Leaving Russia Forever

Leaving Russia Forever

AHSGR Monograph 2008-3
Lincoln, Nebraska
Softcover

These documents were obtained for AHSGR from Saratov, Russia, the Saratov Oblast State Archive, by Dr. Igor R. Pleve, Professor of History, Saratov State University. They were translated and prepared by AHSGR headquarters staff. Stumpp, Sallet, Giesinger, Wentzlaff, and others have described the overall process of immigration from Russia. Family stories, histories, and anecdotes of leaving Russia abound, but the bureaucratic process of preparation for departure has not been extensively researched. The following documents, only a small part of the thick files of those first 100 families or individuals forever abandoning Russian citizenship and traveling to America in 1875-1876, can help us to understand this process. Their dry, conceited format and details conceal the true emotional content of the decision to “leave home and hearth.” In keeping with current policy of the Russian archives, AHSGR was able to procure only 10 percent of each of these extensive files, which includes Nos. 1, 2, and 3. Restrictions placed on the documents by the archives prevent us from providing copies of the documents themselves, but it is hoped that this problem will be overcome on future installments. Future installments, also in quantities of 100 families or individuals, will be subsequently published by AHSGR.