Revising the Revolution : The Unmaking of Russia's Official History of 1917

The clash between scholarship and politics—between truth and propaganda—was ruthless for historians in Istpart, the Russian Communist Central Committee's official historical department. Istpart was tasked with preserving the documentary record, compiling memoirs, and upholding ideological conformism within the national narrative of the 1917 revolution. In Revising the Revolution , Larry E. Holmes examines the role of Istpart's historians, in both the Moscow office and a regional branch in Viatka, who initially believed they could adhere to the traditional standards of research and simultaneously provide a history useful to the party. However, they quickly realized that the party rejected any version of history that suggested nonideological or nonpolitical sources of truth. By 1928, Istpart had largely abandoned its mission to promote scholarly work on the 1917 revolution and instead advanced the party's master narrative. Revising the Revolution explores the battle for the Russian national narrative and the ways in which history can be used to centralize power. "The clash between scholarship and politics-between truth and propaganda-was ruthless for historians in Istpart, the Russian Communist Central Committee's official historical department. As part of the state publishing house, Istpart was tasked with preserving the documentary record, compiling memoirs, and upholding ideological conformism within the national narrative of the 1917 revolution. In Revising the Revolution, Larry E. Holmes examines the role of Ispart's historians, both in the Moscow office and a regional branch in Viatka, who initially believed they could adhere to the traditional standards of research and simultaneously provide a history useful to the party. However, they quickly realized that the party rejected any version of history that suggested nonideological or nonpolitical sources of truth. By 1928, Istpart had largely abandoned its mission to promote scholarly work on the 1917 revolution and instead advanced the party's master narrative. Revising the Revolution explores the battle for the Russian national narrative and the ways in which history can be used to centralize power"-- Provided by publisher

The clash between scholarship and politics—between truth and propaganda—was ruthless for historians in Istpart, the Russian Communist Central Committee's official historical department.

Istpart was tasked with preserving the documentary record, compiling memoirs, and upholding ideological conformism within the national narrative of the 1917 revolution. In Revising the Revolution, Larry E. Holmes examines the role of Istpart's historians, in both the Moscow office and a regional branch in Viatka, who initially believed they could adhere to the traditional standards of research and simultaneously provide a history useful to the party. However, they quickly realized that the party rejected any version of history that suggested nonideological or nonpolitical sources of truth. By 1928, Istpart had largely abandoned its mission to promote scholarly work on the 1917 revolution and instead advanced the party's master narrative.

Revising the Revolution explores the battle for the Russian national narrative and the ways in which history can be used to centralize power.

Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Note on Transliteration......Page 14 Abbreviations......Page 16 Timeline......Page 18 Introduction......Page 24 1. Istpart’s Origins and Mission......Page 37 2. At the Periphery......Page 59 3. Multiple Scripts for 1905 and 1917......Page 74 4. Viatka’s 1917 Revolution in the Past and the Present......Page 89 5. Fractured Finances......Page 112 6. Moscow’s Embrace of the Political......Page 127 7. The Passing of Istpart and Professional Civility......Page 153 8. Methodology Ex Cathedra: Stalin Speaks and Istpart’s Legacy......Page 164 9. Their Fate......Page 180 Conclusion......Page 194 Glossary of Prominent Individuals......Page 200 Selected Bibliography......Page 202 Index......Page 208 About the Author......Page 220