Mark Popovskii papers, 1980-1986

Creator:

Extent:

40 linear feet 87 boxes

Language:

Russian .

Scope and content:

Collection contains correspondence, works, diaries and research materials of Mark Popovskii, a prominent literary figure of Russian emigration. The collection also contains writings by contemporary russian authors, photographs, videotapes and scrapbooks of Popovskii's articles in Russian émigré newspapers. The date span of the collection is 1957 - 2000. In the early 1980s a fire at Popovskii's New York apartment destroyed a large part of Popovskii's archive, so the Popovskii Papers contain a very limited number of pre-1980s materials. This also explains the gap in Popovskii's diaries. The bulk of the materials are dated 1985 - 2000.

The papers of Mark Popovskii, including corrected and annotated photocopied typescripts of his books "Russkie muzhiki rasskazyvaiut" (the story of Tolstoy's peasant followers in the U.S.S.R. during the period 1918 to 1977) and "On, ona i sovetskaia vlast'" (English title: "Sex in the Soviet Union"). Also included are questionnaires and interviews with Soviet emigres regarding their opinions of contemporary sex customs in the Soviet Union.

Biographical / historical:

Russian author who emigrated to the United States in 1977. Editor of journal "Strana i mir" and author of numerous books on scientific subjects including "The Vavilov Affair" "Manipulated Science" and "The Story of Dr. Haffkine.

Popovskii, Mark Aleksandrovich (1922 - ), Russian writer journalist and essayist, was born in Odessa. A veteran of World War II, he started freelance literary work in 1946, and had numerous publications in the Soviet press (including 14 books), primarily dealing with issues of science and scientific ethics. During the 1970s two of Popovskii's books, Beda i vina akademika Vavilova and Zhizn' and Zhitie Voino-Iasenetskogo were rejected by the censor and circulated in samizdat. Popovskii also signed several letters in support of Russian dissidents. Systematically persecuted by KGB, he left the country in 1977 and settled in New York City, USA. In emigration he contributed to numerous Russian-language periodicals, and served as a North American editor of émigré journal Strana I Mir. He wrote and published numerous books, some were translated into English French and German. After the fall of the Soviet Union Popovskii's work started once again to appear in Russia.

Acquisition information:

Papers: Source of acquisition--Popovskii, Mark. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--01/--/87. Accession number--B-87-2-10.

Additional accession numbers: 2000/01-10; 2000/01-22; 2000/01-36;

Gift of Mark Popovskiĭ, 1987.

Collection was assembled and donated to the Bakhmeteff Archives by Mark Popovskii. The first installment of the materials, containing corrected and annotated photocopied typescripts of his books Russkie muzhiki rasskazyvaiut" and "On, ona i Sovetskaia vlast'" along with research materials on contemporary sex customs in the Soviet Union, was received by the Bakhmeteff Archive in 1987. The bulk of the materials arrived in Oct. 2000 - Jan. 2001.

Processing information:

Papers Processed EJS 01/--/87.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into 22 series.

Accruals:

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Rules or conventions:

appm

Alternative form available:

Skolbin, Iurii, "Termidor", sent to Popovskii from the USSR: 76 pages on microfilm.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

If you would like to use audiovisual materials in this collection, please contact the library to discuss access options as most of these materials have not been reformatted and are not readily available for use.

Names of interviewees are not to be cited or quoted.

Preferred citation:: Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Mark Popovskii Papers; Box and Folder; Bakhmeteff Archive, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

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Collection