L. V. Vyskochkov. Notes and projects of M. M. Speransky in the historiography of Russian source studies // Petersburg historical journal, no. 3, 2022, pp. 221–238

The report at the international scientific conference “The Great Reformer of Russia: to the 250th anniversary of the birth of Mikhail Mikhailovich Speransky (1772-1839)”. St. Petersburg, September 22-23, 2022

Abstract:
The article discusses the main stages of the publication of the notes and projects by M. M. Speransky (1772–1839), who created hundreds of works on philosophy, jurisprudence, morality, religion, realized and unrealized projects of the state system, which were published and republished from 1802 to the present. In historiography, his early works are the most studied, in particular, his constitutional draft of 1809. “Introduction to the Code of State Laws” (“Plan of State Transformation”), which first appeared in the form of “extracts” in the third volume of N. I. Turgenev’s book “Russia and the Russians” (1847). The introduction into scientific circulation of M. M. Speransky’s handwritten heritage, which became possible after the transfer to the OR of RNB the personal funds of M. M. Speransky (F. 731) in 1856–1857 and his secretary K. G. Repinsky (F. 637) in 1877, is briefly considered. The next stages in the study and publication of M. M. Speransky’s works were the activities of the “Commission for the Publication of Works, papers and letters of Count M. M. Speransky” (1916–1919) and the publication of his “Projects and Notes” for 1803–1809, edited by S. N. Valk in 1961. Then the attention of researchers was focused on constitutional and other projects, the projects of M. M. Speransky at the beginning of the reign of Alexander I. As a rule, the research was based on already published materials. To a lesser extent, his notes and projects of the Nicholas reign were studied. Among the few researchers who worked with archival documents and partially published them were A. V. Predtechensky, I. D. Osipov, D. I. Lukovskaya, V. I. Morozov, T. V. Andreeva. Currently, a team of historians of St. Petersburg, under the general editorship of Academician I. P. Medvedev, has prepared a new fundamental edition of M. M. Speransky’s notes and projects of 1826–1839, published for the first time “M. M. Speransky and Russian statehood of the second quarter of the nineteenth century. New materials”. The publication of M. M. Speransky’s unpublished legacy will undoubtedly contribute to new research.

Keywords:
M. M. Speransky, Nicholas I, archives, archeography, source studies, historiography, Russian legislation, reforms.

Author:
Vyskochkov, Leonid Vladimirovich — Full Doctor of History, Professor of Department of Russian History from ancient times to the 20th century, Institute of the St. Petersburg State University (Russia).
E-mail: l.vyskochkov@spbu.ru

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