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Emperor Alexander II approved the Charter of the Russian Technical Society
April 22 (May 4), 1866, Emperor Alexander II approved the Charter of the Russian Technical Society.
The Russian Technical Society was established on the initiative of individuals in order to promote the development of technology and industry in Russia. The initiative group included Professor of the Forest Institute E. N. Andreev; engineers M. N. Gersevanov, P. N. Alekseev and A. A. Kornilov; architect P. P. Mizhuev; shipbuilder M. M. Okunev; industrialist I. P. Balabin; gunner V. N. Bestuzhev-Rumin; naval officer N. I. Kaznakov, photographer A. V. Fribes. The draft charter of the Society, elaborated by the group, was considered by the Committee of Ministers on 12 (24) April and approved by the emperor on April 22 (May 4), 1866.
November 20 (December 2), 1866, a grand opening of the Russian Technical Society was held. By the moment, the Society already numbered more than three hundred members. Among the honorary members were ministers: P. A. Valuyev, M. H. Reitern, A. A. Zelenoy, D. A. Milutin, D. A. Tolstoy, P. P. Melnikov; military figures: N. K. Krabbe , F. P. Litke, K. P. von Kaufman, E. I. Totleben.
From the beginning, representatives of the imperial family patronized the Society. In April 1874, in recognition of the Society’s merits, it was granted the status of Imperial. Its honorary chairmen were: Duke Nikolai Leuchtenberg (1866-1891), Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich (1892-1917); the heir to the throne, the future Emperor Nicholas II was also an honorary member of the Russian Technical Society; among the trustees were Grand Dukes Mikhail Nikolaevich and Constantine Nikolaevich.
According to the Charter of the Society, it was directed by a chairman, his deputy, heads of departments, secretaries of departments and offices; the supreme governing body was the General Assembly. The first chairman of the Society was Engineer General A. I. Delvig (1867-1870); in the future, it was led by mineralogist P. A. Kochubey (1870-1892); Minister of Railways K. N. Posiet (1892-1894); organizer of the Russian shipbuilding M. I. Kazi (1894-1896); scientist, mechanic, General N. P. Petrov (1896-1905); statesman, economist V. I. Kovalevsky (1906-1916) and D. I. Ivanov (1916 -1917).
Initially, the RTS had four departments: chemical production and metallurgy; mechanics and mechanical technology, engineering, construction and mining, technology of military and maritime science. Over time, other departments appeared: photography and its use, electrical engineering (1878); aeronautics (1880), railway (1881), technical education (1884). In 1914, there were organized the departments of agriculture, industrial economics, promoting labor; mining technology and local economy. In 1916, the department of reclamation and fuel was formed. There also were the standing committees; if necessary, special committees were established.
The RTS was funded from several sources - dues, donations, contributions of “patrons," government subsidies as well as funds received from publishing, exhibitions, lectures, for the provision of services and rental of property.
The Society had a seal with the motto "Measure, weight, number" and a letterhead. Participants of exhibitions and competitions organized by the Society were awarded with medals, tokens, prizes. For the best inventions and research in the field of railway transport a Golden medal, established in memory of a railway engineer Alexander Borodin, was awarded.
From 1867, the journal "Notes of Russian Technical Society" had been published. It included the minutes of meetings of the society, information on the achievements of modern Russian and foreign machinery, articles related to industrial economics and trade. Local offices also released "Works," "Herald," "Notes." Specialized journals, such as "Railway business," "Technology of aeronautics," "Technical education," "Photographer," "Technical Bulletin," "Electricity" and others were also issued.
The Society paid great attention to the development of vocational and technical education: it opened secondary schools, special classes and courses for workers in factories.
The RTS organized a series of applied-research conferences: Engineering Conference in 1875, Conference of Technical and Vocational Education in 1889 and 1896. It also organized Electrotechnical Exhibitions (in 1880, 1882, 1885, 1892), Industrial Exhibitions (in 1892, 1896), Manufactory Exhibitions (in 1870, 1882) and other.
In the spring of 1871, the emperor authorized the Society to create a Museum of applied knowledge. For its arrangement the main building of the Salt complex in St. Petersburg was reconstructed. Inauguration of the Museum was held in October 1872. In the future, from 1875, the Museum housed the main divisions of RTS, its chemical laboratory, photographic pavilion, library, archive.
Successful activities of the RTS and development of industry in Russia contributed to the creation of regional offices of the Society. By 1916 their number reached 33.
In December 1918, the RTS joined the All-Russian Association of Engineers (VAI), which brought together the technical societies of pre-revolutionary Russia.
Lit.: Ершов М. П. Современное состояние ремесленных учебных заведений по данным 3-го Съезда. [СПб., 1904]; Карелин В. А. Русское техническое общество и проблема подготовки квалифицированных фабрично-заводских рабочих в России (1866-1890 гг.): Автореферат. Л., 1985; Филиппов Н. Г. Научно-технические общества России (1866-1917 гг.): Автореферат. М., 1985.
Based on the Presidential Library’s materials:
Полное собрание законов Российской империи. СПб., 1868. Т. 41. Отд-ние 1. № 43219. С. 397;