Demidov Institute

The Demidov Institute (full name: Scientific and Cultural-Educational Association "Demidov Institute") is a non-state institution established in December 1991 in Yekaterinburg, Russia, during the final weeks of the Soviet Union. It conducts humanities research related to the Urals, with a particular focus on the legacy of the Demidov family, a prominent Russian industrial dynasty. The institute also functions as a publishing house, producing scholarly literature, primarily its own research and editions of historical documents. Its emblem is the falling Nevyansk Tower. The institute emerged during a period when various local history organizations were being founded across Russia, including those dedicated to Demidov heritage. In 1992, the Demidov Foundation was created with branches in Yekaterinburg, Biysk, and Odessa, and the International Demidov Foundation was established with its charter adopted at an assembly in Yekaterinburg. The Demidov Institute has been a collective member of the foundation's board since its creation and collaborates with the International Demidov Foundation. For example, in 2001, institute staff members A. S. Cherkasova, N. G. Pavlovsky, A. V. Dmitriev, E. N. Ivanova, and A. I. Gorshkova presented papers at the "Demidov Readings" in Moscow. The institute is one of the few Russian non-profit organizations that carry out scientific research. In 2013, out of 3,605 organizations performing research and development in Russia, only 79 were non-profit. Among its published documents are the memoirs of I. F. Koshko, the penultimate governor of Perm; archival documents related to the European travels of the sons of G. A. Demidov; and letters of P. A. Demidov. The originals of many published documents are held in Russian state archives, such as the Manuscript Department of the Pushkin House and the Archive of the Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg. Some documents come from private collections, including letters of P. A. Demidov donated by his descendants. The institute's periodical publication is the "Demidov Vremennik" (Demidov Chronicle), which contains both historical documents and research. The first book was published in 1994 with funding from a private patron, in an expensive format with color illustrations, quality paper, and scholarly apparatus. However, due to lack of funding, until 2006 the institute mainly produced small-circulation scholarly editions. In 2005, the institute's director met with the governor of Sverdlovsk Oblast, resulting in an order to restore the institute's building and assist in publishing the second book of the "Demidov Vremennik." The second book was published in 2006, also richly illustrated and with scholarly apparatus. Subsequently, the institute did not have a regular periodical. The institute's publishing activities do not generate significant income. According to director A. S. Cherkasova, the books were initially sent to stores but sold poorly, so the organization began donating them to libraries. Nevertheless, the books are often published in expensive formats; for example, a 2016 album book by B. G. Ryabov contains color illustrations. To prepare its publications, the institute attracts sponsorship. For instance, the book containing I. F. Koshko's memoirs was prepared and published with financial support from OAO "Pipe Metallurgical Company" and the Yeltsin Center. Dmitry de Koshko, great-grandson of Ivan Koshko, called the book brilliant and rich in detail. According to Dr. Anatoly Kirillov, the book was presented to all governors of the Ural Federal District. The institute has no direct budget funding. However, the authorities of Sverdlovsk Oblast provided the institute with rent-free use of a building in central Yekaterinburg—a wing of a hotel built in 1886.

The Demidov Institute was founded in December 1991 in Yekaterinburg, during the final weeks of the Soviet Union. It emerged amid a wave of local history organizations across Russia, including those dedicated to the Demidov family. In 1992, the Demidov Foundation was established with branches in Yekaterinburg, Biysk, and Odessa, and the International Demidov Foundation was created, with its charter adopted at an assembly in Yekaterinburg. The Demidov Institute has been a collective member of the foundation's board since its inception and collaborates with the International Demidov Foundation. In 2001, institute staff presented papers at the "Demidov Readings" in Moscow. The institute is one of the few Russian non-profit organizations conducting scientific research. In 2013, only 79 out of 3,605 research-performing organizations in Russia were non-profit. Its publishing activities include memoirs of I. F. Koshko, archival documents on the European travels of G. A. Demidov's sons, and letters of P. A. Demidov. The originals of many published documents are held in state archives such as the Pushkin House and the Archive of the Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg. Some documents come from private collections, including letters donated by descendants of P. A. Demidov. The institute's periodical, "Demidov Vremennik," first appeared in 1994, funded by a private patron and published in an expensive format with color illustrations. Due to financial constraints, until 2006 the institute mainly produced small-circulation scholarly editions. In 2005, the director met with the governor of Sverdlovsk Oblast, leading to an order to restore the institute's building and support the publication of the second "Demidov Vremennik." The second book was published in 2006, also richly illustrated. After that, no regular periodical was issued. Publishing does not generate significant income; books were initially sold in stores but sold poorly, so the institute began donating them to libraries. Books are often published in expensive formats, such as the 2016 album by B. G. Ryabov with color illustrations. Sponsorship supports publications; for example, the Koshko memoirs were funded by OAO "Pipe Metallurgical Company" and the Yeltsin Center. The book was praised by Dmitry de Koshko and distributed to governors of the Ural Federal District. The institute has no direct budget funding. Sverdlovsk Oblast authorities provided a rent-free building in central Yekaterinburg—a wing of a hotel built in 1886. In 2011, authorities demanded the institute vacate, and after refusal, an arbitration court ordered payment of over 1.5 million rubles in commercial rent. Only in 2014 was a new agreement signed granting free use. The institute assists in preparing candidate dissertations; in 2008, E. N. Ivanova defended a dissertation based on 1,510 archival sheets of A. N. Demidov's letters. The institute's head, A. S. Cherkasova, served as an official opponent in 2005. The institute has no postgraduate programs or dissertation councils. The founder and leader until April 19, 2019, was Dr. Anastasia Semyonovna Cherkasova. Nikolai Georgievich Pavlovsky (1958–2022) then served as director, officially from April 18, 2019, to December 29, 2022, but in practice until his death on July 24, 2022. The current leadership is not specified in the available source.

• 2022

  Director Nikolai Pavlovsky dies on July 24.

• 2019

  Anastasia Cherkasova steps down; Nikolai Pavlovsky becomes director.

• 2014

  New agreement grants institute free use of premises.

• 2011

  Authorities demand institute vacate premises; court orders payment of over 1.5 million rubles.

• 2008

  E. N. Ivanova defends candidate dissertation based on institute's archival documents.

• 2006

  Second book of "Demidov Vremennik" published.

• 2005

  Director meets with Sverdlovsk Oblast governor; restoration and publication support ordered.

• 2001

  Institute staff present papers at "Demidov Readings" in Moscow.

• 1994

  First book of "Demidov Vremennik" published.

• 1992

  Demidov Foundation established; International Demidov Foundation charter adopted.

• 1991

  Demidov Institute founded in December in Yekaterinburg.

Non-state humanities research and publishing institution focused on the Demidov family and the Urals.

• Demidov Vremennik

  Periodical containing historical documents and research; first book 1994, second 2006.

• Memoirs of I. F. Koshko

  Published memoirs of the penultimate governor of Perm, funded by OAO "Pipe Metallurgical Company" and the Yeltsin Center.

• Letters of P. A. Demidov

  Published letters from private collections donated by descendants.

1. 1Wikidata: Demidov Institutewikidata.org
2. 2Демидовский институт — Википедияru.wikipedia.org