History of Russia: History of Education of Noble Children of XIX-XX Centuries Exhibition in St. Petersburg

On October 31, 2013, at the Museum-apartment of Alexander Blok in St. Petersburg will be opened the "Golden Childhood... Noble Spoiling…" exhibition, dedicated to the upbringing and education of children in the noble families of the XIX- XX centuries, the favorite activities, hobbies and games of kids of these times.

The exhibition brings together the objects from the collections of the State Museum of the History St. Petersburg, the Russian National Library and the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences: books and magazines for children, photos, children's drawings and albums, toys, costumes, household items and much more.

"Golden Childhood... Noble Spoiling…" is a poetic line with which Alexander Blok described his own childhood. The children's corner model set reconstructing a typical child's room in a aristocrat's house, along with numerous photographs, postcards, featuring children prints, children's clothing and household items, gives a notion of the life of children in the XIX-XX centuries. Children’s favorite toys are in there.

The board games always were the favorite children’s activities. At the turn of the XIX- XX centuries there were a wide variety of topics, materials and manufacturer’s prices on board games. The exhibition shows more than 25 kinds of board games.

Kids newer showed less interest on drawing though. Children's drawings of the time and children's albums, which were kept in each family, prove this. In the interactive area, following the recommendations of a hundred years old books and magazines, visitors will be suggested to make with their own hands the homemade paper dummies, as well as to play the board games.

The exhibition includes a rich collection of children's books and magazines; the posters of the first shows for children in the cinema "Art", the program of performances, bolls, and matinees, the advertising flyers allow to recreate the atmosphere of children’s Petersburg of Silver Age.