Ivan Pavlovich Kamenetsky,
Candidate of Historical Sciences, Institute of History of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Path to Science of Dmitry Yakovlevich Rezun (Unknown Pages in the Life of a Historian)
DOI: 10.31518/2618-9100-2026-1-1
The article is dedicated to the memory of Dmitry Yakovlevich Rezun (1945−2012), a leading researcher at the Institute of History of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a Doctor of Historical Sciences, and a Professor. Based on the scientist’s handwritten memoirs, introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, as well as his reports on historical and architectural expeditions, the article highlights lesser-known aspects of his biography, including his school and university years, his teaching experience in secondary schools, his fieldwork, and his interactions with prominent scholars. It is shown that the future scientist’s fascination with history began in his early childhood. Despite the difficult financial situation of his family during the post-war years, the teenager was determined to receive a good education. V.O. Klyuchevskiy’s articles about prominent figures in Russian history, such as Sergius of Radonezh, Ivan the Terrible, and Peter the Great, had a significant impact on shaping his interest in Russian history. As a student at the History Department of the Omsk Pedagogical Institute, he chose the topic of his diploma thesis on the influence of S.M. Solovyov’s historical views on the scientific work of V.O. Klyuchevskiy. His academic advisor was the renowned historian A.A. Zimin. In 1972−1975, on his recommendation, D.Ya. Rezun studied at the postgraduate program of the United Institute of History, Philology, and Philosophy of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and was the head of expeditions to save the monuments of Russian wooden architecture in the flooded area during the construction of the Ust-Ilimsk Hydroelectric Power Station. It is concluded that D.Ya. Rezun’s entry into “big” science was not a random choice in his biography, but rather the result of his persistent and determined efforts to achieve his dreams.
Publishing: 28/02/2026
The article has been received by the editor on 16/12/2025
How to cite: Kamenetsky I.P. The Path to Science of Dmitry Yakovlevich Rezun (Unknown Pages in the Life of a Historian) // Historical Courier, 2026, No. 1 (45), pp. 12−27. [Available online: http://istkurier.ru/data/2026/ISTKURIER-2026-1-01.pdf]
The article was made on the topic of the state assignment “Siberian Society as a Factor in the Territorial Growth and Unity of Russia (Late 16th − Early 20th Centuries)” (FWZM-2024-0007).
Links: Issue 1 2026
Keywords: History of Siberian urbanism; Memoirs and Biography of D.Ya. Rezun; Omsk State Pedagogical Institute; United Institute of Philosophy and Philology of the USSR Academy of Sciences