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.
To title page about Vernadsky