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Anatole G. Mazour, Papers

Title: Anatole G. Mazour, Papers

Creator: Mazour, Anatole G., 1900-1982

Dates: 1936-1979

Quantity: 10 boxes (6.0 linear feet)

Collection Number: MS 0082

Language: English, Russian, German

Restrictions: None

Access and Use: For information on access or copyright, please see our guidelines or email archives@unl.edu.

Historical Records Statement: Please see our statement on historical records and materials.

Preferred Citation: Botnical Seminar, Student Life Records (RG 12-07-05). Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries.

Alternative Format: None

Biography:

Born in a village near Kiev, Ukraine, on 24 May 1900, Anatole G. Mazour. He and his parents, Gregori and Sophia Mazurenko, lived in a time of political upheaval. After finishing school in 1916, he served in the Tsar's army until the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. During the civil war he fought with the anti-Communist White Guards and later took part in the Russo-Polish campaign of 1921 aimed at preventing a Polish occupation of the Ukraine. At the end of the civil war, fear of reprisal from the victorious Bolsheviks caused Mazour to flee the Ukraine for Germany. He managed to reach Berlin in 1921, where he dedicated himself to studying German.

Berlin offered few opportunities for émigrés and Mazour moved to the United States in 1923. He attended Columbia University in New York. One of Mazour's history professors at Columbia suggested that Mazour might learn English more quickly if he left New York and broke ties with the local Russian émigré colony. Taking this advice, Mazour enrolled at the University of Nebraska under the tutelage of Professor Fred Morrow Fling. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1929 with an A. B. degree in History. Encouraged to pursue graduate work, he enrolled at Yale in 1929 and graduated with an A. M. degree in History in 1931. He went on to obtain a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1934. Soon after moving to Berkeley, Mazour married Lucile Jackson. The marriage lasted until 1944.

Mazour served as an instructor at Berkeley from 1935 to 1936. He then held an appointment as assistant professor from 1936 to 1937 at the University of Miami, Ohio. He received a research fellowship from the Social Science Research Council in 1937, and in 1938, he accepted a position as assistant professor at the University of Nevada. At the University of Nevada, Mazour advanced to associate professor in 1941 and professor in 1946. He went to Stanford University in 1945 as a visiting associate professor of Slavic Languages. In 1946, he became a visiting associate professor of Russian Civilization and History. Mazour joined the Stanford University history department as an associate professor in 1947. He advanced to the rank of professor in 1952 and became professor emeritus in 1965.

Mazour was a member of the American Historical Association, the American Association of University Professors, the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, and the Commonwealth Club of California, and he was on the Board of Directors of The California Institute of International Studies. He received numerous fellowships, grants, and awards during his career. He delivered the Hill Foundation Lectures at Carleton College in 1956 and received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Nebraska in 1963.

Mazour was a highly respected scholar of Russian history. He published a number of works on Russian history and politics. Some of his more widely read works include "The First Russian Revolution," 1825, "Modern Russian Historiography," and "The Writing of History in the Soviet Union." Other, less widely read works include "Rise and Fall of the Romanovs,""Soviet Economic Development," and "Finland Between East and West."

Mazour married again shortly after the end of his first marriage to Lucile Jackson. In 1944 he met and married Josephine Lurie. They had two children, Alexander and Natasha. Anatole and Josephine remained together until his death in 1982. Anatole Gregory Mazour died on 26 January 1982 at the age of 81.

Scope and Content:

The collection consists of the personal papers of Anatole Mazour and includes correspondence, manuscripts, articles and reprints, journals and magazines, souvenir programs, travel information, newspaper clippings, photographs, and oversized materials. The majority of the materials relate to Mazour's research on Russian history and culture.

Subjects:

Mazour, Anatole G., 1900-1982

Russia -- History

Soviet Union -- History

Series Description: Series 1: Correspondence Box 1

This series consists of correspondence to Mazour. The majority is professional correspondence from colleagues, researchers, and publishers, with a few personal items from friends. Most of the correspondence is in English, with a few letters in Russian and German. The correspondence is arranged chronologically.

Series 2: Manuscripts and Research Notes Box 1

This series contains various manuscripts and research notes written by Mazour. Also included in this section are manuscripts by other authors that appear to have been used by Mazour in his own research. See Series 10 - Oversize for photocopies of Russian - American Company correspondence.

Series 3: Articles and Reprints Boxes 1-6

The first two boxes of this series contain articles and reprints authored by Mazour. They are filed chronologically by publication date. The rest of this series consists of articles and reprints by various authors. They are arranged alphabetically by last name of author.

Series 4: Journals and Magazines Boxes 7-8

The journals and magazines in this series are arranged alphabetically by title. Most of the materials relate to Russian history and culture. See Series 10, Oversize, for more journals and articles. Several magazines are housed with oversize materials.

Series 5: Souvenir Programs Boxes 8-9

Most of the programs in this series relate to ballet and dance companies. Also included are seasonal programs for various theaters and programs from specific events. The majority of programs are from Russian theatres or dance companies. They are arranged alphabetically.

Series 6: Travel Information Box 9

The materials in this series consist of travel guides, brochures, maps, etc. They are arranged alphabetically by country. See Series 10, Oversize, for more travel information.

Series 7: Biographical Materials Box 9

The biographical materials consist of copies of letters regarding Mazour's recommendation for an honorary doctorate from UNL, an article discussing the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries Archives & Special Collections acquiring the Mazour papers, and a membership directory from one of Mazour's professional organizations.

Series 8: Newspaper Clippings Box 9Folder 1-8.

This series contains two folders of newspaper clippings divided into Russian and English language. See Series 10, Oversize, for more travel information.

Series 9: Photographs Box 9Folder 1-8.

This series contains two photographs of an unidentified male bust. The photos appear to have come from the Finnish Tourist Association. See Series 10, Oversize, for photographs of Anatole Mazour and of the signing of the treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War.

Series 10: Oversize Oversize Box 10Folder 1-8.

This series consists of one box of oversized materials including research materials magazines, maps, graphic arts prints and plates, newspaper articles, and photographs.

Container List: Please contact the Archives & Specials Collections for a container list or for more information on this collection.



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