Russian liberalism on the development of education in Russia (1880s - 1905)

The article analyzes the materials of memoirs, letters, autobiographical notes and diary entries of the best representatives of Russian liberalism, such as D.I. Shakhovsky, V.I. Vernadsky, A.A. Kornilov, and A.V. Tyrkova-Williams, and attempts to consider the formation of views on the development of Russian society. The article shows the process of evolution of their ideas and thoughts from the student’s bench, participation in University circles, and above all in the «Oldenburg» to professional practical activities. It is noted that the friendship started at the University, over the years, grew stronger, and was preserved for life. The main goal of their lives, the friends considered a common cause for the benefit of the people and, above all, educational activities «to try to deliver to the people a number of practically necessary and important information, to bring the people to the consciousness that they need to manage themselves». Their active activities in the development of school Affairs, folk literature, education and science, as well as in the liberal Zemstvo movement, publishing, and the democratization of society are reflected. As a result, during the study period, the friends moved from the common goal of serving the Russian society to understanding the need to change the country’s governance system, to the importance of participating in the political life of Russia. All of them became active members of the constitutional democratic party.