Abstract:
This lecture is devoted to the history of creation of Public (People's) University of Sahniavskiy that worked in Moscow in 1908–1918.
It's closely related to the destiny of Russian science, culture and education. The talk will cover not only reforms of the second part of the XIX'th century, but also life stories of remarkable people: Alfons L. Shaniavsky, his wife Lidia, some of their friends including both the wealthiest merchants (such as brothers M. V. and S. V. Sabashnikov) and eminent scientists (for example, Prof. M. M. Kovalevsky and Prof. A. N. Reformatsky).
The story of Public University is inseparable from the stories of P. N. Lebedev, N. K. Koltsov, N. V. Timofeev-Resovsky and many others.