History of museum
From the first days of the existence of the Geological Committee, it began to lay the foundations for the creation of a geological museum. In the first Regulations on the Committee, one of the tasks was defined as «collecting rocks and minerals and compiling systematic collections from them.»
History of museum
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The first "Regulations on the Geological Committee"
At the meeting of the Presence of the Geological Committee on January 29, 1883, the draft of the senior geologist S.N. Nikitin on the organization of a museum of regional geology, illustrating the geological structure of the country's territory on sheets of ten-verst geological maps. This proposal was supported, and a decision was made: "without prejudging ... questions about the future premises of the Committee, the composition and nature of the future geological museum ... to establish a geological collection in which to preserve the essential material that served as a map and geological description of the area."
The first collection of the future museum collection of Geolcom was the personal collection of S.N. Nikitin, which contained 3,744 samples of rocks and faunal remains from various provinces of European Russia and a number of Western European countries. The collection is housed in two showcases and six cabinets.
Regulations on the Geological Committee
The collections of the Geological Committee were annually replenished with materials collected both by the staff members of the Committee and by persons working on its behalf, as well as by third-party institutions and persons sending materials to the Committee for their determination and donating them to the Committee.
Collections in various regions of Russia were managed by geologists, whose names were later pronounced with pride -
V.A. Domger, A.P. Karpinsky, A.A. Krasnopolsky, A.O. Mikhalsky, I.V. Mushketov, S.N. Nikitin, F.N. Chernyshev. In 1885, the geological collections already occupied 34 cabinets, by 1913 the number of collection cabinets reached 700.
V.A. Domger, A.P. Karpinsky, A.A. Krasnopolsky, A.O. Mikhalsky, I.V. Mushketov, S.N. Nikitin, F.N. Chernyshev. In 1885, the geological collections already occupied 34 cabinets, by 1913 the number of collection cabinets reached 700.
Collection managers
For 30 years, the Geological Committee has experienced great difficulties in its work due to the lack of proper premises in which to accommodate staff, collections and a library. The committee was forced to huddle now in three rooms at the Mining Institute, now in a professorial apartment allocated to it there, for the increasing staff of employees private apartments were hired in various districts.
Since 1894, Geolkom began to rent the mansion of Countess Osten-Saken (4th line of Vasilyevsky Island, building 15), where all the geological collections that were in the offices of the Mining Institute were transferred.
Since 1894, Geolkom began to rent the mansion of Countess Osten-Saken (4th line of Vasilyevsky Island, building 15), where all the geological collections that were in the offices of the Mining Institute were transferred.
Difficulties
The mansion of Countess Osten-Saken (4th line of Vasilyevsky Island, house 15), rented by the Geological Committee
The question of building a special building for the Geological Committee was raised even before F.N. Chernyshev as director. In 1901 and 1904 The Presence appointed special commissions to prepare this question, which were instructed to determine the dimensions of the building, the approximate cost of the structure, and the possibility of construction without a special loan.
F.N. Chernyshev, becoming the director of Geolcom, continued what A.P. Karpinsky fight for the allocation of special funds for the construction of the building.
F.N. Chernyshev, becoming the director of Geolcom, continued what A.P. Karpinsky fight for the allocation of special funds for the construction of the building.
Building
One of the letters of F.N. Chernyshev about the need to build a building for the Geological Committee
This struggle was crowned with success only on June 5, 1912, when Emperor Nicholas II signed the "Law on determining the cost of construction and equipment of the building of the Geological Committee and the Museum of Applied Geology and on the release of funds from the state treasury for the production of the said buildings and equipment." Professor N.N. Yakovlev wrote in 1914: “According to one of the highest officials of the ministry, the Geological Committee could achieve for itself a magnificent building under construction only thanks to Chernyshev ... According to the expression of this person, Chernyshev literally did not give anyone peace until he achieved construction ... »
Ceremonial laying of the building of the Geological Committee on April 28, 1913.
A note from the Novoye Vremya newspaper dated April 29, 1913 on the ceremonial laying of the Geological Committee building
In article 29 of the new “Regulations on the Geological Committee” approved in the same year, it was written: “The Museum of Applied Geology is attached to the Geological Committee. The direct management of the museum and its departments is entrusted to geologists and adjunct geologists - at the election of the Presence.
F.N. Chernyshev began to consistently pursue the idea of creating a modern museum at Geolkom, which, unlike the academic one, was to become a museum of practical geology.
F.N. Chernyshev began to consistently pursue the idea of creating a modern museum at Geolkom, which, unlike the academic one, was to become a museum of practical geology.
After the approval of the bill on the construction of the F.N. Chernyshev formed a museum commission, which included A.A. Borisyak, N.I. Andrusov, M.D. Zalessky, Ya.S. Edelstein, N.N. Yakovlev and L.A. Yachevsky.
First of all, it was necessary to resolve the issue of museum furniture, establish the availability and suitability of geological collections for the museum, outline a plan for exhibition work, etc. F.N. Chernyshev and P.I. Stepanov in 1913 for the XII session of the International Conservatory in Canada. They specially visited a number of museums in Europe and Canada, and got acquainted in detail with the methods and techniques of museum business, with the exposition of exhibition materials and their design.
As a result of the work of the commission, the structure of the museum was determined, which included six departments: territorial geology, minerals, building materials, boreholes, monographic collections and foreign.
At the end of 1913, when the building of the Geological Committee was still under construction, the first preliminary plan of the museum was already drawn up, developed under the guidance of F.N. Chernyshev.
First of all, it was necessary to resolve the issue of museum furniture, establish the availability and suitability of geological collections for the museum, outline a plan for exhibition work, etc. F.N. Chernyshev and P.I. Stepanov in 1913 for the XII session of the International Conservatory in Canada. They specially visited a number of museums in Europe and Canada, and got acquainted in detail with the methods and techniques of museum business, with the exposition of exhibition materials and their design.
As a result of the work of the commission, the structure of the museum was determined, which included six departments: territorial geology, minerals, building materials, boreholes, monographic collections and foreign.
At the end of 1913, when the building of the Geological Committee was still under construction, the first preliminary plan of the museum was already drawn up, developed under the guidance of F.N. Chernyshev.
Geological Committee
Start of construction of the building of the Geological Committee
After the approval of the bill on the construction of the F.N. Chernyshev formed a museum commission, which included A.A. Borisyak, N.I. Andrusov, M.D. Zalessky, Ya.S. Edelstein, N.N. Yakovlev and L.A. Yachevsky.
First of all, it was necessary to resolve the issue of museum furniture, establish the availability and suitability of geological collections for the museum, outline a plan for exhibition work, etc. F.N. Chernyshev and P.I. Stepanov in 1913 for the XII session of the International Conservatory in Canada. They specially visited a number of museums in Europe and Canada, and got acquainted in detail with the methods and techniques of museum business, with the exposition of exhibition materials and their design.
As a result of the work of the commission, the structure of the museum was determined, which included six departments: territorial geology, minerals, building materials, boreholes, monographic collections and foreign.
At the end of 1913, when the building of the Geological Committee was still under construction, the first preliminary plan of the museum was already drawn up, developed under the guidance of F.N. Chernyshev.
First of all, it was necessary to resolve the issue of museum furniture, establish the availability and suitability of geological collections for the museum, outline a plan for exhibition work, etc. F.N. Chernyshev and P.I. Stepanov in 1913 for the XII session of the International Conservatory in Canada. They specially visited a number of museums in Europe and Canada, and got acquainted in detail with the methods and techniques of museum business, with the exposition of exhibition materials and their design.
As a result of the work of the commission, the structure of the museum was determined, which included six departments: territorial geology, minerals, building materials, boreholes, monographic collections and foreign.
At the end of 1913, when the building of the Geological Committee was still under construction, the first preliminary plan of the museum was already drawn up, developed under the guidance of F.N. Chernyshev.
Museum plan
One of the first plans for exhibitions in the museum of the Geological Committee
After the death of F.N. Chernyshev, the commission he created was renamed the Museum Commission, whose chairman was A.A. Borisyak. The commission was faced with the task of putting in order the collections of the Committee, stored in cabinets, offices of geologists and in a warehouse; ordering museum furniture, developing a detailed plan for the museum, organizing the transportation of collections to a new building and distributing them to museum halls and storage areas.
There was some museum furniture in the Geological Committee - these were separate showcases-tables and showcases with drawers for collections, as well as collection cabinets made by small handicraft workshops. By 1914 there were only 35 such showcases and 70 collection cabinets. The first drawings of showcases, made on the instructions of the Museum Commission, and the catalogs of the Dresden company that supplied iron glazed furniture to the Museum of Alexander III (now the Russian Museum), were presented to the leadership of the Geological Committee.
There was some museum furniture in the Geological Committee - these were separate showcases-tables and showcases with drawers for collections, as well as collection cabinets made by small handicraft workshops. By 1914 there were only 35 such showcases and 70 collection cabinets. The first drawings of showcases, made on the instructions of the Museum Commission, and the catalogs of the Dresden company that supplied iron glazed furniture to the Museum of Alexander III (now the Russian Museum), were presented to the leadership of the Geological Committee.
Subsequently, these sketches formed the basis of the master plan for the exhibition works of the museum. Unfortunately, Feodosy Nikolayevich did not manage to see the completion of the construction of the building of the Geological Committee and the largest geological museum he had conceived. On the night of January 2, 1914, at the age of 58, F.N. Chernyshev died suddenly.
Showcases for the museum
One of the first drawings of showcases for the museum
These showcases more or less met the basic requirements of the Museum Commission, and it was decided to turn to domestic firms with a proposal to take on a large order for the manufacture of cabinets and showcases, but none of the domestic firms decided to accept this order. The San-Galli firm motivated its refusal in the most detailed way, which explained that the shaped iron needed to fulfill the order was not manufactured in Russia.
Due to the impossibility of obtaining furniture of the required design in Russia, the Museum Commission received permission from the Directorate of the Geological Committee to order furniture abroad, but on the condition that only metal parts of the furniture would be brought, and glass and wooden boxes should be made at domestic factories.
Due to the impossibility of obtaining furniture of the required design in Russia, the Museum Commission received permission from the Directorate of the Geological Committee to order furniture abroad, but on the condition that only metal parts of the furniture would be brought, and glass and wooden boxes should be made at domestic factories.
Later it turned out that it is also impossible to obtain glass of the required thickness at our factories. It was decided to order showcases and special collection cabinets from six foreign firms: English in London, Belgian in Brussels, German in Dresden, French in Paris, Swedish-American in Abo, German "Malzer". All firms had representative offices in St. Petersburg, which, when ordering, were given instructions that the showcases were one-sided, wall-mounted, and two-sided, for the middle parts of the museum halls; to contain drawers for collections and glass horizontal and vertical exhibition windows. In addition, an additional order for 100 oak cabinets was made to the Swedish-American furniture company (they are currently located in the corridors of VSEGEI). Moreover, the firm was given instructions that the trays and boxes in these cabinets should be of different designs.
Samples of showcases in the catalogs of foreign companies
These showcases more or less met the basic requirements of the Museum Commission, and it was decided to turn to domestic firms with a proposal to take on a large order for the manufacture of cabinets and showcases, but none of the domestic firms decided to accept this order. The San-Galli firm motivated its refusal in the most detailed way, which explained that the shaped iron needed to fulfill the order was not manufactured in Russia. Due to the impossibility of obtaining furniture of the required design in Russia, the Museum Commission received permission from the Directorate of the Geological Committee to order furniture abroad, but on the condition that only metal parts of the furniture would be brought, and glass and wooden boxes should be made at domestic factories. Later it turned out that it is also impossible to obtain glass of the required thickness at our factories. It was decided to order showcases and special collection cabinets from six foreign firms: English in London, Belgian in Brussels, German in Dresden, French in Paris, Swedish-American in Abo, German "Malzer". All firms had representative offices in St. Petersburg, which, when ordering, were given instructions that the showcases were one-sided, wall-mounted, and two-sided, for the middle parts of the museum halls; to contain drawers for collections and glass horizontal and vertical exhibition windows. In addition, an additional order for 100 oak cabinets was made to the Swedish-American furniture company (they are currently located in the corridors of VSEGEI). Moreover, the firm was given instructions that the trays and boxes in these cabinets should be of different designs.
Museum organization
At the meeting of the Presence of the Geological Committee on March 18, 1914, the heads of the museum departments were elected, “according to a closed ballot, the following were chosen: A.A. Borisyak, M.D. Zalessky, N.N. Yakovlev, L.A. Yachevsky and Ya.S. Edelstein.
The Museum Commission met regularly throughout 1914, again discussing the general plan for the organization of the museum and the distribution of collection materials among departments. In one of the minutes of the meeting of the Commission, the Commission presented to the Presence its plan for the organization of the museum. “Assuming that the main task of the museum will be to illustrate the geological structure of the Russian Empire, it is obvious that the grouping and arrangement of material in it should be made according to regions or territories. It would be more correct to call such a museum a museum of regional geology. Since at present there are only a few sheets of a ten-verst geological map of European Russia, and for Asian Russia ... one cannot even expect their appearance earlier than in 12-20 years, it is obvious that the layout of the material according to the sheets of a ten-verst geological map should be recognized as unfeasible ... In addition, it will not be possible to avoid frequent repetition of exhibitions of the same geological formations, since these formations are equally developed in neighboring sheets. These inconveniences will be eliminated to a large extent if, instead of arranging the material on sheets of a ten-verst geological map, a method of distributing it over natural physiographic regions is adopted ... If, however, based on the very name - the Museum of Applied Geology, look at this institution as such that must first of all satisfy the needs and demands of practical life and workers in the mining industry, agriculture, road construction, etc., then there is not the slightest doubt that the department of the so-called minerals (oil, mineral fuel, salts, ores and etc.) should not be given a secondary, but at least as prominent place as the department of regional geology ... The most appropriate is the plan for arranging the material in the department of minerals according to the headings of natural classification ... Finally, a separate part of the museum is dedicated to the exhibition of materials described in monographs published Geological Committee.
The Museum Commission met regularly throughout 1914, again discussing the general plan for the organization of the museum and the distribution of collection materials among departments. In one of the minutes of the meeting of the Commission, the Commission presented to the Presence its plan for the organization of the museum. “Assuming that the main task of the museum will be to illustrate the geological structure of the Russian Empire, it is obvious that the grouping and arrangement of material in it should be made according to regions or territories. It would be more correct to call such a museum a museum of regional geology. Since at present there are only a few sheets of a ten-verst geological map of European Russia, and for Asian Russia ... one cannot even expect their appearance earlier than in 12-20 years, it is obvious that the layout of the material according to the sheets of a ten-verst geological map should be recognized as unfeasible ... In addition, it will not be possible to avoid frequent repetition of exhibitions of the same geological formations, since these formations are equally developed in neighboring sheets. These inconveniences will be eliminated to a large extent if, instead of arranging the material on sheets of a ten-verst geological map, a method of distributing it over natural physiographic regions is adopted ... If, however, based on the very name - the Museum of Applied Geology, look at this institution as such that must first of all satisfy the needs and demands of practical life and workers in the mining industry, agriculture, road construction, etc., then there is not the slightest doubt that the department of the so-called minerals (oil, mineral fuel, salts, ores and etc.) should not be given a secondary, but at least as prominent place as the department of regional geology ... The most appropriate is the plan for arranging the material in the department of minerals according to the headings of natural classification ... Finally, a separate part of the museum is dedicated to the exhibition of materials described in monographs published Geological Committee.
Collection before moving the museum from line 14 to the new building of Geolcom
Moving to the new Geolcom building
By the summer of 1914, interior decoration was almost completed on three floors of the Geological Committee building. By this time, the collections, library and other property of the Committee had been moved to a new building, and the private apartments occupied by the Committee had been vacated.
The building of the Committee was so prepared for occupancy that by the time the geologists returned from summer field work and business trips, it was possible to distribute the entire available staff of the Committee to the intended premises. By the beginning of winter, the fourth floor of the Committee building (museum premises) was also completed.
However, the completion of the construction of the building coincided with the beginning of the First World War, which greatly delayed the organization of the museum. In July 1914, the Geological Committee began moving to a new building. “The difficult circumstances of wartime aroused a natural desire on the part of the Committee to meet the needs caused by the war, and all the premises of the Committee, intended for the administration, the office, were provided by October 1, 1914 for the construction of an infirmary for 50 wounded ... Museum premises to On December 28, 1914, they were also assigned to the Petrograd city administration of an infirmary for 650 lower ranks.
However, the completion of the construction of the building coincided with the beginning of the First World War, which greatly delayed the organization of the museum. In July 1914, the Geological Committee began moving to a new building. “The difficult circumstances of wartime aroused a natural desire on the part of the Committee to meet the needs caused by the war, and all the premises of the Committee, intended for the administration, the office, were provided by October 1, 1914 for the construction of an infirmary for 50 wounded ... Museum premises to On December 28, 1914, they were also assigned to the Petrograd city administration of an infirmary for 650 lower ranks.
Cards of the lower ranks who were treated in a hospital located on the premises of the museum
The staff of the museum
Despite the circumstances caused by the war, the Museum Commission continued the preparatory work on the organization of the museum.
Thus, due to the ambiguity of the timing of the transfer of the museum premises to the disposal of the Committee, it was decided “all collections that undoubtedly represent museum value, what are the collections of the late members of the Committee F.N. Chernysheva, S.N. Nikitina, N.A. Sokolova, A.O. Mikhalsky and N.A. Bogoslovsky, now place it in the corridors of the third floor ..., start accounting for the collections and keep the corridors in a monotonous and rather beautiful form.
It was also decided that geologists traveling on field work additionally collect geological samples for the museum. The commission drew up a special instruction for the collection of collection materials.
The premises of the museum were occupied by the military infirmary for a long time: it was preserved during the years of the civil war, until the end of 1921. Because of this, it was necessary to postpone work in the museum and deal only with consideration and discussion of issues related to the organization of the museum. Failure followed failure. Heads of departments received notices from foreign firms that, due to wartime obligations, they could not fulfill the accepted orders for the manufacture of furniture. It was decided to ask the firms "Malzer" and "Bauman", located in Russia, to fulfill an order for museum showcases and collection cabinets.
In subsequent years, the Museum Commission continued to consider organizational issues: on staffing and appropriations for the museum, on the provisions of department heads, on additional collections of collection materials and, mainly, on putting the collections of the Geological Committee in order, their accounting, registration, inventory and storage. .
Thus, due to the ambiguity of the timing of the transfer of the museum premises to the disposal of the Committee, it was decided “all collections that undoubtedly represent museum value, what are the collections of the late members of the Committee F.N. Chernysheva, S.N. Nikitina, N.A. Sokolova, A.O. Mikhalsky and N.A. Bogoslovsky, now place it in the corridors of the third floor ..., start accounting for the collections and keep the corridors in a monotonous and rather beautiful form.
It was also decided that geologists traveling on field work additionally collect geological samples for the museum. The commission drew up a special instruction for the collection of collection materials.
The premises of the museum were occupied by the military infirmary for a long time: it was preserved during the years of the civil war, until the end of 1921. Because of this, it was necessary to postpone work in the museum and deal only with consideration and discussion of issues related to the organization of the museum. Failure followed failure. Heads of departments received notices from foreign firms that, due to wartime obligations, they could not fulfill the accepted orders for the manufacture of furniture. It was decided to ask the firms "Malzer" and "Bauman", located in Russia, to fulfill an order for museum showcases and collection cabinets.
In subsequent years, the Museum Commission continued to consider organizational issues: on staffing and appropriations for the museum, on the provisions of department heads, on additional collections of collection materials and, mainly, on putting the collections of the Geological Committee in order, their accounting, registration, inventory and storage. .
"The case of the personnel of the museum since 1914" (materials from the 1920s)
The rules and procedure for registration of the Committee's collections were developed in detail and approved by the Presence of the Geological Committee. Beginning in 1916, the Museum of the Geological Committee began to systematically receive, record and register geological collection materials.
Museum activity at Geolkom did not stop even during the years of a radical change in the economic structure in the country. In 1918, a new staffing table was drawn up for the museum, according to which units of the head of the museum, three paleontologists, two petrographers and one mineralogist were introduced. A.A. Borisyak, M.D. Zalessky and N.N. Yakovlev, petrographer - F.Yu. Levinson - Lessing. A little later, the remaining vacant positions of petrographer and mineralogist were filled by E.S. Fedorov and D.V. Nikitin. There were no applicants for the position of the head of the museum, and later, in 1919, the new position on Geolcom introduced the position of the museum curator instead.
Museum activity at Geolkom did not stop even during the years of a radical change in the economic structure in the country. In 1918, a new staffing table was drawn up for the museum, according to which units of the head of the museum, three paleontologists, two petrographers and one mineralogist were introduced. A.A. Borisyak, M.D. Zalessky and N.N. Yakovlev, petrographer - F.Yu. Levinson - Lessing. A little later, the remaining vacant positions of petrographer and mineralogist were filled by E.S. Fedorov and D.V. Nikitin. There were no applicants for the position of the head of the museum, and later, in 1919, the new position on Geolcom introduced the position of the museum curator instead.
Since 1920, the museum has entered a new period of activity - the active preparation of expositions for access to the general public. The Museum Commission is being transformed into the Council of the Museum, which includes prominent scientists - A.A. Borisyak, V.N. Weber, A.P. Gerasimov, M.D. Zalessky, A.N. Ryabinin, N.I. Svitalsky, A.V. Faas, N.N. Yakovlev and M.E. Yanishevsky. P.I. was elected chairman of the council. Stepanov, secretary - Ya.S. Edelstein. For 10 years, the Commission has carried out intensive work on organizing expositions and forming an able-bodied team in various aspects of museum activity.
Museum staff, 1920-s
Preparatory work for the opening of the museum
By the spring of 1921, the military infirmary moved out of the Geolkom building, leaving the museum premises. The repair of offices and halls began, which proceeded very slowly. In order to systematically replenish the museum with new geological collection materials, the Museum Council developed a special instruction for collecting collections and prepared a coupon book of labels for samples for printing.
Label for collection samples of the Geolcom Museum
The Director of the Geological Committee instructed the geologists to take samples for the museum during the period of field geological work.
For 10 years there has been active preparatory work for the opening of the museum. Already at this preparatory stage, exhibitions of collections illustrating the work of the committee's geologists were organized in the corridors of Geolcom, collections were selected for other organizations, and the departments of the museum were constantly replenished with new exhibits.
Geolkom paid much attention to the education of museum personnel. P.I. Stepanov, who closely dealt with this issue, noted: “The organization of any museum is a most responsible research work, requiring from the worker, in addition to knowledge, a high artistic taste. The museum should be elegant and beautiful. Therefore, a museum worker is a special kind of worker. This is, firstly, a lover of his craft, and secondly, an enthusiast.
For 10 years there has been active preparatory work for the opening of the museum. Already at this preparatory stage, exhibitions of collections illustrating the work of the committee's geologists were organized in the corridors of Geolcom, collections were selected for other organizations, and the departments of the museum were constantly replenished with new exhibits.
Geolkom paid much attention to the education of museum personnel. P.I. Stepanov, who closely dealt with this issue, noted: “The organization of any museum is a most responsible research work, requiring from the worker, in addition to knowledge, a high artistic taste. The museum should be elegant and beautiful. Therefore, a museum worker is a special kind of worker. This is, firstly, a lover of his craft, and secondly, an enthusiast.
Exhibition of minerals in the corridors of Geolcom
In 1922, on the eve of the 1st All-Russian Congress of Geologists, the museum council organized an exhibition on a number of mineral deposits and the geological structure of Altai and the environs of Petrograd. Samples were placed in 29 showcases-tables in the corridors, and in October 1922 showcases and collection materials began to be moved to the modern premises of the museum.
Arrangement of museum expositions in the 1920s
The collection of N.F. Pogrebov for the Weimarn (Kingisepp) district, prepared by R.F. Gekker.
Starting from 1923, excursion activities began to be carried out in the museum to a limited extent.
In 1925, N.P. Stepanov under the guidance and with the direct participation of A.N. Ryabinin and V.N. Weber mounted an impressive Manjurosaurus skeleton found in the basin of the river. Cupid.
Much attention is paid to the search for technical solutions for the presentation of stone and graphic material. The active work of the entire team made it possible to prepare the museum for opening to the general public.
Starting from 1923, excursion activities began to be carried out in the museum to a limited extent.
In 1925, N.P. Stepanov under the guidance and with the direct participation of A.N. Ryabinin and V.N. Weber mounted an impressive Manjurosaurus skeleton found in the basin of the river. Cupid.
Much attention is paid to the search for technical solutions for the presentation of stone and graphic material. The active work of the entire team made it possible to prepare the museum for opening to the general public.
Museum halls before opening to the public, 1930
On May 2, 1930, the official opening of the museum for visitors took place.
Museum opening
Academician P.I. Stepanov. In the same year, the museum was named after F.N. Chernyshev, and since 1935 it became a research museum and was named the Academician F.N. Chernyshev".
The Geolcom Museum was one of the first specialized museums in the country, open to a wide range of visitors: specialists, students, schoolchildren, stone lovers. According to P.I. Stepanov, the tasks of the museum included: “Firstly, to acquaint the specialist geologist and mineral resources explorer with everything that has been done in studying the geological structure of the country's territory and mountain wealth; secondly, to help create new cadres of prospecting geologists; thirdly, to widely popularize geological exploration knowledge among the working masses, involving them in research work.
The leading direction of the museum's research activities from the first days has been the development of expositions for individual regions and types of mineral raw materials. Each topic was revealed in a complex way: graphic, textual and stone material.
The Geolcom Museum was one of the first specialized museums in the country, open to a wide range of visitors: specialists, students, schoolchildren, stone lovers. According to P.I. Stepanov, the tasks of the museum included: “Firstly, to acquaint the specialist geologist and mineral resources explorer with everything that has been done in studying the geological structure of the country's territory and mountain wealth; secondly, to help create new cadres of prospecting geologists; thirdly, to widely popularize geological exploration knowledge among the working masses, involving them in research work.
The leading direction of the museum's research activities from the first days has been the development of expositions for individual regions and types of mineral raw materials. Each topic was revealed in a complex way: graphic, textual and stone material.
The museum actively popularized its activities. In 1930-1940. 12 guidebooks were published, written in an accessible language and addressed to visitors who do not have a special geological education, which was part of a large educational work, which included excursion activities. If in 1930 only 38 excursions (1,382 visitors) were held in the museum, then in 1935 there were already 786 of them (18,703 visitors).
Museum expositions, 1930s
On the eve of the XVII session of the International Geological Congress in 1937, the expositions in the departments of the geological map and minerals were updated in the museum.
During these years, a circle of young geologists was working in the museum, in which up to 250 people were involved, and many of whom the museum gave a “ticket to geology”, discussions and lectures were held, and a film lecture was organized.
Stand with information about the educational activities of the museum
Excursion in the Museum for the Red Army
Working with young geologists
Since 1932, temporary exhibitions began to be held in factory and factory clubs, parks of culture and recreation, which were visited by hundreds of thousands of people. The museum created in the suburbs of Leningrad reference excursion bases, where lectures were given and geological excursions were conducted in the surroundings.
Popularization of geological knowledge outside the walls of the museum
Years of the Great Patriotic War
During the years of the Great Patriotic War and the Siege of Leningrad, the research and production activities of the TsNIGR museum ceased in the museum.
In connection with the immediate threat hanging over Leningrad, the museum staff took all possible measures to preserve the collection fund. Starting from the first days of the war, all employees were switched to work related to the preparation of collections, inventory and equipment for safety from bombing and destruction. The most valuable scientific geological collection materials, mainly monographic paleontological originals, as well as unique samples of minerals and minerals, were packed in boxes and transferred for storage to the cellars of the Leningrad Mining Institute, where 479 boxes containing about 80 thousand samples were sent. The exhibition samples from the museum showcases were also removed and placed in store cases of showcases, and partially packed in 275 boxes and transferred to the basement of the VSEGEI building. Large hand-made specimens remained in the halls of the museum, covered with special wooden caps. This time-consuming and painstaking work was carried out for two and a half months. In addition, from the wooden storage shed located in the courtyard of VSEGEI, some of the boxes with the collections went to cover the windows on the first floor of the building and about 2,500 boxes were taken to the outskirts of the city. Packing of collections, devices, equipment was carried out according to a detailed plan. Each exhibition theme, each separate collection was packed in boxes, on which the number of the showcase and the number of the exhibition window were placed, from where the samples were taken. Such a system of packaging after the end of the war made it possible to restore the expositions in the halls of the museum as soon as possible.
Efficient employees of the museum were mobilized for defense work, some of them were assigned to duty during air raids. In connection with wartime conditions, a significant change was made in the staff of the museum: starting from the middle of the 3rd quarter of 1941, some employees left Leningrad, some were mobilized into the Soviet Army, and part of the staff was reduced. The director of the museum, academician P.I. Stepanov, was summoned from Leningrad and P.N. was entrusted with the management of the museum. Varfolomeev.
In connection with the immediate threat hanging over Leningrad, the museum staff took all possible measures to preserve the collection fund. Starting from the first days of the war, all employees were switched to work related to the preparation of collections, inventory and equipment for safety from bombing and destruction. The most valuable scientific geological collection materials, mainly monographic paleontological originals, as well as unique samples of minerals and minerals, were packed in boxes and transferred for storage to the cellars of the Leningrad Mining Institute, where 479 boxes containing about 80 thousand samples were sent. The exhibition samples from the museum showcases were also removed and placed in store cases of showcases, and partially packed in 275 boxes and transferred to the basement of the VSEGEI building. Large hand-made specimens remained in the halls of the museum, covered with special wooden caps. This time-consuming and painstaking work was carried out for two and a half months. In addition, from the wooden storage shed located in the courtyard of VSEGEI, some of the boxes with the collections went to cover the windows on the first floor of the building and about 2,500 boxes were taken to the outskirts of the city. Packing of collections, devices, equipment was carried out according to a detailed plan. Each exhibition theme, each separate collection was packed in boxes, on which the number of the showcase and the number of the exhibition window were placed, from where the samples were taken. Such a system of packaging after the end of the war made it possible to restore the expositions in the halls of the museum as soon as possible.
Efficient employees of the museum were mobilized for defense work, some of them were assigned to duty during air raids. In connection with wartime conditions, a significant change was made in the staff of the museum: starting from the middle of the 3rd quarter of 1941, some employees left Leningrad, some were mobilized into the Soviet Army, and part of the staff was reduced. The director of the museum, academician P.I. Stepanov, was summoned from Leningrad and P.N. was entrusted with the management of the museum. Varfolomeev.
By August 25, 1941, 27 of the 64 people on the staff of the museum remained, of which 7 were completely released from work in the museum, because. they were included in the MPVO teams and the VSEGEI fire brigade. Thus, the operational work of the museum was carried out by 20 employees, who, in addition, were on shift duty around the clock to protect museum property and inventory.
In difficult conditions, without heating and lighting, in the harsh winter of 1941-1942. employees continued their work. The conditions became more and more difficult, and the forces remained less and less. B.P. died of starvation and disease. Asatkin, N.A. Bashmakova, A.V. Belolikov, V.F. Belyavskaya, S.V. Bogolyubova, G. T. Weber, E.S. Vorobyov, K.G. Iossa, G.O. Mikhalyunas, V.N. Nikiforova, L.N. Peskova, A.V. Faas. Defending his native city, the guide A. T. Zakharov died at the front.
In difficult conditions, without heating and lighting, in the harsh winter of 1941-1942. employees continued their work. The conditions became more and more difficult, and the forces remained less and less. B.P. died of starvation and disease. Asatkin, N.A. Bashmakova, A.V. Belolikov, V.F. Belyavskaya, S.V. Bogolyubova, G. T. Weber, E.S. Vorobyov, K.G. Iossa, G.O. Mikhalyunas, V.N. Nikiforova, L.N. Peskova, A.V. Faas. Defending his native city, the guide A. T. Zakharov died at the front.
Museum halls in 1941-1942
During the period of shelling and bombing in December 1941, fragments from shells damaged the central domes of the building, partially the attic and glass ceilings of the central hall, about 40 windows were knocked out.
Broken windows were blocked up with plywood panels, the halls of the museum were gradually cleared of broken glass, crumbling plaster and debris. On April 24, 1942, as a result of artillery shelling, one of the large shells, breaking through the roof of the building, exploded in the attic. The huge area of the ceiling was destroyed, glass was broken in almost all windows and showcases of the central halls of the museum. The glass domes of the building were almost completely destroyed, which is why the halls of the museum suffered from rain and snow in the future. Every day I had to board up the windows with plywood, cardboard, remove dirt and debris from the parquet floors. More than 80 windows were boarded up.
By May 1942, 12 people remained on the staff of the museum: the oldest employees of the museum: P.N. Varfolomeev, acting director of the museum, T.E. Wolf, 3.D. Grigorieva, A.I. Evgenova, N.N. Lobasheva, M. I. Yakhontova - senior researchers, L.A. Istratova, T.M. Malchevskaya, K.A. Revunova, A.P. Soboleva - junior research fellows, N.A. Gusman, E.I. Polonskaya - accountants, V.P. Kumpan, A.N. Timofeeva, V.N. Nikiforova - collectors, A.G. Osipova - courier.
Despite the lack of forces, all the museum staff, in addition to performing their direct duties, participated in citywide work: the construction of defense structures in the vicinity of Leningrad, the arrangement of vegetable gardens, the preparation of firewood for the winter, and the cleaning of streets from snow. In addition, the staff conducted educational work: lectures were held mainly in the Naval Hospital No. 2. For the needs of the defense industry, all doublet collection material was systematically analyzed and samples of the required types of mineral raw materials were selected.
Shelling and bombing complicated and worsened the general condition of the museum premises: landslides and dampness had a destructive effect not only on the preservation of museum furniture, but also on certain types of collection materials, for example, salt collections, certain types of pyrite ores, fossil coals, etc.
The war caused significant damage to the museum, and during the years of restoration work, the employees of the museum, VSEGEI and the library, from which special teams were organized, began to heal these wounds. Tons of garbage, dirt, glass fragments, chunks of crumbling plaster, bricks were taken out of the offices, halls of the museum, the VSEGEI building and the library.
By May 1942, 12 people remained on the staff of the museum: the oldest employees of the museum: P.N. Varfolomeev, acting director of the museum, T.E. Wolf, 3.D. Grigorieva, A.I. Evgenova, N.N. Lobasheva, M. I. Yakhontova - senior researchers, L.A. Istratova, T.M. Malchevskaya, K.A. Revunova, A.P. Soboleva - junior research fellows, N.A. Gusman, E.I. Polonskaya - accountants, V.P. Kumpan, A.N. Timofeeva, V.N. Nikiforova - collectors, A.G. Osipova - courier.
Despite the lack of forces, all the museum staff, in addition to performing their direct duties, participated in citywide work: the construction of defense structures in the vicinity of Leningrad, the arrangement of vegetable gardens, the preparation of firewood for the winter, and the cleaning of streets from snow. In addition, the staff conducted educational work: lectures were held mainly in the Naval Hospital No. 2. For the needs of the defense industry, all doublet collection material was systematically analyzed and samples of the required types of mineral raw materials were selected.
Shelling and bombing complicated and worsened the general condition of the museum premises: landslides and dampness had a destructive effect not only on the preservation of museum furniture, but also on certain types of collection materials, for example, salt collections, certain types of pyrite ores, fossil coals, etc.
The war caused significant damage to the museum, and during the years of restoration work, the employees of the museum, VSEGEI and the library, from which special teams were organized, began to heal these wounds. Tons of garbage, dirt, glass fragments, chunks of crumbling plaster, bricks were taken out of the offices, halls of the museum, the VSEGEI building and the library.
Start of restoration work, 1944
Skeleton restoration of a duckbilled dinosaur, 1945-1946
Some took out the garbage, others mastered the profession of glaziers and, suspended on cradles, glazed the domes of the building and the windows of offices and exhibition halls. Various specialties were mastered; everyone strove to quickly create at least minimal conditions for the performance of their direct duties. The first stage of work was completed, then, at the end of the war, special construction organizations completed the restoration of the museum building and premises.
Starting from September 1944, the staff of the museum was increased to 28 people. The "backbone" of the museum consisted of employees with long production experience who survived during the difficult years of the blockade.
In 1945, all collections were moved from the basements of the Mining Institute, checked and certified. It was found that only 35 boxes with collections perished during the war - about 7% of the total. Geological collection materials, card indexes, manuscripts and valuable publications stored in the cellars of VSEGEI have been fully preserved.
In the first post-war years, almost all expositions were restored in their pre-war appearance, for which it was necessary to look at more than 400,000 samples, write more than 20,000 exhibition labels and a thousand full houses, and prepare the appropriate graphics. On November 1, 1947, the TsNIGR Museum was reopened to the general public.
Unfortunately, Academician P.I. Stepanov, who had been in charge of the museum for about 30 years, was unable to return to museum activities due to deteriorating health, and in August 1947 he died. In his person, both the museum and domestic science have lost an outstanding organizer, a remarkable scientist and a highly professional expert in museum business.
In 1949 - early 1950, the museum was managed by Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences V.P. Rengarten. In April 1950, P.N. was appointed director. Varfolomeev. The scientific activity of the museum was directed by the museum council, which was headed in 1954-1962. stood Deputy Director of VSEGEI A.P. Markovsky.
In connection with the expansion of the geological knowledge of the country's territory and the accumulation of new factual material, it became necessary to re-plan the expositions of the regional department. In 1954, a working commission was established under the chairmanship of S.A. Muzylev, which included the leading specialists of VSEGEI - L.I. Borovikov, E.P. Bruns, V.N. Vereshchagin, N.P. Luppov, K.N. Paffengolts, A.P. Rotai, T.N. Spizharsky and others.
Starting from September 1944, the staff of the museum was increased to 28 people. The "backbone" of the museum consisted of employees with long production experience who survived during the difficult years of the blockade.
In 1945, all collections were moved from the basements of the Mining Institute, checked and certified. It was found that only 35 boxes with collections perished during the war - about 7% of the total. Geological collection materials, card indexes, manuscripts and valuable publications stored in the cellars of VSEGEI have been fully preserved.
In the first post-war years, almost all expositions were restored in their pre-war appearance, for which it was necessary to look at more than 400,000 samples, write more than 20,000 exhibition labels and a thousand full houses, and prepare the appropriate graphics. On November 1, 1947, the TsNIGR Museum was reopened to the general public.
Unfortunately, Academician P.I. Stepanov, who had been in charge of the museum for about 30 years, was unable to return to museum activities due to deteriorating health, and in August 1947 he died. In his person, both the museum and domestic science have lost an outstanding organizer, a remarkable scientist and a highly professional expert in museum business.
In 1949 - early 1950, the museum was managed by Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences V.P. Rengarten. In April 1950, P.N. was appointed director. Varfolomeev. The scientific activity of the museum was directed by the museum council, which was headed in 1954-1962. stood Deputy Director of VSEGEI A.P. Markovsky.
In connection with the expansion of the geological knowledge of the country's territory and the accumulation of new factual material, it became necessary to re-plan the expositions of the regional department. In 1954, a working commission was established under the chairmanship of S.A. Muzylev, which included the leading specialists of VSEGEI - L.I. Borovikov, E.P. Bruns, V.N. Vereshchagin, N.P. Luppov, K.N. Paffengolts, A.P. Rotai, T.N. Spizharsky and others.
Renovation of expositions in the halls of regional geology
Updated expositions of the halls of minerals
The commission proposed a new scheme for the geological zoning of the country's territory, in accordance with which the existing collection material was redistributed and newly incoming collection material was located.
In the future, as new geological information became available, expositions on regional geology were updated one by one. K.N. Paffengolts, L.I. Red, B.P. Markovsky, P.K. Chikhachev, V.R. Martyshev, V.P. Nekhoroshev and other geologists of VSEGEI.
In 1959, a re-exposition of exhibitions was held on mineral deposits on a genetic basis; leading specialists of VSEGEI - P.M. Tatarinov, N.K. Morozenko, P.P. Borovikov, V.G. Grusheva, D.V. Rundkvist, N.N. Sarsadskikh, N.N. Kurek and others.
In 1959, a re-exposition of exhibitions was held on mineral deposits on a genetic basis; leading specialists of VSEGEI - P.M. Tatarinov, N.K. Morozenko, P.P. Borovikov, V.G. Grusheva, D.V. Rundkvist, N.N. Sarsadskikh, N.N. Kurek and others.
International exhibitions
Museum staff actively participated in the selection of exhibits for international exhibitions in Brussels (1957), Milan (1958), New York (1959), Genoa (1964), Montreal (1966).
In 1961-1962 director of the TsNIGR Museum P.N. Varfolomeev organized the Museum of the Main Geological Administration of Vietnam. Assistance was provided in the creation of geological museums in Cuba (1986) and Afghanistan (1988).
In 1961-1962 director of the TsNIGR Museum P.N. Varfolomeev organized the Museum of the Main Geological Administration of Vietnam. Assistance was provided in the creation of geological museums in Cuba (1986) and Afghanistan (1988).
The intensive exchange of geological samples between the TsNIGR Museum and related organizations abroad brought mutual benefits, the museum presents collections from more than 50 countries on all continents of the world.
For more than 25 years the museum was headed by Honored Geologist of Russia P.N. Varfolomeev, thanks to whose energy, initiative and enthusiasm the museum has been growing and developing all these years. In 1976 he died. The duties of the director were temporarily performed by the Deputy Director of VSEGEI S.V. Egorov. In 1978, O.A. Sobolev.
A significant event in the life of the museum was the transfer to it for permanent storage from the State Hermitage Museum of a unique creation of Russian stone-cutters - a mosaic panel "Industry of Socialism", created in 1937, which, after restoration work, was opened for viewing on May 14, 1990.
Unfortunately, O.A. Sobolev did not live to see this day; on April 2, 1990, he suddenly died in the prime of his life and creative ideas. From 1990 to 2005, the director of the museum was A.M. Karpunin, who led the museum during the difficult perestroika period.
For more than 25 years the museum was headed by Honored Geologist of Russia P.N. Varfolomeev, thanks to whose energy, initiative and enthusiasm the museum has been growing and developing all these years. In 1976 he died. The duties of the director were temporarily performed by the Deputy Director of VSEGEI S.V. Egorov. In 1978, O.A. Sobolev.
A significant event in the life of the museum was the transfer to it for permanent storage from the State Hermitage Museum of a unique creation of Russian stone-cutters - a mosaic panel "Industry of Socialism", created in 1937, which, after restoration work, was opened for viewing on May 14, 1990.
Unfortunately, O.A. Sobolev did not live to see this day; on April 2, 1990, he suddenly died in the prime of his life and creative ideas. From 1990 to 2005, the director of the museum was A.M. Karpunin, who led the museum during the difficult perestroika period.
Halls of the museum in 1941-1942. The Geological Museum in Havana, created with the help of the employees of the TsNIGR museum
In 2008-2013 a complex of restoration works was carried out aimed at ensuring the safety of the unique exhibit and returning it to its original appearance. The mosaic set was transferred to a slate base and the overlaid decor was restored from precious and jewelry and ornamental stones, denoting enterprises of various industries.
The main tasks of the museum's TsNIGR activity at present are the acquisition, accounting, storage and organization of the use of the federal fund of geological collections and the formation of reference collections from them according to reference sections, stratotypes, petrotypes and typical massifs of mapped subdivisions of serial legends of state geological maps of the new generation GK-1000 / 3 and GGK-200/2, as well as popularization of geological knowledge and achievements of domestic geology.
The main tasks of the museum's TsNIGR activity at present are the acquisition, accounting, storage and organization of the use of the federal fund of geological collections and the formation of reference collections from them according to reference sections, stratotypes, petrotypes and typical massifs of mapped subdivisions of serial legends of state geological maps of the new generation GK-1000 / 3 and GGK-200/2, as well as popularization of geological knowledge and achievements of domestic geology.
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Central Research Geological Prospecting Museum named after Academician F.N. Chernyshev (TsNIGR MUSEUM)
Contacts
Phone:
+7 (812) 321-53-99
Address:
74, Sredny pr., St. Petersburg, 199106, Russia
E-mail:
cnigr_museum@vsegei.ru
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