SergeÄ­ Dmitrievich Sazonov papers, 1914-1928

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Creators:
Sazonov, SergeÄ­ Dmitrievich, 1861-1927
Abstract:
Clippings, correspondence, and writings relating to Russian political and foreign affairs in 1909-1917, Russian involvement in World War I, and the career of SergeÄ­ Dmitrievich Sazonov as Russian foreign minister
Extent:
4 manuscript boxes, memorabilia (1.6 Linear Feet)
Language:
In English, French, German and Russian
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], SergeÄ­ Dmitrievich Sazonov Papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains the papers of SergeÄ­ Dmitrievich Sazonov, foreign minister of the Russian Empire from 1910 to 1916. Sazonov's memoirs in the Russian holograph original and English, French and German translations, constitute the bulk of the collection. Two bound volumes of clippings are devoted to the memoirs (excerpts and reviews) and two are devoted to Sazonov himself (mainly obituaries). The remainder of the collection consists of correspondence, biographical materials, and an office file devoted to the issue of Russia's claim to Constantinople and the Straits during the First World War.

The Biographical file contains an appeal to Sazonov, Sazonov's address book, and clippings relating to Sazonov, mainly obituaries on his passing.

The Correspondence includes a "general file" of sympathetic letters upon Sazonov's departure from the post of foreign minister in 1916.

The Office file contains correspondence relating to the acquisition of Constantinople and the Straits during the First World War. This file is very similar to the Office file in the Nikolai Aleksandrovich Bazili collection and is very likely part and parcel of it, but since it has been used and cited by historians as part of the Sazonov collection, it is left here. Researchers should, however, be aware of closely related material in the Bazili papers.

The Speeches and writings are primarily Sazonov's memoirs, including the original Russian manuscript in bound notebooks and partial and complete translations into English, French, and German (never published as a book). Two volumes of clippings include reviews and excerpts published in the periodical press. The original Russian manuscript contains material not included in the published edition (such as the final chapter). The designations "draft one" and "draft two" in reference to variant drafts of translations have been applied by the processor exclusively for the purpose of differentiating between drafts and do not reflect any original designations by the author or translator(s), which are absent.

Writings by others consists of one writing: the World War I memoirs of Robert Wilton, entitled "Behind the Scenes in Russia." This typescript should not be confused with Wilton's published Russia's Agony (London: E. Arnold, 1918), the content of which is entirely different and relates specifically to the events of 1917.

Memorabilia consists of Sazonov's leather briefcase, embossed "Ministr inostrannykh diel."

These papers were acquired from Lascelle de Basily as part of her husband's, Nikolai Alexandrovich Bazili papers, but were distilled from that larger collection and organized into this separate collection.

Biographical / historical:
SergeÄ­ Dmitreivich Sazonov
Date Event
1861 July 29 (O.S.)
Born, Riazan' Province, Russia
1883
Entered Russian diplomatic service
1904
Appointed counselor of Russian Embassy, London
1909
Appointed assistant foreign minister
1910
Appointed foreign minister of the Russian Empire
1916
Resigned from his post
1917
Appointed ambassador to London but unable to assume this post due to February revolution
1919
Appointed foreign minister of the governments of Admiral A. V. Kolchak and General A. I. Denikin
1927
Author, Vospominaniia and Fateful Years
1927 December 24
Died, Nice, France
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1965.
Arrangement:

The collection is organized into six series: Biographical file, Correspondence, Office file, Speeches and writings, Writings by others, and Memorabilia.

Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

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], SergeÄ­ Dmitrievich Sazonov Papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
Website