Postcards with illustrations on the front side first appeared in Europe in the 19th century. They were highly demanded in the Russian Empire as well. The view postcards featuring the cities, architectural objects, monuments, and churches were one of the popular genres.
At the moment the illustrated postcards that captured the buildings of the last centuries are of historical and collectable interest.
The postcard issued in early 20th century captured Borisoglebsk Technical Railway College founded in 1878. The necessity for such educational institution was caused by opening of Gryaz-Tsaritsyno railway in the city in 1869. The need for specialized professionals appeared, so the representatives of the Society of the Gryaz-Traritsyno Railway decided to organize a corresponding educational institution.
The college looked like a student quarter of the time including the education buildings, accommodation blocks, John the Apostle’s church, and the administrative building. The educational block and reconstructed church survived to this day.
The brick-built education building was decorated with rusted pilaster-strips. The main façade was accented with risalit and attic, the ground floor had an arched entrance with a portal. The central window of the first floor was decorated with a balustrade. The windows of the ground and the first floors were rectangular in plan. Big window apertures gave much light to the lecture rooms. The gable facades were topped with frontons.
Education process took four years. Students had writing and drafting classes, studied physical and exact sciences. During the final years of education they were given profile subjects, such as railway engineering and metalwork. Except for theory the students were obliged to have a practice, in the end they got diplomas.
Education at Borisoglebsk Technical Railway College was on a very high level, which let its students participate in and demonstrate their works at the Paris Exposition in the late 19th century. Many of the graduates became prominent scientists, transport constructors, specialist of certain stages of the production process.
