On I. I. Dmitrenko’s historical and literary heritage

Abstract

Introduction. The author considers the historical and literary heritage of I. I. Dmitrenko as an integral phenomenon, claiming that it was an important place in the development of provincial historiography of pre-revolutionary Russia.Materials and methods. The work uses the historical-systemic method, which made it possible to consider the life path and historical heritage of I. I. Dmitrenko as an integral system in which all blocks and elements (the history of the Kuban Cossacks, provincial historiography, the service of a Cossack officer, literary and social activities, personalities, etc.) are interconnected and conditioned. The source base comprises archival funds of federal and regional significance, as well as historical and literary works by I. I. Dmitrenko, identified in the capital and regional materials of the periodical press, collections of historical documents compiled by a historian, etc.Analysis. The author specifies a number of data about the life and legacy of I. I. Dmitrenko. A study of I. I. Dmitrenko’s publications in Kubanskie Oblastnye Vedomosti showed that his articles and notes are a meaningful source on the personal history of the Troops, provide biographical information, and brief descriptions of Kuban generals and officers. One of the main directions of historical and literary creativity of I. I. Dmitrenko is the preservation of the historical memory of the Kuban Cossacks. He addressed this in his journalism, historical articles, archival searches, which resulted in fundamental collections of documents. The fundamental collection of documents compiled by I. I. Dmitrenko was not appreciated by his contemporaries. The periods of life and work of I. I. Dmitrenko in 1903–1917 and 1920–1936 require additional study.Results. The main merit of the historian was a great archaeographic work, the introduction into scientific circulation of a large number of rare documents that made it possible to present the early history of the Cossacks of the Kuban and the Terek. The historical heritage of the Cossack officer reminded of the glorious pages of the heroic past, critically comprehended the role of the state and officials in the life of the Cossacks. The dramatic fate of the historian, as in a mirror, reflected the contradictory era in the life of the country, which he selflessly served.

Keywords

• provincial historiography
• history of the kuban cossacks
• i. i. dmitrenko
• historical and literary heritage
• archaeographic activity