Natural history direction of scientific and local history activities of the Crimean (Crimean-Caucasian) Mountain Club

Abstract

Among a number of public-scientific associations of the Black Sea region of Ukraine, the Crimean (Crimean-Caucasian) Mountain Club (CCMC/CCMC) occupies a special place, in particular due to its organizational principles. Established in Odessa in 1890, the club spread its activities throughout the empire and made a considerable contribution to the history of the study and local history development of mountainous regions, primarily Crimea. The article addresses the issue of studying the natural science direction of the scientific and local history activities of the Crimean (Crimean-Caucasian) Mountain Club in the context of general studies of its activities conducted by other researchers. The purpose of the article is to identify and analyze the components of the natural science direction of scientific and local history research carried out by the club. A number of historical sources have been identified and analyzed, which have varying degrees of information content about the manifestations of the natural history and local history activities of the Crimean (Crimean-Caucasian) Mountain Club. Attention has been drawn to the decrease in the number of publications in Ukraine concerning the Crimean (Crimean-Caucasian) Club after 2014. Based on the results of the analysis of historiographic sources, the incompleteness of the studies conducted by predecessors on the specified issues has been determined. The result of the study is the proof of the presence of a fairly significant natural history and local history component in the scientific activities of the Crimean (Crimean-Caucasian) Mountain Club (CCMC) and the identification of its main directions. Some of the scientific works that illustrate the directions of natural history and local history activities have been analyzed. The relevance and significance of the scientific results obtained by members of the Crimean (Crimean-Caucasian) Club to this day have been emphasized. The organizational and scientific activities of the club in the field of creating an infrastructure for natural and local history research are considered. A conclusion is made about the need for further study of the activities of the specified public and scientific association.