Nikolai Vasilievich Nikolsky devotedly loved his homeland and people. He created ethnographic works, was a doctor of historical sciences.
Biography
Nikolai Vasilievich was born in the Kazan province in the town of Yurmekeikino in May 1878. Father's name was Vasily Nikitich, and mother's name was Agrippina Stepanovna. Husband and wife have proven that people of different nationalities can create strong families. After all, Nikolai's mother was Russian, and his father was Chuvash. The boy's grandfathers were named Nikita Andreev and Stepan Sevastyanov. And my daddy grandmother - Maria Andreeva.
The family of Vasily and Agrippina was large. In addition to Nicholas, they had 8 more children: Valery, Mercury, Zosimus, Catherine, Elizabeth, and one more Elizabeth.
When Nikolai grew up, he studied at the Shumatovsky zemstvo school. Having received his education here, he went to the theological school in Cheboksary.
A year before the end of the 19th century, Nikolsky became a graduate of the Kazan Theological Seminary. This is an ancient establishment that dates back to 1723. It was founded in the bishop's school. A seminary was formed here, and after that - an academy. But since 1818 this institution was closed, it only opened in 1842. Of course, after the October Revolution, the theological academy was closed. Already in its renewed form, it began to function again only after 80 years.
Having received knowledge at the theological seminary of that time in Kazan, the young man entered the theological academy and graduated from it in 1903. For fourteen years he has worked as a clerk in a missionary society. At the same time, Nikolai Vasilyevich is an overseer in a theological seminary, and at the Kazan Academy, an inquisitive scientist teaches the history, Chuvash language and geography of this people in courses.
Creation
Nikolai Nikolsky has produced many printed works. His first research was published in a journal, and at the beginning of 1906 he began to publish the newspaper "Khypar" in the Chuvash language. This was the first edition where materials were printed in the language of this people. At the same time, the ethnographer is the editor of this newspaper. For 8 years, Nikolsky has been creating many works in his native language, translating spiritual literature. By his efforts, 30 brochures were written and published in which he covered the issues of animal husbandry, medicine, agriculture, beekeeping, and devoted individual copies to raising children.
In 1913, the scientist defended his dissertation on the topic of Chuvash Christianity in the Middle Volga region, for which he was awarded a master's degree in theology.
Career
After the February Revolution of 1917, Nikolsky was elected chairman of the zemstvo council of the Kazan province, and after the October revolution he became a professor at Kazan University.
The time of troubles of the thirties also affected the ethnographer. He was subjected to repeated arrests and even for 9 years he could not find a job.
During the Great Patriotic War, Nikolsky became a senior researcher, and in 1947 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Historical Sciences.
Nikolai Nikolsky made a great contribution to the education of the Chuvashes, to the publication of materials related to the history of this people.
