Academician E. V. Tarle at the Leningrad branch of the Institute of History of the USSR Academy of Sciences

Abstract

The article is based on the records of the Institute of History of the USSR Academy of Sciences and its Leningrad branch. It allows us to overcome the tradition in historiography of considering E. V. Tarle’s biography outside the institutions with which he was associated. E. V. Tarle was appointed to the staff of the Leningrad Institute of History on April 1, 1937, and remained a member of the staff until 1953. His appointment to the Leningrad Institute of History can be considered one of the steps in the process of restoring his status as a scholar after his return from exile. Although in 1945–1953, the scientist lived in two cities, spending most of his time in Moscow, he did not sever ties with the Leningrad Institute of History of Science. The ideological campaigns of the 1930s and 1950s had an impact on him within the walls of the Leningrad Institute of History of Science. He participated in the formation of several scientific institutions that still exist today (such as joint meetings of departments). A. V. Paevskaya was listed as his reference at the Leningrad State University. The documents introduced into scientific circulation allow us to see the famous scientist in his natural environment, acting within the framework of academic communication, surrounded by fellow researchers (at the Academic Council and at group meetings), where he could express his opinions and articulate his research principles as openly as possible (as much as time allowed). Another aspect of his personality that is reflected in the archival documents is his adherence to the high ethical principles of the scientific community and his desire to protect his closest colleagues and students. Finally, the Institute’s documents provide a better understanding of how its research topics have evolved in response to external circumstances and, to some extent, how it has resisted these circumstances.