Sukhotinskaya women's almshouse: the implementation of a social project in Tambov province in the first half of the 19th century

Abstract

Introduction. The article is devoted to the study of one of the philanthropic initiatives implemented in Tambov province in the first half of the 19th century, during the formation of the public charity system in the region. It was at this time in the Russian Empire that the tradition of the contribution of endowment funds (funds of noble landowners) to the establishment of social institutions, primarily almshouses, hospitals, «nursing homes», shelters for children, for the maimed and disabled, took place. One of these charitable institutions was founded in our region.

Methods. Based on published and archival sources, the article examines the history of the poorhouse, the conditions of its functioning, the rules of admission and exclusion from the charitable institution, management, landscaping, income and property, rules of conduct and penalties for their violation, financing of benefactors. The opinions of modern researchers on the motives of noble charity are considered. Analysis. Despite the growing interest of historians and society in the topic of charity, researchers note that the regional aspects of the problem of Russian pre-revolutionary noble philanthropy, especially those related to the first half of the 19th century, have not yet received full and adequate coverage. Results. The author made an attempt to show the uniqueness of the social project, which was based on the target capital, for the Tambov province of the first half of the 19th century, the Sukhotinsky women's almshouse, the original history of the Znamenskaya Monastery, the predecessor of the Sukhotinsky Bogoroditse–Znamensky Convent, which was founded later, one of the most famous monasteries in the Tambov province in the 19th century. Almshouses were the most widespread form of charity in the Russian Empire in the 19th century. They were founded everywhere, many almshouses received the family names of the founders.