In Samara in the late 1870-1890s: on the issue of the formation of revolutionary sentiments in the Russian province of the late 19th century

On the base of archival sources, the author reconstructs unknown aspects of the life of Konstantin M. Sibiryakov, an outstanding Russian entrepreneur, gold miner and philanthropist who lived in the second half of the 19th century. Special attention is paid to Sibiryakov’s acquaintances in Samara province. A native of Siberia who had lands in the Volga region, Sibiryakov maintained close contacts with political activists under police surveillance who lived on his Skolkovo estate. The article reflects the ambiguity of the personality of the entrepreneur, traces his activities in the charitable and publishing spheres. Archival materials from the Police Department and a number of local gendarmerie departments allow us to examine carefully the process of formation of revolutionary sentiments in the Samara province and the role of Sibiryakov in the revolutionary movement of the 1870-90s.