Novye Issledovaniâ Tuvy (Jun 2020)
Archival documents on requests and appeals made by individuals to the authorities of Tuva (1940s – 1950s)
Abstract
The article presents an overview of letters individuals living in Tuva wrote to the authorities over a number of issues from 1940 to the 1950s. The documents are preserved at the National Archives (prior to 07.04.2020 known as the State Archives) of the Republic of Tuva. Ethnic Russians living in the republic vigorously exercised their right to appeal to the authorities over a range of urgent issues in their everyday lives. Overall, 33 such appeals and requests have been found and analyzed. Communication between authorities and private individuals are seen as sources of utmost importance by researchers investigating the state of records keeping in institutions of regional power, as well as a whole range of issues dealing with people’s attitudes and everyday lives and their administrative and cultural interactions. Letters, complaints and requests they write to the authorities reveal both the nuances of their individual experience and the public attitudes people express at a certain moment in history. A study of the letters showed that their authors were primarily concerned with the issues of social policy, pensions and benefits. Second most popular were the problems of employment, personnel affairs, relocation allowance, etc. Some of the authors of the letters lived in Kyzyl, while others, in the republic’s rayons or even outside Tuva. Many requests and appeals were addressed to the head organization, with the authors working in one of its affiliated structures. In most cases, the responding officials provided an explanatory answer. The cases when the request was denied mainly concern asking for benefits or housing-related complaints and appeals. In all of the latter situations, USSR and RSFSR legislation was promptly cited.
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