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Petr KeppenRussian Slavist
Country:
 Ukraine |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Connections and Academic Collaborations
- Foreign Travel and International Collaboration
- Geographic and Statistical Studies
- Editorial and Academic Achievements
- Geographic Society and Ethnography
- Archaeological and Historical Contributions
- Legacy and Works
- - "О народных переписях в России" (1889)
Early Life and Education
Petr Ivanovich Keppen was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, in 1793. His father, a German physician from Brandenburg, was one of 30 doctors summoned by Empress Catherine II. Keppen graduated from Kharkiv University with a degree in law and moved to St. Petersburg for government service.
Connections and Academic Collaborations
Through influential connections with former professors Jakob and F. Adelung, Keppen immersed himself in literary and scientific circles. He joined the Society of Lovers of Russian Literature and founded the "Bibliographic Lists," which featured reviews of notable works in Russian and Slavic literature. One article, "Critical Investigation of Cyril and Methodius," drew an accusation of heresy from the Orthodox Church. However, a subsequent investigation exonerated Keppen.
Foreign Travel and International Collaboration
In 1822, Keppen embarked on a journey abroad, where he forged connections with prominent German scholars. He became a bridge between Western Slavists and Russian scholars. From 1826 to 1829, he corresponded with Jan Hanka, Pavel Šafařík, and František Čelakovský, facilitating their potential relocation to St. Petersburg.
Geographic and Statistical Studies
Appointed Assistant Chief Inspector of Sericulture in 1829, Keppen resided in Crimea until 1834. As part of his duties, he surveyed the vast region between the Volga and Dniester rivers, amassing valuable data on geography and natural history.
Editorial and Academic Achievements
In 1834, Keppen returned to St. Petersburg to edit the German-language "St. Petersburg News." He resumed correspondence with Slavic scholars, receiving updates on their literary endeavors. In 1837, he became an Adjunct of the Academy of Sciences in statistics and was commissioned to audit state properties in Tavricheskaya Province. In 1843, he was elected as a Full Academician.
Geographic Society and Ethnography
Keppen was a founding member of the Imperial Geographic Society in 1845. His statistical and geographic research extended to Russia's population, ethnic groups, and geographic distribution. He compiled the significant "Ethnographic Map of Russia" in 1851.
Archaeological and Historical Contributions
Keppen's archaeological investigations focused on the southern coast of Crimea and the Tavricheskie Mountains. His bibliographic and educational works included "Materials for the History of Education in Russia," which provided an overview of Russian literature and a record of bibliographic publications.
Legacy and Works
Keppen's notable publications include:- "Russlands Gesammtbevolkerung im Jahre 1838" (1843)
- "Über die Dichtigkeit der Bevolkerung in den Provinzen des europaischen Russlands" (1845)
- "Девятая ревизия. Исследование о числе жителей в России в 1851 г." (1857)
- "Statistische Reise in's Land der Doniscneh Kasacken durch die Gouvernements Tula, Orel und Woronesh im Jahre 1850" (1852)
- "О народных переписях в России" (1889)
- "Finnland in ethnographischer Bezeihung" (1846)- "Der Litthauische Volksstamm" (1851)
- "О древностях южного берега Крыма и гор Таврических" (1837)
- "Материалы для истории просвещения в России" (1819-1827)
Keppen's pioneering contributions to Russian statistics, geography, and ethnography have left a lasting impact on the fields. His emphasis on accurate population counts, detailed geographic descriptions, and cultural diversity helped shape the understanding of Russia's vast territory and its people.
