Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Sini͡avskiĭ, A. (Andreĭ), 1925-1997
- Abstract:
- Writings, diaries, correspondence, interrogation and trial records, printed matter, sound recordings, photographs, and memorabilia relating to Russian literature, civil rights in the Soviet Union, political trials and conditions of political prisoners in the Soviet Union, and Russian émigré affairs. Includes records of the Russian-language Paris journal "Sintaksis", published and edited by A. Sini͡avskiĭ and M. Rozanova.
- Extent:
- 186 manuscript boxes, 11 oversize boxes, 1 oversize folder, 12 audio trays, 4 audio cassette boxes, 2 object boxes, 2 sound cassettes, 1 sound tape reel, 3 VHS video cassettes, digital media (118.8 Linear Feet)
- Language:
- In Russian and French Some documents in English, German, or Italian
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], A. Sini͡avskiĭ papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The A. Sini͡avskiĭ papers consist of material related to the life and work of the Russian writer and political activist Andrei Sini͡avskiĭ, both in Russia and abroad, from the 1930s to 1997.
The collection includes a wealth of biographical material related to Sini͡avskiĭ's family and childhood, found in the series related to his parents, Donat Sini͡avskiĭ and Evdokiia-Torkhova-Siniavskaia. Of special interest are the diaries of his mother, which include descriptions of his childhood and childhood drawings. The biographical file further includes documentary material related to the trial of Andrei Sini͡avskiĭ and Iulii Daniel, as well as reports in the Western press about his arrest, trial, and exile to France.
A major part of the collection consists of Sini͡avskiĭ's scholarly work and creative writing, found in the speeches and writings series, including preparatory material, drafts and printed copies of writings on scholarly, political and cultural subjects, as well as creative writing under the pseudonym of Abram Terts. Also of interest is material related to his political activity, especially as seen through the eyes of the Western media, including newspaper interviews and radio programs.
Finally, the collection as a whole reflects the political and cultural life of the post-Soviet emigration (1970s-1980s). Of special interest in this respect is the Sintaksis file, which reflects the development of one particular trend within the former dissident movement.
The increment to the collection, complementing material acquired earlier, includes correspondence, biographical materials, trial documents, scholarly and creative writings by Andreiĭ Siniavskiĭ. Of great interest is the correspondence series, including original letters by Siniavskiĭ from the labor camp and more than 600 letters from his wife, Mariia Rozanova, with her drawings.
The increment mostly relates to the life of the Siniavskiĭ family in emigration, reflected in his creative and scholarly writings during emigration years. The writings document his relations with other Soviet emigres, in particular with Solzhenitsyn and Vladimir Maksimov, and his views on political development in the Soviet Union in the late 1980s to the early 1990s.
Also of interest is the Svetlana Alilueva (Joseph Stalin's daughter) file found in the Subject File, with her correspondence with Siniavskiĭ and his recollections about her.
Audio recordings include interviews and musical records and records of BBC programs led by Siniavskiĭ and Rozanova in the late 1970s.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Date Event 1925 Born, Moscow, U.S.S.R.1941-1945 Graduated from the Moscow Aviation School and served as an airfield radio technician1946-1952 Received doctorate in literatureStudied at Moscow University1952-1965 Author of essay On Socialist Realism and creative writings, published abroad under the pseudonym of Abram TertsCo-author of books on Russian poetry, author of articles in Novyi mir, and of an introduction to Boris Pasternak: Stikhotvoreniia i poemyTaught literature at the Gorkii Institute of World Literature, Moscow University, and the Moscow Art Theater1965 Arrested for dissemination of anti-Soviet propaganda. Imprisoned in Lubianka and Lefortovo prisons. Sentenced to seven years of hard labor1966-1971 Released early and returned to MoscowServed part of sentence in Potma (Mordovia) labor camps1973 Immigrated to Paris, France1973-1975 Author, under the pseudonym of Abram Terts, of Golos iz khora, Progulki s Pushkinym, and V teni Gogolia1978 With Mariia Rozanova, began publication of the journal Sintaksis1980 Author, under the pseudonym of Abram Terts, of Kroshka Tsores1982 Author, "Opavshie list'ia" V. V. Rozanova1984 Author, under the pseudonym of Abram Terts, of Spokoinoi nochi1988 Author, Sovetskaia tsivilizatsiia1991 Author, Ivan-durak: Ocherk russkoi narodnoi very1996 Died, Paris, France1998 (date of publication) Author, Koshkin dom. Roman dal'nego sledovaniia - Acquisition information:
- Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1998. Increments acquired in 2018, 2024.
- Physical location:
- Hoover Institution Library & Archives
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Boxes 210 and 211 may not be used without the permission of the Archivist. The remainder of the collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
- Terms of access:
-
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], A. Sini͡avskiĭ papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
- Location of this collection:
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Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford UniversityStanford, CA 94305-6003, US
- Contact:
- (650) 723-3563