A. N. Pypin

The work deals with the questions of the biography of the outstanding Russian scientist-humanitarian, academician of the Imperial Academy of Sciences A. N. Pypin (1833–1904). The purpose of the study is to identify and summarize materials about the Saratov period of the scientist’s life, to present the history of his family, to reveal the role of his father and mother in intellectual and spiritual development.

A lot of research addresses A. N. Pypin’s life and oeuvre but the aspect of his biography is not given sufficient attention to. The sketch by B. B. Glinsky is one of such papers that has not yet excited any interest. Addressing the forgotten publication in the journal Istorichesky Vestnik (History Journal) allows not only to reconsider some facts and episodes of Pypin’s activity from a new perspective, but also to identify the peculiarities of his creative style, and highlight intrinsic genre criteria of a critical and biographical article.

Published memoirs of A. A. Shakhmatov are an important source of study of the life and work of A. N. Pypin. On the basis of the living testimony, the main directions of scientific and organizational activities of Pypin during his tenure in the Academy of Sciences are considered, certain aspects of his personality are revealed.