The Society of Old Nizhny Novgorodians is a local-history and cultural-educational association founded in Nizhny Novgorod on 28 April 1960 and still active today. It brings together veterans of various professions — teachers, physicians, engineers, writers, performers, artists, musicians — united by an interest in the city's history and culture.[1]
History of the founding
The Society grew out of the "Circle of Old-Timer Nizhny Novgorodians at the A. M. Gorky State Museum," created on the initiative of the museum's director, Nikolai Alekseyevich Zaburdayev. In early 1960, Zaburdayev addressed retired teachers at the House of Teachers with an appeal to help the museum reconstruct the Nizhny Novgorod period of Gorky's life and work: to collect documents, photographs, and keepsakes, and to record memories. Those who responded were led by Sofya Ivanovna Sitnikova, chair of the Council of Veterans of the Prioksky District. On 28 April 1960 the circle's founding meeting was held; its first chairman was Pyotr Nikolayevich Sofiysky, formerly an inspector of public education and a lecturer at Gorky University.[1]
The circle grew quickly: by 1964 it numbered about 250 members. That same year it took on the status of the Society of Old Nizhny Novgorodians-Gorkyites at the A. M. Gorky State Museum. The word "Gorkyites" later disappeared from the name. In 2007, following a change in the museum's status, the Society joined the Council of Veterans of War and Labor, the Armed Forces, and Law Enforcement Agencies as a primary organization.[1]
Activities
The Society carries out local-history and cultural-educational work aimed at preserving the historical memory and cultural traditions of Nizhny Novgorod. Under its auspices operates the Veterans' Choir, which holds the status of "People's Amateur Ensemble." For more than 45 years the Society has published the journal "Memorable Notes": by 2010 the jubilee 35th volume was in preparation.[1]
Golden jubilee
In 2010 the Society marked its 50th anniversary with a formal gathering. Chairwoman E. D. Rogacheva noted in her address that although several generations of members had come and gone over half a century, the traditions laid down by the founders had been preserved. By the jubilee year the Society numbered 250 people.[1]
Sources
- opentextnn.ru — Section 1. The Golden Jubilee of the Society of Old Nizhny Novgorodians — OPEN TEXT (archived)