Viktor Evstafievich Gen – librarian of the Imperial Public Library

The detailed life path and activities of the famous culturologist and historian Viktor Gen have been reconstructed. For the first time, many years of fruitful activity in the Imperial Public Library are covered in detail. The unconditional positive results of his work as the head of one of the largest divisions of the Library of the Historical Department were noted. His contribution to improving the systematic catalog of the Historical Department, long-term work on describing receipts from the Hermitage Library, and participation in other areas of the Library’s activities were revealed. The importance of his main work "Cultivated plants and domestic animals during the transition from Asia to Greece and Italy, as well as to the rest of Europe is emphasized. Historical and linguistic sketches" (St. Petersburg, 1872). His Russophobic views, which became one of the reasons for the oblivion of his name in the history of the National Library of Russia, were subjected to critical examination. The assessment of these views of V. Gen by figures of Russian culture and science is considered.