Laboratory for the History of 
 Russian Culture

  The Laboratory for the History of Russian Culture was established in the History Faculty in 1961.  Each year, the laboratory works to fulfill the scientific, publishing, and educational components of the Faculty's mission as a body devoted to cultural advancement.  Through this work, the laboratory has established itself as a leading scientific and organizational center for research in this area.

The formation of the Laboratory for the History of Russian Culture was initiated by Prof. A.V. Artsikhovsky in 1961 on the suggestion of the Rector of MSU, the Academic I.G. Petrovsky. The laboratory was initially facilitated by Prof. A.M. Sakharov (until 1978), then from 1978 to 1983 operated under the directorship B.I. Krasnobaev, from 1983 to 1988 under Prof. A.D. Gorsky, and today operates under the supervision of L.V. Koshman.

As early as the 1960s the Laboratory began publishing its research, the continuation of which extends to this day: the first volumes of the series "Essays on Russian Culture," and a book on the history of Moscow State University.

In the years 1969-1990, there were published ten volumes of "Essays on Russian Culture," covering periods from the 13th to the 18th century, plus a number of books on the history of Moscow State University, specifically concerning years and events of special importance in Russia or in the University itself: "Moscow State University in the years of the Great Patriotic War 1941-45", M., 1975; "A Chronicle of Moscow University. 1755–1979”, М., 1979; “225 Years of Publishing at Moscow University. 1756–1981”, М., 1981.  In 1997 was published a collective monograph, "A University for Russia.  Perspectives on the Cultural History of the 18th Century."

Into the 1990s, work on "Essays on Russian Culture" continued.  The primary task set before the Laboratory was to produce a series addressing cultural questions of the 19th century, Russia's "Golden Century" of national culture, and one of particular richness and dynamism in its sociology.  A six-volume series “Essays on Russian Culture in the 19th Century” was published by Moscow University Press in 1998.

In the nearly thirty years since the Laboratory's establishment, it has proven itself a highly skilled, dedicated, investigative and creative collective of scholars, and is today facilitated by 10 members and laboratory assistants: