Professor of mathematics N.N. Parfentiev: A member of Russia's intelligentsia during the transformative period between the epochs
Using a variety of archival materials and published sources, this article reconstructs the pre-revolutionary stage in the biography of Nikolai Nikolaevich Parfentiev (1877–1943), a prominent professor in the Department of Pure Mathematics at Imperial Kazan University. Here, we also create his sociop...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Kazan Federal University
2022-12-01
|
| Series: | Ученые записки Казанского университета: Серия Гуманитарные науки |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://kpfu.ru/uz-eng-hum-2022-6-3.html |
| _version_ | 1826908970761060352 |
|---|---|
| author | S.A. Ezhova Y.A. Al’pin |
| author_facet | S.A. Ezhova Y.A. Al’pin |
| author_sort | S.A. Ezhova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Using a variety of archival materials and published sources, this article reconstructs the pre-revolutionary stage in the biography of Nikolai Nikolaevich Parfentiev (1877–1943), a prominent professor in the Department of Pure Mathematics at Imperial Kazan University. Here, we also create his sociopsychological portrait through the retrospective analysis of his relationship with parents and family members. Particular attention is paid to his work as a researcher and lecturer at Kazan University and to his views on reforming school education, specifically to what concerns teaching mathematics. The forms of education favored by him are singed out. The results obtained show that N.N. Parfentiev was a great reformer: he introduced new teaching methods, organized the Physics and Mathematics Commission as part of the Pedagogical Society of Kazan University, and headed the Students’ Circle of Physics and Mathematics. To add some detail to the complex portrait of this scholar, we consider his participation in the public organizations for science and education, social and political ideas expressed by him. The archival sources shed light on his participation in the gathering of Kazan University students on January 23, 1905 and on the repressive measures that followed. Most Russian scholars were deeply shocked by the October Revolution of 1917 and faced the challenge of defining their social attitudes. N.N. Parfentiev had used to speak out in support of the anti-Bolshevik Corps of the Czechoslovak Legion, but then was among the first university professors who pursued active cooperation with the Soviet authorities. This played an important role in the subsequent development of research projects at Kazan University. The article publishes for the first time the photographs from the family archive of N.D. Parfentieva and the Museum of History of Kazan Federal University. Our study shows that understanding the background and motives of the choices made by public figures during major social upheavals in the state history is highly relevant and socially significant. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T12:37:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f621f984422441109136b9fa58bd98d6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2541-7738 2500-2171 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-17T09:33:41Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Kazan Federal University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ученые записки Казанского университета: Серия Гуманитарные науки |
| spelling | doaj.art-f621f984422441109136b9fa58bd98d62025-01-02T10:29:08ZengKazan Federal UniversityУченые записки Казанского университета: Серия Гуманитарные науки2541-77382500-21712022-12-011646516810.26907/2541-7738.2022.6.51-68Professor of mathematics N.N. Parfentiev: A member of Russia's intelligentsia during the transformative period between the epochsS.A. Ezhova0Y.A. Al’pin1Kazan Federal University, Kazan, 420008 RussiaKazan Federal University, Kazan, 420008 RussiaUsing a variety of archival materials and published sources, this article reconstructs the pre-revolutionary stage in the biography of Nikolai Nikolaevich Parfentiev (1877–1943), a prominent professor in the Department of Pure Mathematics at Imperial Kazan University. Here, we also create his sociopsychological portrait through the retrospective analysis of his relationship with parents and family members. Particular attention is paid to his work as a researcher and lecturer at Kazan University and to his views on reforming school education, specifically to what concerns teaching mathematics. The forms of education favored by him are singed out. The results obtained show that N.N. Parfentiev was a great reformer: he introduced new teaching methods, organized the Physics and Mathematics Commission as part of the Pedagogical Society of Kazan University, and headed the Students’ Circle of Physics and Mathematics. To add some detail to the complex portrait of this scholar, we consider his participation in the public organizations for science and education, social and political ideas expressed by him. The archival sources shed light on his participation in the gathering of Kazan University students on January 23, 1905 and on the repressive measures that followed. Most Russian scholars were deeply shocked by the October Revolution of 1917 and faced the challenge of defining their social attitudes. N.N. Parfentiev had used to speak out in support of the anti-Bolshevik Corps of the Czechoslovak Legion, but then was among the first university professors who pursued active cooperation with the Soviet authorities. This played an important role in the subsequent development of research projects at Kazan University. The article publishes for the first time the photographs from the family archive of N.D. Parfentieva and the Museum of History of Kazan Federal University. Our study shows that understanding the background and motives of the choices made by public figures during major social upheavals in the state history is highly relevant and socially significant.https://kpfu.ru/uz-eng-hum-2022-6-3.htmln.n. parfentievintelligentsia20th centurykazan universitybiographiesprofessors of mathematics1917social life |
| spellingShingle | S.A. Ezhova Y.A. Al’pin Professor of mathematics N.N. Parfentiev: A member of Russia's intelligentsia during the transformative period between the epochs Ученые записки Казанского университета: Серия Гуманитарные науки n.n. parfentiev intelligentsia 20th century kazan university biographies professors of mathematics 1917 social life |
| title | Professor of mathematics N.N. Parfentiev: A member of Russia's intelligentsia during the transformative period between the epochs |
| title_full | Professor of mathematics N.N. Parfentiev: A member of Russia's intelligentsia during the transformative period between the epochs |
| title_fullStr | Professor of mathematics N.N. Parfentiev: A member of Russia's intelligentsia during the transformative period between the epochs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Professor of mathematics N.N. Parfentiev: A member of Russia's intelligentsia during the transformative period between the epochs |
| title_short | Professor of mathematics N.N. Parfentiev: A member of Russia's intelligentsia during the transformative period between the epochs |
| title_sort | professor of mathematics n n parfentiev a member of russia s intelligentsia during the transformative period between the epochs |
| topic | n.n. parfentiev intelligentsia 20th century kazan university biographies professors of mathematics 1917 social life |
| url | https://kpfu.ru/uz-eng-hum-2022-6-3.html |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT saezhova professorofmathematicsnnparfentievamemberofrussiasintelligentsiaduringthetransformativeperiodbetweentheepochs AT yaalpin professorofmathematicsnnparfentievamemberofrussiasintelligentsiaduringthetransformativeperiodbetweentheepochs |