“I Take True Pleasure in Working with Archives…”. Vladimir Ivanovich Savva: Reflections on the Thorny Path of a Historian

Abstract

This article, for the first time in Russian historiography, reconstructs the biography of Vladimir Ivanovich Savva (1865–1920), an esteemed Russian historian and archivist, based on the analysis of historical writings, meeting minutes from scientific societies, as well as letters and memoirs from his contemporaries. Researchers have long been captivated by his original path as a scholar, yet it has never been the focus of a dedicated study. Here, V.I. Savva’s biography and professional development are thoroughly explored. His works and archival research are discussed. The interactions he had with other prominent scholars during the turn of the 20th century are considered. It is the first article in a series that will document and examine V.I. Savva’s life and works on Russian history from the 16th to 19th centuries.