The daily life of a girl from the Drozdov family as reflected in her relatives’ letters at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries

The article examines the previously unknown and unpublished correspondence of the Drozdov family from Orenburg, who belonged to the noble and official community of the city at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. A collection of “open letters” (postcards) whose recipient and sender was Nana (Natalia), the eldest daughter of the Drozdovs, is analyzed. The article provides an overview of publications that address the problem of studying epistolary heritage as a narrative that is important for studying the history of everyday life. The study of correspondence is based on the use of typological, historical-chronological, systemic and informational methods. Based on the multiple factor analysis of postcards, their authors and addressees are determined, the geography of family correspondence is traced, its main plots are revealed, the speech techniques and phrases used are described, on the basis of which an attempt is made to clarify the nature of relations among family members. The author convincingly proves the kinship of the Drozdovs’ ties with the Pisarev and Tsitsurin families, who were part of the circle of the top aristocracy of the Russian Empire, revealing new facts about the biographies of various family members. The content of the correspondence allows us to qualify its use as short, but frequent, “gratuitous” messages in order to preserve a sense of intra-family unity. The exchange of letters performed both informational and communication functions, and the tone and plots of the messages reflected the nature of intra-family relations and touched on topics important to the family. Children were involved in this process from a very young age, which contributed to their socialization and inclusion in the system of social contacts. The above allows you to recreate the important moments that make up the girl’s everyday life.