and East European History and Culture
Columbia University Libraries
|
|
Bakhmeteff Archive
of Russian and East European History and Culture Columbia University Libraries |
|
|
|
Russian Imperial Corps of Pages A Virtual Exhibition Catalog 
Imperial Corps of Pages Building, St. Petersburg, ca. 1858. Lithograph
after a drawing by J. Charlemagne.(Click image for larger size) |
| 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. |
 |
About the Exhibition.
This virtual exhibition catalog contains selections from the Columbia
University Libraries exhibition on view in Butler Library 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 from the Imperial Corps of Pages collection held by Columbia's 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. |
|
|
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 émigré 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. The WWW address of this virtual catalog is: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/exhibitions/pages/index.html |
 |
