Museum collection includes Vasily Shukshin’s short autobiography, which he wrote on the 20th of June, 1954. The document was attached to an application for entry examinations at Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (VGIK). The text was handwritten, while its last line, reading ‘Since May 1954 I have been a candidate memb[er] of the CPSU’, was underlined.
The document contained several inaccuracies. For instance, Shukshin stated his mother and father’s dates of birth incorrectly: “Parents (born in 1910 and 1911)…”. The fact is, Makar Shukshin and Maria Kuksina were born in 1912 and 1909 respectively. Furthermore, the text included a mistake in conscription date: “… on the 20th of October, 1949, I was drafted for compulsory fixed-term military service…” was stated instead of the correct 20th of August, 1949. Demobilisation date was incorrect as well — instead of 1952, the text reads as follows: “… In 1953, by the decision of Central Black Sea Fleet Naval Hospital medical commission (in Sebastopol), I was discharged ahead of schedule due to peptic ulcer disease…”. Moreover, Shukshin wrote an incorrect date of gaining CPSU candidate membership status. Instead of the 21st of June, 1954, he stated the following: “Since May 1954 I have been a candidate memb[er] of the CPSU…”. When Shukshin wrote his autobiography, he did not check documents for dates. Most likely, these errors came as the result of the author’s carelessness.
Autobiographies were usually required to enrol in an educational institution or to get a job. The director wrote 5 such documents in total. The first one was created on the 19th of October, 1953, when Shukshin applied for a teaching job in Srostki evening school for rural youth. He was an acting principal there, as well as history, literature, and Russian language teacher. He wrote his second short story at the time of enrolling in VGIK.
Shukshin’s third autobiography was created in 1955, when he became a member of the CPSU. Director Mikhail Romm gave the author the necessary reference. Another such document was compiled on the 2nd of August, 1963, for the purpose of official registration in the Party organisation at Gorky Film Studio. Shukshin has worked there for ten years and directed four films: There Is Such a Lad, Your Son and Brother, Strange People, and Happy Go Lucky. In January 1973, he decided to move to another film studio, namely, Mosfilm. He wrote his fifth autobiography during job application process.
These text constituted a significant part of Shukshin’s creative legacy and served as essential sources of information about the writer’s life and work.
The document contained several inaccuracies. For instance, Shukshin stated his mother and father’s dates of birth incorrectly: “Parents (born in 1910 and 1911)…”. The fact is, Makar Shukshin and Maria Kuksina were born in 1912 and 1909 respectively. Furthermore, the text included a mistake in conscription date: “… on the 20th of October, 1949, I was drafted for compulsory fixed-term military service…” was stated instead of the correct 20th of August, 1949. Demobilisation date was incorrect as well — instead of 1952, the text reads as follows: “… In 1953, by the decision of Central Black Sea Fleet Naval Hospital medical commission (in Sebastopol), I was discharged ahead of schedule due to peptic ulcer disease…”. Moreover, Shukshin wrote an incorrect date of gaining CPSU candidate membership status. Instead of the 21st of June, 1954, he stated the following: “Since May 1954 I have been a candidate memb[er] of the CPSU…”. When Shukshin wrote his autobiography, he did not check documents for dates. Most likely, these errors came as the result of the author’s carelessness.
Autobiographies were usually required to enrol in an educational institution or to get a job. The director wrote 5 such documents in total. The first one was created on the 19th of October, 1953, when Shukshin applied for a teaching job in Srostki evening school for rural youth. He was an acting principal there, as well as history, literature, and Russian language teacher. He wrote his second short story at the time of enrolling in VGIK.
Shukshin’s third autobiography was created in 1955, when he became a member of the CPSU. Director Mikhail Romm gave the author the necessary reference. Another such document was compiled on the 2nd of August, 1963, for the purpose of official registration in the Party organisation at Gorky Film Studio. Shukshin has worked there for ten years and directed four films: There Is Such a Lad, Your Son and Brother, Strange People, and Happy Go Lucky. In January 1973, he decided to move to another film studio, namely, Mosfilm. He wrote his fifth autobiography during job application process.
These text constituted a significant part of Shukshin’s creative legacy and served as essential sources of information about the writer’s life and work.
