PAUL ADAM BECKER: TO THE 215TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTHDAY OF THE HISTORIAN, ARCHAEOLOGY AND LIBRARIAN OF THE RICHELIEU LYCEUM

Abstract

Studying of cultural specificity of regions, of work of educational institutions and their libraries as well as lives of scientists and culture workers of these regions brings a special value in the modern stage of development of science. Researches of this kind demand a new base of sources on history of particular libraries.
The subject of studying of this article is a gift of Professor P. V. Becker to Odesa Richelieu Lyceum Library given in 1862. Author used comparative and historical methods and followed principles of source criticism.
Findings about a qualitative and quantitative composition of gifted editions and a clear division of professor’s gift into two equivalent parts – “historical” and “musical” are based on data of “Fundamental catalogue of Richelieu Lyceum Library” that are entered for scientific use for the first time. P. V. Becker’s active part in the work of the Odesa Society of History and Antiquities defined composition of the “historical” part of the gift to lyceum library that included publications on history and archeology of Novorossiisky region by doner. His musical preferences influenced the part of the gift consisting of compositions not only written by acknowledged masters, but also by so called “second-rate composers”. Combination of historical works and sheet music in the one gift tells about conception of doner lying in necessity of versatile intellectual development of students at Richelieu Lyceum.
Finding results may be used in future for studying of history of libraries of Odesa and phenomenon of charity of private persons to libraries. Published documents are useful for working up of special academic courses concern to bibliology in the South of Ukraine.