On the Issue of the Participation of the Simbirsk Nobility in the Development of the Public Charity System in the Russian Empire at the beginning of the XXth century

This article analyzes the role of the Simbirsk nobility in the development of the public charity system in the Russian Empire during the early twentieth century, based on a wide range of archival sources and modern historical data a period of significant socio-political transformation.The author discusses various ways in which members of the noble class participated in providing social support for various segments of society, including establishing all-Russian professional educational institutions in the region.The nobility's charitable efforts extended beyond supporting the "first class" and included assistance for other social groups as well.Funds from the most successful members of the nobility supported vocational schools, public canteens, alms houses, and dormitories, and other institutions.During the years of famine and typhus epidemic, a number of representatives of the nobility organized free canteens for the peasants, provided them with clothes and food.By participating in the activities of public organizations, representatives of the nobility promoted the opening of educational institutions for peasant children.General N.D. Seliverstov established a charitable complex in the Simbirsk province, which included an almshouse, a prototype of a modern kindergarten and a school for children of cloth factory workers, a vocational school.In order to preserve the class identity and educate the children of poor nobles of corporate values and moral principles inherent in the "noble estate" at the end of the XIX century, a boarding house was established, maintained at the expense of the provincial noble assembly and the state.A hostel was organized for elderly nobles in need.The financing of charitable assistance was also carried out at the expense of funds received by the noble society for organizing literary evenings and concerts.The amount of financial support provided by benefactors depended largely on the economic status of these individuals.The author comes to the conclusion that the charitable activities of the nobility during this period were predominantly religious in nature.