This collection is located on-site.
This collection has no restrictions.
The collection includes V. P. Zubov's memoirs "Souvenirs de la revolution russe (1917-1925)"; Zubov's biography of Paul I "La fin de l'Empereur Paul". There is also the original manuscript of "Istoriia zhizni Ivana Iakubovskago" (ca. 1850) by Ivan Iakubovskii, and Zubov's foreword, comments and name index prepared for publication of the manuscript. There are two books and one offprint by Zubov in the collection: Zar Paul I: Mensch un Schicksal; Karlik favorita: Istoriia zhizni Ivana Iakubovskogo; and a portion of Zubov's memoirs about the Institut istorii iskusstv, from almanac "Mosty".
Series consists of Iakubovskii's original manuscript; typescript of foreword, comments and name index prepared by Zubov for publication of the manuscript; and printed book.
The collection organized in three series.
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
This collection is located on-site.
This collection has no restrictions.
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Valentin Platonovich Zubov Manuscripts; Box and Folder; Bakhmeteff Archive, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University.
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Manuscripts: Method of acquisition--Purchase; Date of acquisition--1955.
Manuscripts: Method of acquisition--Purchase; Date of acquisition--1957.
Manuscripts: Method of acquisition--Purchase; Date of acquisition--1958.
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Manuscripts Accessioned 1955.
Manuscripts Accessioned 1957.
Manuscripts Accessioned 1958.
Manuscripts Processed 03/--/82.
Valentin Platonovich Zubov (1884-1969), Russian philosopher and art historian, founder and director of Institut Istorii Iskusstv in St. Petersburg. He belonged to one of the most famous Russian noble families. His great-grandfather, Count Nikolai Alexandrovich Zubov, was a brother of the famous favorite of Catherine the Great, Prince Platon Zubov.
Count Valentin Platonovich Zubov was born on November 10, 1884 in St. Petersburg. In 1904, he graduated from a privileged Gymnasium and entered the St. Petersburg University.
However, since fall 1905, he had been studying art history at the universities in Heidelberg, Leipzig, Halle and Berlin. In 1913, V. P. Zubov had finally received his PhD in the University of Berlin. Soon before this, in 1912, he became the founder and director of the Institute of Art History, the first such institution in Imperial Russia. It was created as a publicly accessible historical and art library with regular lectures by leading art scholars. All books were purchased with V. P. Zubov's personal funds (by the time of the opening it was about 6000 volumes). He also donated a part of his palace on St. Isaac's Square for the Institute. Everyone was admitted to the Institute, and lectures were free of charge.
After the Bolshevik takeover, Zubov became known as "the red Count" simply because he hadn't fled Russia but voluntarily gave the Bolsheviks the rest of his luxurious palace. In 1918, Count Zubov was arrested and released only after Anatolii Lunacharsky's pleading. He was imprisoned one more time in 1922 and that time spent several months in Lubianka prison in Moscow. In 1923, Zubov was transferred to Petrograd, released again and finally managed to leave Russia with his young wife in 1925.
In France, he started several antique shops and lived between Nice, Berlin, and Paris. The last twenty years of his life he lived in Paris and actively participated in Russian émigré life. He published extensively on the subject of Russian iconography. However, he became well known after publishing in Germany his book on Tsar Paul the First. His less known works include his memoirs Stradnye gody Rossii: Vospominaniia o revoliutsii (1917—1925) (Suffering years of Russia: Recollections of the revolution) and his editing work for Ivan Iakubovskii's manuscript and its publication under the title Karlik favorita (Dwarf of the Favorite), both published in Munich. He died in 1969 in Paris.
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