The Meaning of Endowment in the Activities of the St. Petersburg Imperial University Student Welfare Society (1873−1918)

Currently, the history of the creation of endowments in the pre-revolutionary period attracts the attention of a number of specialists, which is largely due to the revival of this practice in higher education institutions.The study uses the materials of the St. Petersburg Imperial University Student Welfare Society to analyze the role of endowments in the implementation of various financial initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of students.The source base of the work consists of the annual reports of the Society, published and archival materials related to the activities of the Council and the Board of St. Petersburg University, as well as the testimony of contemporaries about the Society and its leaders.The paper lists the endowments of the Company, demonstrates the dynamics of their growth, and pays special attention to Orest Miller's capital.As a result, it was shown that income from membership fees, public lectures, or book publishing was not reliable and did not successfully solve large tasks.In turn, the well-established work on the creation, enlargement and use of various endowments made it possible not only to help those in need with tuition fees or scholarships, but also to implement such huge projects for such societies as the organization of a student canteen and a sanatorium on the Black Sea coast.Thus, the effectiveness of endowment funds in the university environmentwas demonstrated, as well as the high importance of charitable initiatives in building fruitful and harmonious relationship in the "university family".