The Presidential Library tells about life of an outstanding sociologist Pitirim Sorokin

The Presidential Library and the Republic of Komi are planning to develop joint cultural and educational projects. The first deputy representative of the Komi Republic in the North-West Region of the Russian Federation Sergei Orlov announced this today, August 15, 2017, at the official opening of the “Life and work of an outstanding sociologist of the twentieth century P. A. Sorokin” multimedia exhibition. The Presidential Library and the “Heritage” Center named after Pitirim Sorokin jointly implemented the project the with the participation of the Representative Office of the Komi Republic in the North-West Region of the Russian Federation.

According to Sergei Orlov, apart from the contributing to the popularization of the culture of the Komi Republic, exhibition will also serve as a launch for future development of partnership relations with the Presidential Library. The choice of St. Petersburg to open a multimedia exhibition is not random. As it was mentioned, lives of many prominent figures of the Republic of Komi were one way or another connected with this city. And Pitirim Sorokin is among these people. “He laid out the foundations of his scientific knowledge here and then he successfully applied them in the territory of our region,” — Sergei Orlov added.

The exposition’s slides show the main stages of life and scientific accomplishments of the world-famous scholar Pitirim Sorokin. The exposition tells about the family of the future founder of modern sociology, as well as about those who influenced his development as a scientist. Among them there are an academician of the St. Petersburg Imperial Academy of Sciences Maxim Kovalevsky and Russian philosopher, ethnographer and writer Kallistrat Zhakov.

One of the most voluminous sections of exhibition is dedicated to the life of Pitirim Sorokin in emigration. After his departure from Soviet Russia, he along with his wife continued active scientific work. A talent and a hard work have borne fruit. Owing to the presented at the exhibition photographs, a way of Pitirim Sorokin from an ordinary emigrant to a professor at Harvard University could be followed. It is worth mentioning that the same idea of creating a faculty of sociology there belonged to him.

Despite the remoteness from the native land, Pitirim and Elena Sorokin actively supported the organizations that were collecting aid for the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War. They were gathering clothes, food and medical supplies. There are the unique photocopies of letters with gratitude from Soviet citizens among the slides.

In addition, some excerpts from the scientific works of Pitirim Sorokin featured as well. For instance, it can be learned what is the socio-cultural dynamics are, how to understand an idea of the theory of social altruism, and much more.

Within the exhibition opening, Sergei Orlov handed the Presidential Library the unique publications dedicated to the ethnography of the peoples of the Komi Republic.

Chief research officer of the Presidential Library Pavel Fyodorov suggested to start joint work on filling and developing the digital collection The Republic of Komi: pages of history. A selection of the Presidential Library includes the electronic copies of the studies, the essays, archival documents, photographs and phonographic materials reflecting the administrative, socio-economic and ethnographic position of the territories now compounding the Komi Republic.

Also, the Presidential Library stock will be added with the publication of the “Heritage” Center named after Pitirim Sorokin, which is released as is a part of collected works of an outstanding sociologist. According to the director of the center Olga Kuzivanova, the book presents two works by Pitirim Sorokin “The Sociology of Revolution” and “Leaves from a Russian Diary.”

Multimedia exhibition “Life and work of an outstanding sociologist of the XX century P. A. Sorokin” will be open until November 15, 2017. Please, let us know if you would like to visit the exposition over the phone (812) 334 2514 or email excursion@prlib.ru.