The Presidential Library: New acquisitions

The Presidential Library collections were enriched with materials from the I. S. Nikitin Regional Universal Scientific Library of Voronezh, M. Yu. Lermontov Regional Library of Penza, Pskov Regional Universal Scientific Library.

New acquisitions include the works covering literary and creative activities in Voronezh, Penza and Pskov.

Voronezh

It is a series of illustrated catalogs-albums, which highlight the unique editions of authors, whose destinies are related to the Voronezh region. The catalogs are based on personal collections of a literary critic and bibliophile O. G. Lasunsky and collector A. Ya. Prikhod’ko, donated to the Voronezh Regional Universal Scientific Library.

The edition A. V. Koltsov in the press (1835-2001) (Voronezh, 2009) is timed to the 200th anniversary of the poet A. V. Koltsov and represents a description of the printed editions about Koltsov published from 1830 to 2000's. These are the books-miniatures, gift editions, academic and mass collections, translations into foreign languages, printed music for songs based on the poems of the poet, guides to Koltsov’s sites, drawings, postcards and other memorial materials. Bibliographic list of the poet's works and literature about him is complemented by a large illustrative section and an article of O. G. Lasunsky about the history of existence of Koltsov’s books in pre-revolutionary Russia.

The publication I. S. Nikitin in the press (1856-2006) (Voronezh, 2010) is a description of printed materials about Nikitin issued in 1850s - 2000s. The rich illustrations of the publications are supplemented with bibliography, consisting of three sections. The first includes works by Nikitin, the second - the literature on his life and work, the third - reference and bibliographic publications. Along with the books there also are other printed materials: magazines, amateur convolutes, reprints, sets of postcards, photos and other.

The edition A. P. Platonov in the press (1922-2009) (Voronezh, 2011) tells about the writer Andrei Platonov, and was timed to the International Platonov Festival, held in June 2011 in Voronezh. The catalog-album is a description of books by Platonov and studies about him (1922-2009). The book reproduces the most interesting artistic elements of certain specimens. Rich illustrative materials are supplemented by a bibliographic description of some copies. The catalog consists of two sections. The first includes the works by A. Platonov, the second - literature on his life and work.

A series of catalogs-albums continues with the publication I. A. Bunin in the press (1897-2011) (Voronezh, 2014). The main distinctive feature of this issue is that it includes not only some works by a literary critic and bibliophile O. G. Lasunsky and collector A. Ya. Prikhod’ko, but also lifetime editions of I. A. Bunin from the collections of the Zonal Scientific Library of Voronezh State University and Voronezh Regional Literary Museum of I. S. Nikitin. The publication consists of two sections. The first includes works by Ivan Bunin, the second - the literature on his life and work. The catalog contains publications that reflect different aspects of the creative activity of the author: poems, novels, short stories, memoirs, journalism, diaries, correspondence, translations from English, editorial work of Bunin.

Penza

The collection In memory of V. G. Belinsky (Moscow, 1899), compiled by the works of Russian writers and scientists, was issued by the M. Yu. Lermontov Public Library of Penza as a remembrance of the celebration of the literary critic and essayist on the fiftieth anniversary of his death. The first section contains reports read at the solemn meeting of the Society of amateurs of Russian literature under the Moscow University 8 (20) April 1898. The second section includes of the works of the following authors delivered particularly for the collection: Grand Duke Konstantin Romanov, A. Zhemchuzhnikova, A. Chekhov, N. Zlatovratskiy, V. Ladyzhensky, Ya, Polonsky, N. Teleshov, N. Panov, P. Zasodimsky, K. Balmont, F. Batyushkov, L. Tolstoy, I. Bunin, actor A. Yuzhin-Sumbatov, academician M. Kovalevsky and others.

Pskov

Album Emperor Nicholas II in Pskov (Pskov, 1997), compiled by local historian of Pskov N. F. Levin and published in time for the 80th anniversary of the abdication, covers the imperial couple's visit to Pskov in 1903. The photos depict Pskov monasteries and temples, historical museum located in the premises of the Pogankiny chambers of the 17^th century, riding-hall of the Irkutsk regiment, Nobility Assembly House, House of Industry. At the end of the album there are the materials devoted to the dramatic events of 2 (15) March 1917, when Nicholas II signed his abdication in the imperial train at the Pskov railway station.

The album Pskov in old postcards (Pskov, 2009) contains images with views of Pskov in the 19^th – early 20^th centuries. The first part of the album depicts the Kremlin, the Market Square and Velikiye Luki Street. The second part contains reproductions of postcards with views of the central streets in the interfluves of Rivers Velikaya and Pskova. The third part contains photographs of the sights on both sides of the main water artery of the city - the River Velikaya. The fourth part is devoted to the review of coastal wetlands of the River Pskova.

The work by Doctor of Historical Sciences A. Mikhailov Pskov during the First World War, 1914-1915 (Pskov, 2012) is devoted to the life of the city of Pskov on the eve of the First World War and its first year and a half. The author gives a brief description of institutions and officials of Pskov and Pskov province, which played a prominent role during the war. It tells about the severity and everyday life during the war, participation of Pskov residents in charity events, assistance to the sick and wounded, refugees, about the courage shown by residents at the front. The author sought to show only certain events and trends in the life of a provincial city, remind of the undeservedly forgotten heroes. The book has appendixes: lists of commanders and chiefs of staff of the Northwest and Northern fronts, information about the assistance of the Pskov province population to sick and wounded in hospitals, etc. The work is based on extensive archival material.

Preparation of new materials will continue.