The collection of the Lipetsk Regional Museum of Local History contains an album that belonged to Ivan Vasilyevich Mushketov, a famous Russian scientist, professor at the St. Petersburg Mining Institute, traveler, and member of the Imperial Geographical Society.
Ivan Mushketov lived for only 52 years, but he managed to become one of the most prominent Russian geographers and geologists. Mountains, glaciers, volcanoes, straits, and a railway station have been named after him. It was thanks to his efforts that the earthquake observation and forecasting service was established in Russia, and seismic stations were set up. For his study of the entire mountainous area of Turkestan, Ivan Mushketov received the highest award of the Russian Geographical Society, the Gold Constantine Medal, at the age of 30. In 1882, the first major state geological organization was founded in the Russian Empire in order to study the country’s mineral deposits in a systematic and comprehensive manner. It existed until 1917.
In July 1883, Ivan Mushketov arrived in Lipetsk. Mikhail Trunov, a researcher of the Lipetsk resort, a famous local historian, and the founder of the Lipetsk Museum of Local Lore, wrote, “In 1883, the government sent Professor Mushketov for a geological survey.” The official travel orders issued to the professor stated, “At the request of the Medical Department, the Geological Committee sends Your Honor to study the geological conditions of the Lipetsk mineral springs for three months, with a traveling allowance of 162 rubles and 18 kopecks…” During the three summer months, Ivan Mushketov toured the entire uyezd, conducted a general geological and hydrological survey, compiled a geological map of the uyezd, studied its water-bearing horizons, and explained the origins of the mineral water.
The photo album was presented to Professor Ivan Mushketov by the Lipetsk City Society in 1883. It was transferred to the museum from the library of the Geological Committee which, according to the inscription on the title page, received it from the professor’s son Dmitry on December 10, 1926.
