The life and work of prominent researcher of Belarusian history M. V. Dovnar-Zapolsky
About the project
The project «The life and work of prominent researcher of Belarusian history Mitrofan Victorovich DOVNAR-ZAPOLSKY. To the 150th birthday anniversary» is a special rubric on the Archives of Belarus website, an internet resource of the archives and RM authorities and the state archives network in the Republic of Belarus.
The offered material is dedicated to M.V. Dovnar-Zapolsky – an outstanding scholar, founder of Belarusian national historiography, researcher of Russian history, a socially active person with many academic interests that he combined with teaching, pedagogical activity, social work and government service, a man of principle and patriot, who directed his activity to the national revival of Belarus.
Purposes
The purpose of the project is to provide a more complete and
objective information on the Internet about M.V. Dovnar-Zapolsky and the other issues of Belarusian
history and culture, mainly on basis of archival sources illustrating Dovnar-Zapolsky’s
great contribution to science and his exclusive role in the
national rebirth of Belarus.
Structure
The page consists of three main sections:
- Biographical overview
- Exhibition of documents and materials
- Data on archival publications
The exhibition features over 140 documents and materials (their electronic
copies). Around 130 documents are available from Belarusian archival
institutions: Belarusian State Archives-Museum of Literature and Art, National
Archives of the Republic of Belarus, National Historical Archives of Belarus in
Minsk, Belarusian State Archives of Films, Photographs and Sound Recordings and
Belarusian Research Center for Electronic Records.
In addition, 18 electronic
copies of documents have been presented by the Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in
Kyiv and three photographs are taken from a personal collection.
The exhibition is structured in two levels:
– List of records, including their title, date, type, language and location
index. On the right are links to view a full-size record. The records are
basically arranged in chronological order.
– Electronic copies of records.
The exhibition consists of eight thematic sections with data about Dovnar-Zapolsky’s family, studies, activities in science, education, diplomatics, his economic, social and political life, evaluation of his works and commemoration.
The bulk of the exposition are textual documents – printed documents, manuscripts (including autographs) and typescripts (in full text and fragments) in Russian and Belarusian languages. The rest of the exhibition are photographs. There are maps created by M.V. Dovnar-Zapolsky and E.F. Karsky.
The exhibited documents cover the period of the 19th to the 21st century. These are Dovnar-Zapolsky’s personal records – an autobiography, correspondence with his father, photographs of relatives and colleagues, etc. There are official documents of the governing bodies and various reviews of Dovnar-Zapolsky’s activities.
The project also includes printed editions and publications with data on relevant documents
held in archives in Belarus and
other countries and/or prepared with the participation of Belarusian archival
institutions.
The offered material is not exhaustive and further research is
possible on the subject to enlarge the virtual exhibition.
Participants
General coordination of the project – Department for Archives and Records
Management of the Justice Ministry of the Republic of Belarus.
Main executor of the project, information contents, web design – Belarusian Research Center for Electronic Records.
Selection of records and digital copies – Belarusian State Archives-Museum of Literature and Art, National Archives of the Republic of Belarus, National Historical Archives of Belarus, Belarusian State Archives of Films, Photographs and Sound Recordings, and Belarusian Research Center for Electronic Records
Some relevant documents have been presented by the Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Kyiv.
Notes
The use of the project materials requires a reference to the source of information – the Archives of Belarus Website and the individual archive which holds a record. For other issues regarding the use of data posted on the website, please contact the respective archival institution (see contact information on the website page “Archives and records authorities and the state archives network”).
For comments and opinions on the project please email: ed@archives.gov.by.