Maria Krasnozhenova Soviet folklorist, ethnographer, teacher, museum worker Date of Birth: 15.06.1871

1. Early Life and Education
2. Career as a Teacher
3. Establishing the Pedagogical Museum
4. Aid to Wounded Soldiers
5. Contributions to Education
6. Folklore and Ethnography
7. Membership in Professional Societies
8. Awards and Recognition

Early Life and Education

Maria Vasilievna Krasnozhenova was born on June 15, 1871, in the village of Biryusa in the Irkutsk province. She moved to Krasnoyarsk in 1881 and graduated from the Krasnoyarsk Women's Gymnasium in 1890.

Career as a Teacher

Krasnozhenova worked as a geography teacher in elementary classes at the Krasnoyarsk Women's Gymnasium. In 1892, she was elected a member of the Krasnoyarsk Society for the Care of Primary Education.

Establishing the Pedagogical Museum

At her initiative, the Pedagogical Mobile Museum for Visual Aids was established in Krasnoyarsk on January 2, 1898. It provided assistance to teachers in the province and was the only such museum in Siberia until 1908.

Aid to Wounded Soldiers

During World War I, Krasnozhenova joined the Krasnoyarsk branch of the "Siberian Society for Aid to Sick and Wounded Soldiers." The organization collected information on Siberian soldiers and sent field hospitals, medical supplies, and food to the front.

Contributions to Education

Krasnozhenova founded a pedagogical library and donated her personal library to the "Society for Mutual Aid to Teachers in the Yenisei Province" in 1915. She also advocated for the inclusion of "Siberiology" as a subject in the school curriculum and led a corresponding circle in Krasnoyarsk.

Folklore and Ethnography

Krasnozhenova discovered folk incantations recorded by her father in 1885. For over 45 years, she collected folklore during expeditions throughout the Yenisei province, documenting thousands of songs, fairy tales, charms, and other traditional texts.

Membership in Professional Societies

Krasnozhenova became a member of the East Siberian Department of the Russian Geographical Society in 1907. Within the Krasnoyarsk Regional Museum, she established the Department of Russian Household Life and a collection on the history of the Siberian Highway.

Awards and Recognition

Krasnozhenova received the Gold Medal of the Russian Geographical Society. She died on October 5, 1942, and was buried at the Troitsky Cemetery in Krasnoyarsk.