The “Female presence” in Safeguarding and Continuing the Heritage of Historian V.I. Guerrier: E.V. Guerrier

Abstract

This article considers the main milestones in the life of Elena Vladimirovna Guerrier (1868–1942), the daughter of the prominent Russian historian V.I. Guerrier. She was highly educated and fluent in four European languages, including German. During World War I, she was in Germany where she cemented her status as a fervent patriot of Russia and made every attempt to repatriate Russian subjects. E.V. Guerrier became widely respected for her contributions in the fields of school education and philanthropy. The recognition she received on the 25th anniversary of her hard work highlights that her public endeavors and initiatives were highly appreciated. After the October Revolution in 1917, E.V. Guerrier went through difficult times. She took care of her ailing father, who eventually succumbed to his illness. She was also arrested twice and served some time at Butyrka prison. In an attempt to integrate into Soviet society politically, E.V. Guerrier worked as a librarian and researcher at Lenin’s State Library for over ten years. However, due to her poor health, she retired in 1928. Until her death in 1942, she organized and safeguarded V.I. Guerrier’s scientific heritage by thoroughly revising his articles. She rewrote her father’s memoirs, which is a valuable source of information about the establishment of women’s higher education in Russia.