Formation of Administrative Statistics Bodies in Russian Empire: Statistical Department of Ministry of Police (1811—1819)
https://doi.org/10.24224/2227-1295-2021-12-461-478
Abstract
The article is devoted to the history of creation and the first years of activity of the Ministry of Police Statistical Division in the context of the departmental scientists of Russian subdivisions activities. Based on a wide range of published and archival materials, the author examines the prerequisites for the organization of the institution, the legal framework that governed its work at an early stage, examines the evolution of the structure and staffing. It is noted that the idea of concentrating statistical functions in one department appeared in Russia at the beginning of the 18th century and acquired particular relevance during the reign of Alexander I. Analyzing the clerical documentation, the author corrects the date of creation of the department, established in historiography, and notes the peculiarities of its position within the Ministry of Police. It is concluded that the creation of the Statistical Office was in the nature of an administrative experiment, funding for its activities at an early stage was carried out from third-party sources, and employees were not part of the staff of the ministry. It was noted that the effectiveness of the department's work directly depended on the personal interest of the leaders — the Minister of Police A.D. Balashev and Professor K.F. Herman. They managed to prepare the basis for further improvements in the work of the department.
About the Author
A. Yu Skrydlov
S.I. Vavilov Institute for the History of Science and Technology of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg Branch
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Andrey Yu. Skrydlov, PhD in History, Head of the Sector of History, the Academy of Sciences and Scientific Institutions
St. Petersburg
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Review
For citations:
Skrydlov A.Yu. Formation of Administrative Statistics Bodies in Russian Empire: Statistical Department of Ministry of Police (1811—1819). Nauchnyi dialog. 2021;(12):461-478. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24224/2227-1295-2021-12-461-478
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