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The Imperial Corps of Pages. The
Corps of Pages was a privileged military school reserved for sons
of noblemen and high-ranking officers. It was founded in October
1802 by Alexander I in St. Petersburg. Except by personal appointment
of the Emperor or as a son of a Major-General killed in action,
admission was only by a difficult competitive examination. Only
the sons or grandsons of those in the top three levels of the
Table of Rank were eligible to apply. All graduates were assigned
to the imperial regiment of their choice.A small percentage of
graduates entered the diplomatic or civil services.
From its inception until 1917, the Corps graduated 4,505 officers.
An additional 200 were unable to complete their education because
of the revolution. The school was disbanded on the order of Alexander
Kerenskii, War Minister of the Provisional Government, in June
1917.
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About the Exhibition.
This virtual exhibition catalog includes selections from
the Columbia University Libraries exhibition on view from December
1, 2002 to February 28, 2003, timed to coincide with celebrations
of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg.
The exhibition featured objects drawn exclusively from the Imperial
Corps of Pages collection held by the Bakhmeteff
Archive of Russian and East European History and Culture,
one of the world's most extensive repositories of Russian materials
outside Russia. This exhibition of unique photographs, newsletters,
and printed memorabilia, such as programs, menus, tickets and
school forms portrays Corps of Pages school life and the life
of the Imperial family.
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| About the Collection. The
Imperial Corps of Pages collection was acquired by Columbia University
over a period of more than twenty years (1957-1982). The collection
consists of unusual photographs, lists of graduates, paintings, etchings,
newsletters, and printed mementos belonging to the Imperial family
and the Corps of Pages. The bulk was purchased during 1957-1971 from
the Union of Pages, the emigré alumni organization founded
in 1920. Almost 400 photographs, chiefly of students and graduates
of the Corps of Pages, and school life ephemera, as well as a few
photographs of Nicholas II, were donated to the Archive in 1982 by
Alexei Mozhaiskii. |
