Historian, Ethnographer and Teacher: On the 60th Anniversary of Professor Oleg Matveyev

This article, marking the 60th anniversary of Professor Oleg Matveev, a prominent Russian historian, analyzes the multifaceted contributions of one of the most authoritative contemporary scholars of Kuban history, ethnography, and the Kuban Cossacks to the field of Caucasian studies. The work systematizes his academic legacy, traces his professional career, and evaluates his role in shaping the modern scholarly understanding of the history of Kuban and the North Caucasus as a whole. The research is based on a thorough examination of a wide range of materials, including detailed biographical information, the scholar's foundational publications, records of his extensive fieldwork, and his diverse activities in pedagogy, education, and academic editing. The article highlights the various directions of O.V. Matveev's research — history, ethnography, biographical studies, oral history, microhistory, historical anthropology, and the history of everyday life. It traces the gradual expansion of Professor Matveev's thematic focus. His scholarly journey began with an analysis of the Caucasian War and its profound ethnopolitical consequences. Subsequently, he dedicated his research to studying the historical consciousness, worldview, complex fabric of daily life, and traditional culture of the Kuban Cossacks. Currently, his academic interests are focused on a comprehensive, interdisciplinary study of the ethnic communities of the North-West Caucasus, integrating historical, anthropological, and ethnographic elements within its methodology. A key characteristic of his work is his active participation in ethnographic expeditions, which have amassed a vast collection of unique primary sources, ensuring the preservation of this invaluable cultural heritage. Professor Matveev's scholarly works have played a crucial role in forming a holistic, evidence-based, and anthropologically informed concept of the regional history of Southern Russia. The scholar's activities extend beyond academic research to include the training of historians, editorial work for academic publications such as the "Kuban Collection," and contributions to the creation of educational materials. His contributions to mentoring the next generation of scholars are noted: to date, seven young researchers have successfully defended their candidate of sciences dissertations under his supervision. Professor Matveev's distinguished achievements, acknowledged by state and academic awards, as well as professional recognition, cement his reputation as an authoritative researcher who has made a substantial contribution to the development of Russian historical science.