New biographical information about a city architect of pre-revolutionary Syzran S. P. Scherbakov

The article considers the main stages of Sergey Petrovich Scherbakov’s life who went down the history of Syzran as a city architect (dated 1911-1916) and as the Chairman of the district executive committee (dated April-June 1918) during the initial period of the Czechoslovak Legion revolt occurred in the Middle Volga region. Despite the importance of the positions held, there was little biographical information about him. Due to the information handed over to the Syzran Museum of Local Lore by S. S. Scherbakov (his great-grandson) in February 2023, including copies of personal documents, specifically - autobiography and personal photographs, the gaps in the description of the S. P. Scherbakov’s life were largely closed. In the context of the new information, it was possible to establish with complete reliability the names and social origin of his parents, as well as his exact date and place of birth, years and places of study, work and military service during both the pre-revolutionary and post-revolutionary periods. Moreover, the information has allowed to determine his whereabouts during the White-Czech revolt, and explain the reasons for his «instant exit» out of the Bolshevik Party ranks. The Scherbakov’s effort to the Syzran city is immensible because the period of his service as a city architect was the most active phase of city planning. The administration was forced to rebuild the central part of the city that burnt out in 1906 with eclecticism and art nouveau details, following through with the balanced development and a consistent style, which were typical for those times. A unique image of the pre-revolutionary merchant Volga city remains to these days, preserving the architectural look of the period. Being a monument of cultural and historical heritage of the regional level, the Scherbakov’s house has been preserved too.