Vernadsky and the Tambov Region
The country-house Vernadovka, belonged to V.I.Vernadsky, was situated in the north-east of the Tambov province on a boundary with the Penza province. The area of a manor was more than 500 hectares. Vernadsky inherited the estate Vernadovka after a death of his father, Ivan Vasilievich, who in his turn received it as the dowry of his first wife, M.N.Shigayeva.
The Syzran-Vyazma railway, which was under the construction in 1872-1878, ran across the Vernadsky's land. According to the existing tradition and "out of respect for the active participation" of I.V.Vernadsky the station was named "Vernadovka".
Having inherited the manor V.I.Vernadsky was not going to run there any
business. He was about to selling this land and on gained money going round the world with his friend Andrei Krasnov. But his marriage to Natalia Yegorovna Staritskaya changed all his plans. In the manor there was built the one-storeyed house with two wings. It was built in the apple-tree garden surrounded with the system of ponds. There was a large park before the house. Since 1891 till 1910 Vernadsky regulary came there with close friends of his student days: F.Oldenburg (a teacher), S.Oldenburg (an orientalist), I.Grevs and A.Kornilov (the historians), D.Shakhovskoy (participated actively in zemskoe movement). These young people founded a more closed circle that they named "brotherhood". Having been influenced by ideas of Leo Tolstoy and other philosophers, they tried to work out high moral principles of serving for the society and the people. They swore an oath to devote their lives to fighting for the political freedom, as well as prepared and really participated in a self-sacrificing work on the people's enlightment.
In 1891, during severe starvation that the eastern regions of Russia
underwent, they organized wide assistance to poor peasants in the Vernadovka estate and saved not less than ten thousand people from hunger. The private donations from Russia and France had allowed them to open more than 100 dining-rooms, to purchase and then to distribute 479 horses without compensation to peasants, to buy fodder to support more than 2 thousand country horses. Later A.Kornilov made a report about the described events named "Seven months among the starving peasants".
Vernadsky actively participated in zemskoe movement. In 1892 he was
elected the town-councillor of the Morshansk uyezd and the Tambov province Assemblies, a member of The Board of Guardians for peasants without horses of their own in the Morshansk uyezd of the Tambov province. He was also elected a Justice of the Peace.
In the same year Natalia Yegorovna and Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadskys had won
the case in the Senate against the chief-prosecutorof of the Most Holy Synod Pobedonostsev, who came out against the foundation of Sunday schools in the Morshansk uyezd.
In memory of his senior brother Nickolai, Vernadsky took part in the
construction of a school in the village Podyem situated near Vernadovka. Till 1917 he had supported it financially. The great consideration was given to medicine. V.Vernadsky organized medical posts, opened new hospitals.
In Vernadovka he had built his own "nest", where the most of his
thoughts arose in his mind. Later he elaborated the biosphere and noosphere doctrines. Here Vladimir Ivanovich "intended to establish the scientific station, to serve in zemstvo, to be occupied with his domestic affairs". Studying of mineral composition of the Tambov province soils gave him a lot of materials for the scientific analysis.
In 1911 V.Vernadsky transfered Vernadovka to the possession to his son George.
In August 1943 coming back from the evacuation, Vernadsky had seen Vernadovka for the last time through the window of the train.
In conclusion it may be said V.I.Vernadsky's stay in Vernadovka of the
Tambov province has influenced on forming of his methodology, on origin of those fundamental ideas, which remain urgent at present.
We offer some photos related to V.Vernadsky's stay in the Tambov province:
V.I.Vernadsky in the village of Krasnovka of the Tambov province, 1910.
V.I.Vernadsky during the excursion to Zobnin Gully, the Tambov province, 1910.
V.I.Vernadsky with peasants of the Tambov province, the 1910s.
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