25.04 – 30.06 2017
Exhibition dedicated to the ethnographic exhibition to the upper volga region in 1922
In 1922 the research officer of the Ethnographic Department of the Russian Museum D.A. Zolotarev undertook the one of the most notable integrated ethnographic expeditions of that time. The aim of the expedition was to continue work that had started in Tver Governorate in 1921. Due to meager financial help of the Ribinsk Province Union, the Agriculture Industrial Union, the District Administration of Water Transport, the Council of National Economy, and cooperative institutions of the Krasniy Kholm, Vis’egorsk, and Bezhetsk the field work had succeeded.
The expedition team consisted of research officers from various academic institutions and museums. S.A Yeremin, A.L. Kolobaev, R.P. Mitusova, M.M Serova, I.D. Starynkevich, V.P. Shibaev were from the Petrograd; local institute researchers – A.I. Golovitsina, S.P. Nekludova; artist Gordei Lesovik and research officers from Ethnographic Department of the Russian Museum – N.P. Grinkova, E.E. Blomquist, Z.P. Malinivskaya. The most difficult part of the way was along the river Mologa. Expedition participants D.A. Zolotarev, E.E. Blomquist, N.P. Grinkova, A.L. Kolobaev, and N.S. Rozov traveled by water approximately 341,5 km (from the station Maksatikha to Ribinsk.) N.S. Rozov cycled part of the way. He explored settlements which situated along the route Chamerovo – Detkovo – Krasniy Kholm.
The lack of funding made the participants of the expedition “earn” money by themselves. They gave lectures to peasants in local community centers, took photographs of people. N.S. Rozov wrote in his notes: “Generally, I took photographs and keep all the expedition. All day I take pictures, and all nigh develop films and print photos somewhere in a bath. In the morning I get bread and other products for my work.” The result of this expedition was the big collection of objects (1264 items), anthropological materials and folklore notes (more than 100 fairy tales, 700 couplets, and 210 riddles.) Names of the collectors became history.
Displayed sketches drawn by expedition participant A.L. Kolobaev, are kept in the illustrative archive of the Russian museum of Ethnography. Drawings depict some scenes from the expedition life of the Mologa group of researches in the Upper Volga region.