Identity Statement

Reference Code

HU OSA 300-85-4

Title

Biographical Card Index to Published Samizdat

Date(s)

1968 - 1992

Description Level

Series

Extent and medium (processed)

3 Archival boxes, 0.38 linear meters

Context

Name of creator(s)

Samizdat Archives

Content and Structure

Scope and Content (Abstract)

The Samizdat Archives ran several card indices at different stages of its existence. All of them served as a name index to the published samizdat documents.
The first two parts of the series consist of the name cards of the documents from 1 to 3000 (roughly) and seems to be the earliest card index created by Peter Dornan himself. The names are in Russian and in transliterated form and are mostly hand-written. The second part, in which the names are given in Russian, covers the samizdat documents from 3000 onwards.
The index includes the names of people who either were mentioned in the documents or took part in the creation of the particular samizdat document (as an author or as a signatory). The names covered vary from members of the dissident movement and prominent writers to Soviet officials of different ranks. There are two major groups: (1) members of the dissident movement and people close to this circle: (2) Soviet officials of different ranks dealing with the dissident movement. Besides these two categories there are also the names of prominent Soviet and international figures, cultural icons and political leaders.
Each card has a name at the top and provides the registration numbers of the published samizdat documents where the person’s name appeared. In certain cases the page number of publication in “Materialy Samizdata" follows the registration number.
Besides the name and references to the particular samizdat documents some cards contain additional information on the person such as profession, relationship to other well-known people (husband, wife), religious affiliation, nationality, membership of certain groups, or place in the official hierarchy. In some cases the person’s date of birth is indicated in the top right corner of the card. Many cards contain additional information on the person, such as the type of activity the person was involved in, membership of dissident groups, nationality, religious affiliation, position in the Soviet hierarchy, or family status.

Accruals

Not Expected

System of arrangement

Arranged by language (Russian and English) and thereunder alphabetically

Conditions of Access and Use

Conditions governing access

Unknown

Languages

English, Russian