Social structure of post-war students: experience in processing data from personal files from the archive of the Pskov Pedagogical Institute

The article is a review of data on the social structure of the post-war students of the historical and literary faculties of the Pskov State Pedagogical Institute (graduated in 1948–1953). The source of the data presented in the article was documents from 282 students’ personal files stored in the archives of Pskov State University. First of all, these are documents such as autobiographies, personal cards, questionnaires, characteristics and statements. Information from students' personal files was processed using the method of quantitative data analysis, produced using the Microsoft Access database management system, as well as special scientific methods of historical research. Data processing and analysis were carried out according to four categories generally accepted in Soviet period: “employees”, “peasants”, “workers”, “priests”. In addition, the article provides information about the social mobility of students’ parents, their party affiliation, the level of positions held, as well as cases of political repression. The research demonstrates the scientific perspective of university archives, their value, volume and role in the reconstruction of sociocultural transformations through which generations of students of the 20th century went. Despite the fact that the current level of development of information technology makes it possible to compile, store and analyze databases based on socio-demographic characteristics presented in student personal files, such scientific work has not become a widespread practice in Russian historiography. The article compares the results of this study with a study of the collective portrait of students at the Faculty of History of Moscow State University, based on the analysis of socio-demographic data from the personal files of students of the post-war period.

personal files, autobiographies, Soviet students, social origin, social structure, post-war period, Pskov Pedagogical Institute, database, frequency of occurrence, prosopography