The Jews and their place in the economic life of Western Siberia in the second half of the 19th century

The article analyses the business activities of the Jewish community in Western Siberia in the latter half of the XIX century. On the basis of archival documents and published statistical data it is shown that the Jews who arrived from western provinces of the Russian Empire were mostly involved in buying up and processing agricultural products. They either took up the kinds of entrepreneurship which were considered unattractive by the local population or launched new processing industries. It is concluded that through these activities the Jews managed to secure the economic niches that brought them steady profits. The original accumulation of capital led to the appearance of Jewish family clans in banking, trade, different food industries and service sector. These clans made a significant contribution to the economic development of Tobolsk and Tomsk provinces and Akmolinsk region.