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 1This 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 1This 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 1-6The 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 7-8The 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 8-9Most 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 9The 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 9The 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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