The book was published in 1871 exclusively for the anniversary of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society. This was the first work to give a detailed history of the organization, publishing an account of its activities, congratulatory letters and telegrams. Including an official greeting from Emperor Alexander II.
The publication tells the story of the creation of the Society, its founding fathers, and the departments exist within the organization. The history of the Department of General Geography is most well covered — the author of this material was Pyotr Semyonov. The text on ethnography was prepared by the literary historian and scholar of ethnography Leonid Maikov. He was admitted to the Russian Geographic Society in 1867, and four years later became the head of the ethnographic department.
Maikov played a major role in the history of the organization and contributed to the works of Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky. He was the author of several scholarly works, the best known of which were the ‘Great Russian Spells’, one of the first and still most complete collections of Russian incantations, prayers, and spells. The book was published in 1869 in the ‘Notes’ of the Russian Geographical Society. The scientist was also deeply involved in the organization’s publishing activities as an editor. Thanks to him, ethnographic maps of the European part of Russia were published, as well as the " Geographical and Statistical Dictionary’ compiled by Pyotr Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky. His role was also important in the creation of the “Living antiquity, ” a magazine that brought together experts in the field of ethnography and folklore.
Another chapter — a review of the activities of the Department of Statistics was written by Arthur von Buschen, a Russian statistician, Actual State Councilor, master and writer. He went to great lengths to ensure that up-to-date information about life in Russia was available abroad. In particular, Buschen published the book “The Population of the Russian Empire” in German in 1862, and at the time of the peasant reform he wrote a brochure on the situation of the serfs.
The history of the Society concludes with a list of full members as of 1871. The book is now considered a rare historical document, which contains interesting facts about the activities of the organization since its early days.
The publication tells the story of the creation of the Society, its founding fathers, and the departments exist within the organization. The history of the Department of General Geography is most well covered — the author of this material was Pyotr Semyonov. The text on ethnography was prepared by the literary historian and scholar of ethnography Leonid Maikov. He was admitted to the Russian Geographic Society in 1867, and four years later became the head of the ethnographic department.
Maikov played a major role in the history of the organization and contributed to the works of Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky. He was the author of several scholarly works, the best known of which were the ‘Great Russian Spells’, one of the first and still most complete collections of Russian incantations, prayers, and spells. The book was published in 1869 in the ‘Notes’ of the Russian Geographical Society. The scientist was also deeply involved in the organization’s publishing activities as an editor. Thanks to him, ethnographic maps of the European part of Russia were published, as well as the " Geographical and Statistical Dictionary’ compiled by Pyotr Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky. His role was also important in the creation of the “Living antiquity, ” a magazine that brought together experts in the field of ethnography and folklore.
Another chapter — a review of the activities of the Department of Statistics was written by Arthur von Buschen, a Russian statistician, Actual State Councilor, master and writer. He went to great lengths to ensure that up-to-date information about life in Russia was available abroad. In particular, Buschen published the book “The Population of the Russian Empire” in German in 1862, and at the time of the peasant reform he wrote a brochure on the situation of the serfs.
The history of the Society concludes with a list of full members as of 1871. The book is now considered a rare historical document, which contains interesting facts about the activities of the organization since its early days.
