The Russian Revolution
The Russian Revolution of 1917 is arguably the defining political event of the 20th
century. Its direct impact on the lives of hundreds of millions individuals in the
former Soviet Union and in Eastern Europe was unprecedented. Its legacy in terms of
the Cold War and east/west relations touched almost every nation on earth. At the
core of the revolution, and the subsequent enterprise to create the world’s first
socialist state, was one of the most radical ideas in history – communism, an idea that
changed the world.
The British Library is planning a major exhibition on the Russian Revolution to be
held in 2017. This proposal would offer an excellent opportunity for a student to work
on the exhibition as part of their research, for example, contributing to learning
programmes, working on bibliographic tools, and developing digital resources.
The British Library has a unique collection of material on the Russian revolution and
related topics. By 1917, the British Library had already established a comprehensive
collection of Russian material and in spite of obvious difficulties in 1914-1920s did
not stop collecting material from Russia and later – the Soviet Union. Moreover, the
British Museum Library was a unique organisation that had very close links to the
community of the Russian revolutionary émigrés, who visited the Library, were its
dedicated readers, and even took part in some collection development issues (they
donated, deposited, sold books to the Library and suggested material for acquisitions).
The British Museum Library historically has one of the most comprehensive
collections of censored and banned publication in Russian related to various
revolutionary activities.
In addition, the British Library has unique materials collected by Harold Williams and
Ariadna Tyrkova Williams in Russia mostly during 1919-1920, when they were with
the British Military Mission to General Denikin
(http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelplang/russian/tykovacollection/tyrkovacoll.html).
Apart from their personal archives, the collection consists of their personal archive,
over 500 printed items: books, leaflets, bulletins and other ephemera published on the
territories of White Armies.
Other highlights of the BL collections include
collection of Soviet and anti-Bolshevik posters;
over 3000 postcards issued by "the Community. St. Eugene" that can
help to illustrate cultural and social aspects of the Russian society
before the 1917;
Soviet official publications and the first legislations of the Bolshevik
government;
the first Soviet decrees and propaganda sheets that were posted on
walls;
one of the best in the West collection of Russian avant-garde books to
illustrate how artists and poets embraced social and political changes;
British official archival material in relation to the British response to
the Russian revolution, such as files on “Alleged Soviet support for
Bolshevik activities; Parliamentary questions” and “Alleged purchase
of arms from Austro-Hungary, 1922-27”;
eyewitness accounts of British and American journalists who were
working in Russia in 1914-1918 published immediately on their return;
audio recordings of Lenin and Stalin;
recordings of interviews with members of the Communist party of
Great Britain and prominent slavists;
recordings of Russian musicians and composers;
rare émigré publications of the so called “first wave” of Russians who
had to flee the country because of the Revolution;
rare British newspapers and other periodicals where influential British
journalists (Luboff, Wesselitzsky, etc.) of the Russian origin published
their views on the situation in Soviet Russia trying to win the general
public and influence British politicians;
Russian and British maps of Russia, the Russian Empire and the Soviet
Union that can illustrate various aspects of social and economic life of
the tsarist Russia and the Soviet Union, etc.
Possible themes:
Women in revolution
Journalism
The Tyrkova-Williams archive
British foreign policy and official response to the revolution
The Civil War and White armies