on the history of Siberia, on the history of regional peasantry and the working class became a unique phenomenon not only in Siberia but also, perhaps, in Russian science in general. No other socio-humanitarian branch of knowledge had such an experience of concentration of the research and institutional potential and so many scholars working on complex topics. This work was the result of coordination of Siberian and Soviet historians on different organizational levels. The work on generalizing problems became possible because a system of historical research coordination, exchange of experience, research topics coordination was made. These forms of work proved to be possible in the organization and holding of specialized regional historical conferences, symposiums, meetings and other forums. An important factor in the success of this work was connected with the allocation of a single center for the coordination and organization of historical research in the Siberian region - the Institute of History, Philology and Philosophy of the Siberian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. Not least important was the establishment of a network of academic councils in Siberia on different branches of historical knowledge. The work on the fundamental issues had a synergistic effect. Through the development of a variety of subjects, Siberian historians had a possibility of a deeper development of their topics: from publication of articles, defence of theses, publication of intercollegiate thematic collections, etc. to the emergence of new research vectors, theoretical and methodological development in the most complex questions of the history of the region. Works on the history of the working class and the peasantry became a basis for the further development of research areas. They laid the foundation for Siberian historians' research for decades to come, until today. The research results (theoretical and methodological development of the concept, collected sources and historio-graphical material, etc.), obtained when working on the multi-volume publications, still allow a number of Siberian historians to work on the topics of Siberian studies.

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