“Turkestan Collection” – chronicle of the life of the Kazakh people of the XIX-XX centuries

Abstract

Relevance. Among the sources about Kazakhstan, a special place is occupied by the work of the famous bibliographerlocal historian of tsarist Russia V.I. Mezhov “Turkestan collection of works and articles” relating to Central Asia in general and to the Turkestan region in particular. Undoubtedly, the “Turkestan Collection” is a very interesting and very important work for Kazakhstan as a whole, especially for the study of national history, as it can be assessed as one of the first and very successful steps taken to systematically summarize the main Russian and foreign written sources about Kazakhstan in the XIX and early XX centuries. Purpose. This study aims to evaluate the significance of the “Turkestan Collection” in the context of Kazakh national history and journalism. It seeks to explore how this collection has been utilized in historical research and the breadth of information it offers about the Kazakh people and their cultural heritage. Methodology. The research primarily involves a detailed review of the contents of the “Turkestan Collection”, examining the types of documents included and their relevance to various academic fields. The study also considers the historical context in which the collection was assembled and its subsequent use in scholarly works. Results. The “Turkestan Collection” has proven to be a critical asset in historical and cultural studies, providing insights not only into the history of journalism in Kazakhstan but also into the broader socio-cultural dynamics of the XIX-XX centuries. The collection’s diverse materials have supported significant scholarly inquiries and contributed to a deeper understanding of the Kazakh people’s heritage. Conclusions. This study underscores the collection’s continued relevance and potential to inform future academic works. The findings advocate for more comprehensive investigations into the collection to unlock further details about the region’s past and its journalistic endeavors.