Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
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The first half of the third season of the project "Unique Documents. A New Generation's View" has ended. Main Archives of Moscow and the capital Department of Education and ScienceThe third season covered four key areas of research that are conducted throughout the academic year: Arctic exploration, the history of astronomy, and the development of aeronautics and aircraft engineering.
"The 'Unique Documents: A New Generation' project is a full-fledged research workshop and career guidance platform where schoolchildren and college students gain invaluable experience working with primary sources. Under the guidance of Glavarkhiv specialists, young people learn to analyze authentic materials, often handwritten, taking into account the specifics of document management in past centuries, compare facts from various sources to reconstruct a complete picture, and compile detailed biographical notes. This work culminates in an individual project, which the students defend before a panel of Glavarkhiv experts. This year, documents from test pilots Georgy Baidukov and Anatoly Lyapidevsky, as well as astronomers Aristarkh Belopolsky and Fyodor Bredikhin, have already been recognized as unique. Starting in February, young people will be working with materials from aircraft designers and aeronauts," said the head of the Moscow Glavarkhiv.
The competitive selection process began at the beginning of the academic year. As in previous seasons, to gain access to authentic archival files, young researchers had to write an essay. The topic was related to a subject of interest—a polar explorer, pilot, astronomer, or designer—or to a specific invention whose documentation is located in the archive. The Glavarkhiv Expert Council conducts a rigorous selection process, and only the authors of the best essays are admitted to the reading rooms for the in-person stage.
In the first semester of the 2025/2026 academic year, a stream dedicated to Arctic exploration was successfully completed. This choice was no coincidence: 2026 has been declared the Year of the Arctic, adding relevance to the study of authentic materials about the explorers of the North. Schoolchildren and college students worked with valuable data related to Arctic expeditions and polar pilots. The research resulted in the recognition of documents related to the lives and exploits of test pilots Georgy Baidukov and Anatoly Lyapidevsky as unique. Recommendations prepared by the schoolchildren and students formed the basis for the decision by Glavarkhiv experts to grant these archival files unique status.
Immediately following the successful completion of the first round, the second round of the third season, dedicated to the history of astronomy, began in late November. This topic is particularly relevant ahead of the anniversary of the first human spaceflight, which will be celebrated in 2026. Due to the high interest, the application deadline for the competitive selection was extended by three weeks. As a result, the finalists began working with authentic archival files containing information on the development of Russian astronomy.
They obtained documents of historical value, including reports by Russian scientists on the discovery of new comets, plans for rebuilding university observatories, archival materials on the preparation of an expedition to Feodosia to observe a solar eclipse, as well as personal materials and scientific works by eminent astronomers. In the second batch, documents by astronomers Aristarkh Belopolsky and Fyodor Bredikhin were recognized as unique.
The completion of the first semester of the third season of the "Unique Documents: A New Generation's View" project demonstrates the continued interest of young people in the history of their country and city. The project will continue throughout the 2025/2026 academic year. In the second semester, which begins after the winter break, streams dedicated to aeronautics and aircraft engineering are planned.
The official announcement of the third season's results and the awards ceremony for all finalists who have advanced to the in-person round are scheduled for May 2026. The main result of the young researchers' work is the addition of documents to the State Register of Unique Documents of the Moscow Archival Fund. All materials awarded this prestigious status will be made available to a wider audience on the official website. Glavarkhiva.
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