WELCOME TO BURYATIA
THE KYAKHTINSKY MUSEUM
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... Ë. 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. Ýe 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 ÐS 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 (ÔÒà) 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
ŽThe Kyakhtinsky kraeved (regional ethnographer) Ë.
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 ÐS of the USSR), zoology (B.S.Vinogradov, S.I.Obolensky - Zoological
museum ÐS 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, Ðcademy 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 ŽKyakhtinsky kraevedË 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", Žthe Organism and environmentË, Žthe
Department of public formationsË, Žthe Department of socialist construction in
Buryat - MongoliaË. The historical-revolutionary departments were reorganized
according to the ŽBrief course of ARCP(b) (All-Russian Communist Party of
Bolsheviks)Ë. 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 Ž For the Soviet
science Ë 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 - Ž the Museum of
Decembrists Ë 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 Ž the
Regional Study Lecture hall Ë 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 Ž To history of Geographical discoveries in Central Asia Ë. 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 ŽBuddhism and Orthodoxy in subjects
of cultË 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 Ž Lake
people Ë 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 Ë, 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 - Ž the Museum of the
Russian - Mongolian friendship Ë 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.
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