The Institute for the Study of Siberia regulations: from the first draft to the approval (November 1917 - October 1919)

This article examines the creation, development and approval of the Regulations of the Institute for the Study of Siberia (ISS) on the basis of archival materials, documentary publications and periodicals. It is noted that the first draft of the Regulations was proposed by the Tomsk Institute of Technology professor B.P. Weinberg at the First Siberian Meteorological Congress held in Irkutsk from October 26 to November 2, 1917. It is emphasized that the work on the Regulations was underway even during preparations for the Congress on the foundation of ISS, and was conducted by such figures as B.P. Weinberg and V.B. Shostakovich. The next version of the Regulations was developed by the Executive Bureau for the preparation of the Congress on the foundation of ISS. This version was more detailed and included five key sections: Institute Objectives, Institute Rights, Institute Composition and Institute Finances. This project was presented to the delegates at the Congress on the foundation of ISS held from 15 to 26 January, 1919. The delegates' various viewpoints on the main points of ISS - objectives, composition and jurisdiction - were analyzed. The delegates' (especially non-resident) biggest criticism was aimed at the Congress' lack of any real say in management. On January 25, 1919, after a major revision, the Regulations of ISS were passed. After the approval of the Regulations by the Congress on the foundation of ISS it was necessary to review and approve the document by the All-Russian Provisional Government headed by Admiral A.V. Kolchak. Only after that ISS could obtain the status of an official organization. There were two stages of the official approval of ISS. The first stage lasted from May 1 to May 18, when the ISS Regulations were discussed at the interdepartmental meetings. During these events, a number of changes were introduced into the Regulations: ISS was forbidden to establish branches in other parts of Siberia on their own, their budget was cut, and the Institute Congress lost the right to elect the Institute Administration Board, etc. During the second stage, the ISS Regulations were discussed at the State Meeting on Economy. The right to organize local branch offices was returned to ISS. At the same time, the number of ISS departments was reduced from 11 to 6, which further hindered the effective work of the Institute. Finally, on July 28, 1919, the ISS Regulations were approved officially, although they were published in Pravitelstvenny vestnik only on October 25, 1919. The author concludes that, while starting its existence as a fairly abstract design, the ISS Regulations gradually became a document suitable for a large research institution. The Institute structure, the nature of its activity and management principles were points of discussion for many scholars, and that was revealed fully at the Congress on the foundation of ISS. However, the government still had the final word.

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