Historical and Philological Society

Student Scientific Society, created on the initiative of Professor S. N. Trubetskoy in March 1902.

The foundation of society was based on an attempt in practice to realize the idea of ​​a free student union on an academic basis. All the activities of the society took place against the backdrop of the struggle of the liberal university professors for the introduction of university self-government, the abolition of the institution of inspectors, the termination of supervision of the activities of teachers and students in the face of increased politicization of students and the whole of Russian society.

The main goals of the historical-philological society were "the scientific self-development of students in the field of historical-philological and sciences in contact with them, the unity of students among themselves and their unity with professors on the basis of scientific interests." In the first year of its existence, the society totaled more than 1000 members (students, teachers, young scientists left at the departments of Moscow University, laboratory assistants of various faculties), who were engaged in a number of sections: philosophical, historical, classical, economic, literary, social sciences, forensic, etc. Each section built its classes on its own, but had the opportunity to share with other sections the most interesting messages at general meetings. General meetings were chaired by a professor in the presence of many students. In society, there was a library and a reading room. Society funds consisted of membership fees, donations and subsidies from the special funds of the university.

In the summer of 1903, a tour of 130 people to Greece took place, which became the pinnacle of society. It was an unprecedented event in its scope for Russian university scientific societies. During the trip, Moscow students got acquainted with the sights of Constantinople, Athens, Corinth, Delphi, Olympia. In general, the tour was one of the symbols of the continuation and development of academic traditions at Moscow University, its actual transformation into a stronghold of Russian culture.

Since the fall of 1903, opposition to the activities of society in the student community has intensified significantly. In connection with the deteriorating state of health, Trubetskoy went abroad for treatment for a year, many members of the bureau resigned. Trubetskoy’s attempts to rally students who were faithful to academic principles with calls from abroad were unsuccessful, and by the spring of 1904 the activities of society had virtually ceased. According to contemporaries, the society “attracted the attention of all educated Russia” because it presented a real attempt to find a “middle ground”, a reasonable line in the development of Russian university education at the beginning of the 20th century, avoiding both excessive pressure from the authorities, on the one hand, and radical revolutionary elements among students - on the other.