Revisiting the History of Introduction of Scientific Censorship in the USSR: Letter of S. I. Vavilov to J. V. Stalin from the Fonds of the Archive of the Russian Academy of Sciences

УДК 94(47)+001.9+930.253

DOI 10.28995/2073-0101-2019-1-153-163

Mikhail D. Bukharin

World History Institute of the RAN, Moscow, Russian Federation

Vitaly G. Ananiev

St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Revisiting the History of Introduction of Scientific Censorship in the USSR: Letter of S. I. Vavilov to J. V. Stalin from the Fonds of the Archive of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Abstract

The draft of the letter by former President of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR S. I. Vavilov addressed to J. V. Stalin and supposedly dated 1948 points to Vavilov attempting to streamline the introduction of scientific censorship in the USSR in the sphere of significant research in physics. In Vavilov’s opinion, the prohibition had a negative impact on other branches of science as well, including humanities. This letter was a second one that Vavilov sent to Stalin. As his appeal to entrust control over information security procedures to the institutions of Academy of Sciences of the USSR had no effect, Vavilov made reference to the experience of his foreign colleagues, who were free to discuss their latest scientific achievements, and proposed to organize a special censure body, within which, he hoped, most authoritative scholars would be able to keep the scientific discussion alive. Both Vavilov’s letters to Stalin seem to be directly connected with the consequences of implementation of the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of June 8, 1947 no. 2009 ‘On formation of the list of information classified as state secret, disclosure of which is punishable by law.’ This document replaced the resolution of April 27, 1926 ‘On the approval of the list of information, the contents of which is classified as specially protected state secret.’ Obviously, attempts of Vavilov, who sought to continue the policy of compromise and cooperation with the Soviet power started by S. F. Oldenburg – the Permanent secretary of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR until 1929 – and to retain in some degree the freedom of scientific discussion, primarily, in the spheres most relevant for the national defense industry development (such as nuclear physics) and thus to contribute to their further development, were unsuccessful. The resolutions accepted by the Politbureau of the Central Committee of the VCP(b) and the Council of Ministers of the USSR (both earlier and later) strengthened state control over all spheres of scientific activity. Publication of several journals in foreign languages was forbidden, regime of severe secrecy was introduced in the museum sphere.

Keywords

Архив, history of science, control over information security procedures, S. I. Vavilov, J. V. Stalin, state secret.

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About authors

Bukharin Mikhail Dmitrievich, PhD in History, member-correspondent of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Institute of World History, Russian Academy of Sciences, 8(495) 938-44-32, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ananiev Vitaly Gennadievich, PhD in History, senior lecturer, Saint-Petersburg State University +7-911-214-60-15, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Grant information

The work has been prepared with financial support from of the Russian Science Fund (science project no. 18-18-00367).

Submitted 29.06.2018, published (for citation):

BUKHARIN, M. D., ANANIEV, V. G. K istorii vvedeniya nauchnoi tsenzury v SSSR. Pis'mo S. I. Vavilova I. V. Stalinu iz fondov Arkhiva RAN [Revisiting the History of Introduction of Scientific Censorship in the USSR: Letter of S. I. Vavilov to J. V. Stalin from the Fonds of the Archive of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In Russ.]. IN: Vestnik arhivista / Herald of an Archivist, 2019, no. 1, pp. 153-163. doi 10.28995/2073-0101-2019-1-153-163