Description | Papers of Nikolai Pavlovich Shishkin comprising material relating to Balkan, Near Eastern and Far-Eastern affairs, 1834-1902; Shishkin's identification documents including passports and visas, 1880-1914; miscellaneous items, 1826-1898; correspondence, 1859-1902; literary manuscripts, 1796-1892. The literary manuscripts include one of the Russian author, Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol, (1809-1852). |
Administrative History | Nikolai Pavlovich Shishkin served in the diplomatic service of the Russian Imperial Government. He was Consul in Belgrade from 1863; Diplomatic Agent and Consul General in Belgrade, 1868-1875; Envoy in the United States of America, 1875-1880; Envoy in Greece, 1880-1884; Envoy in Sweden and Norway, 1884-1891; Deputy Foreign Minister, 1891-1897; Administrator and Temporary Administrator of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1891-1897.
Reference: Finding aid to the Shishkin Papers |
Custodial History | The papers of Nikolai Pavlovich Shishkin were formerly in the possession of his granddaughter, the daughter of his son, Viktor, who was Russian consul in Liverpool in 1914. A literary agent heard about the archive and passed on information to Serge Wolff, a white Russian emigré. He realised the historical importance of these papers and undertook the task of arranging and cataloguing them and of finding a buyer. Through Wolff's friendship with Michael Glenny, a lecturer in the Centre for Russian and East European Studies, the University of Birmingham received early information of the prospective sale. |