NOBLE FAMILY OF THE SHAMONINS FROM NIZHNY NOVGOROD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE XX CENTURY: LIVING CONDITIONS AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS (BASED ON THE MATERIALS OF THE EPISTOLARY HERITAGE)

The research was carried out in line with current trends in historical science. The work uses a biographical method based on the study of a person in the context of history, reconstruction of life circumstances based on personal documents. The source base of the article consists of archival materials from the personal fund of Academician S. F. Platonov. For the first time, an interesting epistolary source is introduced into scientific circulation, revealing the life of a particular family that was related to the famous professorial Platonov family. On the example of S. N. Shamonina’s letters addressed to N. N. Platonova traces the life of an impoverished noble family living in Nizhny Novgorod. A wonderful epistolary source provides an opportunity to see the difficulties of a large family left without a head and the constant care of a mother, a teacher at a Nizhny Novgorod gymnasium, for her children. As a result of the research, reliable information was obtained about the life of the Nizhny Novgorod branch of the impoverished noble family of the Shamonins. The facts of the Platonovs’ selfless help are given, which is an important addition to their characters and life priorities.