ИСТИНА

The Society of Friends of Natural Sciences, Anthropology, and Ethnography (SFN) grew from a circle of naturalists, uniting professionals as well as amateurs, concentrated around A.P. Bogdanov, professor of zoology and director of the Zoological museum of the Moscow University. SFN was the first learned society that was organized according to the University statute of 1863 (later on societies of this type appeared in all Russian universities). It was aimed at advancement of natural sciences and popularization of scientific knowledge in Moscow school district. SNF was the first in Russia to adopt scientific exhibitions as the main form of popularization of scientific knowledge in wide social strata. Among the most significant exhibitions, organized by SFN, were the four: All-Russia Ethnography Exhibition (1867), Polytechnic Exhibition (1872), dated for the 200th anniversary of Peter-the-Great, Moscow Anthropologic Exhibition (1879), and Geography Exhibition (1892). Less known are exhibitions on applied zoology, beekeeping et al. These undertakings of SFN were a success due to four basic principles, realized by the Society. 1. SFN attracted to the spade work as many people as possible. Although the exhibitions were held in Moscow, the Society managed to recruit and instruct people from far-off regions of the country to collect the necessary exhibit. 2. Before and during the exhibitions high-level lectures on the topic for educated public were combined with gratuitous scientific demonstrations and lectures for people with lower educational level. 3. Each exhibition was connected with important scientific or cultural events (congresses, scientific conferences on the topic et c.). 4. Exhibited collections were to be used as a basis for new museums or museum collections, university or public, in Moscow (this was the case of Dashkov Museum of Ethnography, Museum of applied knowledge, better known as Polytechnic Museum, Museum of Anthropology of the Moscow University et al.).