smolny

The Smolny Institute, or The Imperial Educational Society of Noble Maidens, was founded by Catherine the Great as the first state educational institution for women in Russia. An informative article drawing on primary sources presents the history of this pioneering Institute until its dissolution during the Revolution. Central to this volume are photographs of The Smolny from an extremely rare album that belonged to the editor’s ancestor, who attended the Institute. Accompanying commentary calls attention to details of the photographs and brings them to life by excerpts from writings of Smolny students and other contemporaries found in St. Petersburg’s archives.