The diary of Academician F. N. Chernyshev on the work of the Russian-Swedish expedition on degree measurements on the Svalbard Archipelago in 1900

Document publication

doi 10.28995/2073-0101-2024-3-831-848

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Filippova, Tat'yana P. (2024), “The diary of Academician F. N. Chernyshev on the work of the Russian-Swedish expedition on degree measurements on the Svalbard Archipelago in 1900”, Herald of an Archivist, no. 3, pp. 831-848, doi 10.28995/2073-0101-2024-3-831-848

Filippova, Tat'yana P., Komi Scientific Center of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Syktyvkar, Russia

The diary of Academician F. N. Chernyshev on the work of the Russian-Swedish expedition on degree measurements on the Svalbard Archipelago in 1900

Abstract

The documentary publication draws attention to the role of the Russian scientific community in the study and development of the Arctic territories. For the first time the expedition diary of F. N. Chernyshev about his trip to the Svalbard Archipelago in 1900, which was carried out within the framework of the Russian-Swedish expedition on degree measurements on the archipelago in 1899-1901, organized on the lines of the national academies of sciences of the two countries, is published. The scientific event became one of the major international projects in the study of polar territories at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. The results of the expedition to measure the meridian arc laid the foundations for the modern study of the Arctic, as well as were of fundamental importance for determining the shape and size of the Earth. The Russian expedition was led for three years by the famous Russian scientist, experienced explorer of the North, geologist F. N. Chernyshev. A unique historical source has been preserved in fond 13 "Commission of the Academy of Sciences for Degree Measurement on the Spitsbergen Islands" of the St. Petersburg branch of the Archive of the Russian Academy of Sciences, where among the documents testifying to the history of this expedition there are the diaries of F. N. Chernyshev, which he kept during his scientific trips to the Archipelago. The expedition diary of 1900 recorded details of the work of the Russian members of the expedition during the second year of research on Spitsbergen. The events cover the period from May 14, 1900, when the Russian expedition arrived in the Norwegian town of Trondheim to June 15, 1900, on which day F. N. Chernyshev left Spitsbergen in connection with his trip to the International Geological Congress. The identified source has a significant informational potential, since the events that took place were recorded in detail by regular travel notes, which is valuable retrospective information for studying the history of the expedition. F. N. Chernyshev's daily notes reflect various aspects of the expedition activities: they describe in detail the route of the scientists, the progress of work on the Archipelago, the difficulties of scientific activity in the harsh Arctic climate, and the results of research. This diary significantly expands the source base for research into the history of the Russian-Swedish expedition to Spitsbergen in 1899-1901. The content of the document demonstrates the efforts of the Russian scientific community to achieve high results in the development of the Arctic space at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries, which will allow the modern generation to comprehend this unique historical experience.

Keywords

Historical source, Arctic exploration, expedition diary, geologist F. N. Chernyshev, Svalbard Archipelago, measurement of meridian arc, history of science

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About the authors

Filippova Tat'yana P., Ph.D. historical sciences, Komi Scientific Center, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Department of Humanitarian Interdisciplinary Studies, Senior Researcher, Syktyvkar, Russia, 8-909-128-58-57, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Grant information

The article has been prepared within the framework of fulfillment of the state assignment under the research project № 122040600067-2 “Scientific bases of identification, fondation and study of documents on the history of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the European North-East of Russia”.

The article was received in the editorial office on 31.12.2023, recommended for publication on 20.06.2024.