The History of Kyakhtinsky museum of regional studies

The history of creation of Kyakhtinsky museum of regional studies after the academician V.A.Obruchev began in 1870-1880-s years, when teachers, doctors, the banished politicians, representatives of advanced merchant class and officials formed a club of people in Kyakhta who were fond of regional studying and actively participated in public and cultural measures of the town. First, the idea about creation of the museum had appeared when the couple G.N. and A.V.Potaniny visited Kyakhta and met with old familiars from Petersburg - I.I.Popov and N.A.Charushin. The arrival of the Potanins to Kyakhta coincided with the desire of local intelligency  to educate and to form the area... Л. In 1890 the interim committee was elected , which began to search means for the maintenance of a museum. Then the first exhibits began to appear.

One of the first collectors of the museum and its first keeper was P.S.Mihno. He made the first catalogue according to which in the museum 310 exhibits were registered. In 1892 the number of the collections so increased, that the separate premise was required. The Kyakhtinskie merchants allocated to the museum necessary means, due to which the apartment of 40 sq. meters was rented and the museum equipment - cases, tables, show-windows were purchased. When the number of exhibits increased considerably, the museum was transferred to the stone house, sacrificed by the merchant A.D.Startsev. By 1893 the museum had stored over 2 thousand exhibits. But, as the Charter of the museum had not been authorized, the museum was not recognized as an official establishment.

The matter got off the ground when the doctor J.D.Talko-Gryntsevich came to Kyakhta. Эe was supported greatly by a famous traveller D.A.Klements. He suggested Kyakhtinsky regional specialists open the branch of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society in the town. The imperial Russian Geographical Society was under trusteeship of the imperial family. In 1894 the official sanction to opening the branch was received. It was headed by J.D.Talko-Gryntsevich. Simultaneously with this branch the museum, as its department was officially opened too. These two scientific institutes had one task - thorough studying of southwest Zabaikalye.

From 1894 till 1897 the branch and the museum conducted expeditionary works, collecting and scientific processing of natural-science and historical materials, sessions of administrative committee, assembly of members of branch. The formation of the branch and the museum was difficult for the lack of financial support, the help of Troitskosavskaya municipal duma was poor. Basically the museum existed due to membership dues, private donations, staging performances and concerts, lecturing, sale of printed production. Despite difficulties, the collective of enthusiasts made work on studying Southern Zabaikalye (Transbaikalye) and adjoining areas of Mongolia on so high level, that many scientists and researchers use the collections collected during that period and their works to our days. Since the first years of official existence of the museum famous scientists and researchers of the Central Asia, as V.A. Obruchev, D.A. Klements, P.K. Kozlov took part in the formation of its collections. The edition of their works, creation of scientific library, constant replenishing the collection, allowed the museum to enter an exchange of collections and editions with many Russian and foreign scientific organizations and establishments. In 1897 the museum had relations with 90 scientific organizations.

As a result of hard work rich collections on entomology, ornithology, gerpetology, ichthyology, geological and botanical materials were collected.

• V.P.Garyaev began studying fauna of non-vertebrates in lake Baikal.
• J.D.Talko-Gryntsevich and J.S.Smolev made an excavation of 84 ancient burial places, considerably having filled up an archaeologic collection.
• There was an updating of an ethnographic collection, when means of the branch allowed to buy in Mongolia subjects of Buddhist cult and home facilities of the Mongols.
• V.S.Molleson carried out processing of paleontologic materials, having prepared in 1898 the description of a paleontologic collection which became the first catalogue of the museum.

In 1902 the largest expedition of the pre-revolutionary period to lake Khubsugul in Northwest Mongolia was undertaken. Its leader was P.S.Mihno. Interesting collections on botany, entomology, geology and ornithology were collected. The materials of Khubsugul expedition were defined by famous scientists: L.S.Berg, V.L.Bianki, I.V.Palibin and others.

The researches of Kyakhtinsky regional specialists, their works already 100 years ago had received high estimation in the scientific world. In 1903 the Imperial Russian Geographical Society awarded M.I.Molleson and P.S.Mihno with small silver medals, in a year the small silver medal was awarded to P.S. Smolev and in 1906 J.D.Talko-Gryntsevich was awarded by a big gold medal. He was elected the member - correspondent of the Krakow Academy of Sciences and the Chech-Slavic scientific organization. For a long-term work A.V.Bartashev was also awarded by a small silver medal. The collections of the museum collected during 14 years were represented by the collections on geology, paleontology, ornithology, ichthyology, botany, ethnography, numismatics, industry and agriculture. The total number of materials was more than 14000 units of storage.

From 1904 till 1911 the museum experienced the period of stagnation, rates of research works were sharply slowed down. It was connected with the beginning of the Russian-Japanese war. Nevertheless, for this period the collection of the museum increased for 2000 thousand units. For definition of natural-scientific collections of the museum the director of Zoological museum of РS N.V.Nasonov, the zoologist of the Zoological museum-G.G.Yakobson, the professors of St.-Petersburg university N.A. Kholodkovsky, A.I. Terenetsky, foreign scientists as V.Mikhelson from Germany and V.I. Dybovsky and E. Yanchevsky from the Krakow university of Poland were involved. Besides traditional researches in the field of natural sciences, archeology, anthropology and ethnography, members of the branch were engaged in studying economy, demography, medicine, folklore, seismology, meteorology, hydrography, topography of Transbaikalye and Northern Mongolia. For 20 years of its existence 185 scientific works were published. During these years due to an exchange fund from the Parisian anthropological school the collection of 50 instruments of paleolith of classical monuments of France was received: Ashel, Solyutre, Madlen. And the natural - historical museum of Berlin also sent the collection of butterflies to Kyakhtinsky museum.

The period 1914-1916 was the time of curtailing of scientific activity, for this time the funds got only 346 units of storage. During the revolution and Civil war the museum almost stopped its existence, connections with scientific organizations were lost, grants did not come. Especially hard period the museum experienced from 1918 till 1921 when Kyakhta turned out to be one of the centers of political and military events of Civil war. In 1922 the Government of Far East Republic (ФТа) adopted the decree about acceptance of the museum into the Ministry of national education. The museum was allocated financial benefit, the staff of workers from 3 persons was determined and a 2-storeyed building of the former 4-classed town school was transferred to it.

The museum renewed its research and educational activity right after the termination of the Civil war. In the summer of 1921 P.S.Mihno carried out some natural-science expeditions. Since November, 1924 the student's study of local lore club was created in the museum. It began its work on studying nature and history of the area, assisted the museum in acquisition of funds. Since 1927 the club issued the magazine "Sledopyt" (Pathfinder), which later began to be called ЋThe Kyakhtinsky kraeved (regional ethnographer) Л.

In 20-s years the museum was visited by the participants of large expeditions making researches in the field of geology ( V.I. Kryzhanovski - Mineralogical museum РS of the USSR), zoology (B.S.Vinogradov, S.I.Obolensky - Zoological museum РS of the USSR), archeology (S.A.Teplouhov - the Leningrad state university). Research work during this period was carried out according to the tasks for economic revival of the country and rise of a cultural - educational level of the population. The employees of the museum organized expeditions around Troitskosavsky district and the neighbouring areas. In the summer of 1927 a large expedition for the inspection of Gusinoe (Goose) lake was carried out, which studied not only natural resources of the lake, but also collected materials for an essay about the last and present life of the area, about changes in life of its population. During these expeditions the geological collection from 700 samples of rocks and natural-science materials was collected.

On October, 24, 1927 the 35-th anniversary of the museum and the 30-th anniversary of the branch were marked. The museum received messages of greeting from Narkom (national committee) of education A.V.Lunacharsky, Рcademy of Sciences of the USSR, the American and Italian geographical societies, the world famous scientists (the professor-V.A.Obruchev from Moscow and the professor -Talgren from Gelsingdorf).

In the summer of 1930 a large expedition was held for studying Borgoyskaya steppe in Dzhidinsky region, studying fodder capacity of steppe and finding-out the quantity of cattle which can be supported under the conditions of steppe economy. S.A.Uspensky, carrying out researches in the Troitskosavsky area, found a place of white clay in vicinities of Ust-Kyakhta. In 1928 he took part in the expedition of professor I.N.Gladsen on inspection of salty lakes. As well as in the past there was a mass gathering of materials. By 1931 the collection of the museum had already more than 50000 units of storage. The cultural - mass and propaganda activities intensively developed. In 1930 the museum was visited by 12692 persons and 101 excursions were held on its expositions. The issues of magazines "Sledopyt" and ЋKyakhtinsky kraevedЛ were sent to the All-Union pedagogical exhibition in Leningrad. These years the deposits of coal, refractory clay, zeolit, quartz, field shpat were investigated. Silimanit was discovered in the Burgutuysky range, not far from Kyakhta, and 60 kms far from the town, slate was also found out. The Khamar-Daban expedition held in 1936 examined wood plantings and collected materials on geology, ornithology and botany. The expositional-exhibition work also developed. By 1940 the museum had opened new departments "Introduction", Ћthe Organism and environmentЛ, Ћthe Department of public formationsЛ, Ћthe Department of socialist construction in Buryat - MongoliaЛ. The historical-revolutionary departments were reorganized according to the ЋBrief course of ARCP(b) (All-Russian Communist Party of Bolsheviks)Л. Thus, in 1930-s the Kyakhtinsky museum experienced the decrease of the research work in the field of natural-science researches, and historical and cultural researches were conducted with a bias in favour of studying history of the Soviet society. The activity of the Geographical society had been practically decreased to a zero.

In 1940 the museum celebrated its 50-th anniversary. For merits in studying history and nature of Zabaikalye, it was appropriated the status of a republican museum and the name of academician V.A.Obruchev.

During Great Patriotic War the museum continued to carry out mass work, 39 stationary and mobile exhibitions were organized. The employees of the museum took part in meetings of teachers, assisted collective farms. The museum participated in gathering warm things, herbs. The experienced fruit-berry plot grew and sold sprouts. The director of the museum during war was A.N.Orlova.

After the war the museum started to be engaged in regional studying work in the town and area. The active from 30 regional specialists was created, 10 regional studying clubs were organized and the issue of the newspaper Ћ For the Soviet science Л began. In 1949 the active of regional specialists included more than 100 persons.

In 1964 the employees of the museum of G.A.Obuhova, M.P.Igumnova led by the director R.F.Tugutov participated in the organization of the museum of regional studies in Sukhe-Bator of Selenginsky aimak in MNR. In 70-s R.F.Tugutov took part in the foundation of the museum of the Mongolian National Revolution in Altan-Bulak in Selenginsky aimak of MNR. In 1975 to the 150-anniversary of revolt of Decembrists, the branch of the Kyakhtinsky museum - Ћ the Museum of Decembrists Л was opened in the village of Novoselenginsk. During the post-war period in the Kyakhtinsky museum opened a seismic station (1951), a planetarium (1960)  the unique establishment of such kind in Buryatia. Since 1964 Ћ the Regional Study Lecture hall Л began to operate in the museum. By 1967 the museum had an active from 500 regional specialists. The employees of the museum carried out actions for nature protection: conferences, arranged birds dining rooms and worked the ornithological station.

The activity of Kyakhtinsky Branch of the All-Russia Geographical Society was restored, but it did not have a regular character any more. Until 1961 three volumes of works had been published, up to 19804 issues of Flora of Zabaikalye were brought out. In 1978 the re-exposition of the branch of the Kyahtinsky museum - the museum of the I congress of MNRP was carried out and the exhibition devoted to the anniversary of Kyakhta was prepared. In 1982 the museum of national creativity of peoples of Zabaykalye was opened and in 1984 a national museum was opened in the v. Sharagol. The museum also opened a new stationary exhibition Ћ To history of Geographical discoveries in Central Asia Л. In 1981 the scientific library of the museum was reorganized and the fund of rare books was allocated from it. As a result in the department of funds of Kyahtinsky museum appeared the Rare books fund, possessing a complete collection of books of the pre-revolutionary edition in the Republic of Buryatia.

In 80 - 90-s years the Kyakhtinsky museum of regional studies took an active part in archaeologic researches of the Dyrestuy burial ground. There worked a joint archaeologic expedition of AS USSR ( later IIMK of RAS) and the Kyakhtinsky museum of regional studies headed by S.S.Minyaev.

The last decade of XX century was the time of activization of all forms of work in the museum. In 1990 the museum celebrated its 100-th anniversary. Anniversary measures got a large public resonance. The museum received congratulations from all corners of the country, it was honoured by the largest museums of the country, as the State Hermitage, the Russian museum, the State historical museum and others. One of brightest jubilee measures was a scientific-practical conference with participation of scientists from Ulan-Ude, Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Omsk, Irkutsk. In the conference participants could listen to the reports which were the result of a long-term research work of scientists, representing interest not only for Zabaikalye, but also for the whole country.

In 1992 as a result of fruitful activity of a scientific - exposition department, one more stationary exhibition ЋBuddhism and Orthodoxy in subjects of cultЛ was opened, where subjects of Orthodox and Buddhist cult from the churches of Kyakhta closed in 30-s years, the Troitskosavsk and Murochisky datsans were displayed.

In 1996 on the base of Kyakhtinsky museum of regional studies the International congress of scientific archeologists was held. The most outstanding home and foreign experts in the field of Hunnology took part in the work of Congress. Specially for this anniversary the exhibition was opened, which represented the best finds of the archaeologists made in the south of Buryatia for the previous one hundred years.

Since the second half of 90-s years of XX century, despite a number of difficulties connected with deterioration of an economic situation in the country, the museum actively continues to carry out research, educational and fund work. Today the museum keeps in step with the modernity. New relations with scientific institutions of the country and the Republic have been established and strengthened. The museum constantly takes part in Baikal festival Ћ Lake people Л on which scientific employees of museums of the country gather. In 2001 the cooperation with archaeologic expedition of Institute of history of material culture of the Russian Academy of Science in Saint Petersburg was restored.

The museum takes an active part in various town measures. In 2004 the collective of the museum took the second place in the competition devoted to the holiday of White month. In 2003 within the framework of preparation for the 275-th anniversary of Kyakhta, together with the museum Nature of Buryatia Л, the exhibition named "Frontier zone" was arranged, which showed the originality of the frontier zone, by way of cultural interaction of peoples of Central Asia.

In 2004 a new stage in the development of the museum began. The employees of the museum conduct the work to open in the town a new museum - Ћ the Museum of the Russian - Mongolian friendship Л that will serve to strengthening of friendly relations with neighbouring Mongolia. For the year of 2004-2005 the beginning of stage-by-stage reexposition is planned in the Kyakhtinsky museum.