Memorable dates of Russia: Historical & Documentary Exhibition “M. V. Lomonosov and his age” timed to the scholar’s 300th birthday anniversary is held in Moscow

17 November 2011, in the Exhibition Hall of the Federal Archives, Moscow was opened the Historical & Documentary Exhibition “M. V. Lomonosov and his age” devoted to life and work of one of the founders of the Russian science, Mikhail Lomonosov.

Letters, petitions, official documents, reports, scientific works displayed at the exposition reflect various stages of life of our great compatriot, revealing the real personality of Lomonosov, his relations with the family, the colleagues, the authority; his many-sided and fruitful scientific work.

The “Archangel Land – the homeland of M. V. Lomonosov” section features the unique documents about his family and the “birth certificate” of 1711 saying that the miner Vasily D. Lomonosov had a son named Mikhailo. The visitors will see the documents indicating Mikhailo’s participation in family affairs: he signed papers for his father, illiterate merchants and manufacturers.

There also are interesting documents related to Lomonosov’s studies at Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy, as well as old university German cities such as Marburg and Freiburg. At display are: a postal map indicating the way from Kholmogory to Moscow, two interrogations of Lomonosov about his origins (the first says he is the son of the Kholmogory priest; the second states he is the son of a peasant), textbooks of the 18th century, prints with images of Moscow.

The special place is devoted to archival documents related to the academic activities of M. V. Lomonosov and the history of foundation of the Moscow University: Lomonosov’s oaths of office that he took at the assumption of the office, scientific works of M. V. Lomonosov, report of I. I. Shuvalov to the Senate about the need to establish the Moscow University, first university posters announcing public lectures of scholars, methodological manual “The way of learning” written by M. V. Lomonosov.

Also worth mentioning are documentary materials covering the work of Lomonosov related to the development of mining, documents on organization of works at beads plant of Lomonosov, his activities on development of mosaic manufacture and creation of famous mosaic paintings for decoration of buildings and churches.

Archival documents are displayed along with unique albums, maps, prints, paintings from the collections of archives and museums. For the first time on display is the portrait of M. V. Lomonosov by the President of the Academy of Sciences Zurab Tsereteli and the bust of the scholar by the People’s Artist of Russia N. A. Selivanov. The exposition also includes mosaics from Lomonosov’s workshop and medals with images of historical topics, watches, chronometers, microscopes, telescopes, specimens of ore.

The exposition will also feature a reconstructed study of the scientists including the furniture of the 18th century.

At the end of the exposition are the documents about M. V. Lomonosov’s jubilees which have always been grandly celebrated in Russia.