Special Aspects of Siberian Intelligentsia Development in the XIX - the early XX centuries

The sources of formation of Siberian Intelligentsia are the main study object in this paper. Intelligentsia is thought of as the only social group capable of solving collectively the scientific, cultural, and economic problems, the region faced, which determines its contribution and importance for the long-term development of Siberia. Analysis of authentic sources and published literature suggests that Intelligentsia in Siberia was just at the start of development into a certain social group in the second half of the 19th century. A small number of the local intelligentsia was completed at the expense of voluntary intellectuals who came to work from European Russia. Another source of increase of its members were political exiles, pertaining mainly to the noble intelligentsia or that of different social classes. Despite prohibitions and in violation of instructions of the central authorities, the Siberian administration had to make use of the skills and qualifications of the political exiles to settle various economic issues. Local intelligentsia, represented by regional officials, progressive-minded bureaucracy and merchants understood the need of drastic solution for the lack of intelligentsia in the region through its recruitment from the local population. To this end, various societies were created that consolidated the forces of the already existing intelligentsia and performed educational functions through organization of meetings, public readings, opening exhibitions and classes. The self-sacrifice of the intelligentsia, understanding of the importance of education for their own increase, great efforts to open secondary and higher educational institutions, resulted in the gradual creation of a unified educational space in Siberia by the beginning of the 20th century, which was of potential power to settle the problem of the regional intelligentsia deficiency.