Slavonic Society, Petersburg

Categories / Science. Education/Learned Societies
SLAVONIC CHARITABLE SOCIETY OF St. Petersburg, originates from the Moscow Slavonic Charitable Committee, established in 1858 by the circle of Slavophiles headed by M.P. Pogodin to provide financial and moral support to Slavonic peoples under the reign of Turkey and Austria-Hungary. In 1868 the Petersburg Branch of the Committee was established and headed by V.I. Lamansky. The branch founded a publishing commission that issued textbooks, dictionaries of Slavonic languages and educational literature. When the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-78 broke out, the branch was reorganised into the Slavonic Charitable Society, that provided assistance to the Slavs coming to Russia, and developed religious and cultural relations between Slavonic nations. The Slavonic Charitable Society was comprised of honorary and full members, and staff. It was headed by a board (a chairman, two assistants and twelve members). In the Board three commissions (administrative, charitable and publishing) functioned. In 1899 the society numbered over 600 members, at different times N.N. Strakhov, Y.F. Samarin, F.M. Dostoevsky, K.Y. Grot, I.I. Sreznevsky, N.Y. Danilevsky and others took part in the activities of the society. The society published Izvestia (Proceedings) (the name of the publication changed). Among the major editions there is Russian-Slavonic Dictionary (1892) and All-Slavonic Alphabet Book (1892). On the eve of the Revolution of 1905-07, the authorities intensified the supervision of the society, which resulted in the reduction of its activity. Before World War I of 1914-18, an increase in nationalistic trends was noted in the society. In February 1917 Slavonic Charitable Society ceased to exist. In 1876-1900 it was located at 9 Alexandrinskaya Square (today Ostrovskogo Square), in 1900-17 - at 24 Zvenigorodskaya Street.

References: Истомин Ф. М. Краткий очерк деятельности С.-Петербургского славянского благотворительного общества за 25 лет его существования, 1868-1893 гг. СПб., 1893; Никитин С. А. Славянские комитеты в России в 1858-1876 годах. М., 1960.

Y. N. Kruzhnov. Danilevsky Nikolay Yakovlevich
Dostoevsky Fedor Mikhailovich
Grot Konstantin Yakovlevich
Lamansky Vladimir Ivanovich
Pogodin Mikhail Petrovich
Samarin Yury Fedorovich
Sreznevsky Izmail Ivanovich
Strakhov Nikolay Nikolaevich
Ostrovsky Square/Saint Petersburg, city, house 9
Zvenigorodskaya Street/Saint Petersburg, city, house 24
Revolution of 1905-07
1868