Kniazeff (Alex N.) papers, 1911-1993

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Summary

Title:
Alex N. Kniazeff (Aleksei Nikolaevich Kniazev) papers
Dates:
1911-1993
Creators:
Kniazeff, Alex N., 1909-1993
Abstract:
Correspondence, minutes, financial records, bulletins, personal documents, printed matter, and photographs, relating to the Russian Boy Scouts movement abroad and to Russian émigré affairs. In part, microfilm.
Extent:
52 manuscript boxes, 2 oversize boxes, 17 microfilm reels (13.4 Linear Feet)
Language:
In Russian and English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Alex N. Kniazeff Papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of correspondence, clippings and other matter reflecting Kniazeff's involvement in various émigré organizations. He was a member of the San Francisco Trans-Baikal Cossacks' Stanitza and of the Harbin Polytechnic Alumni Association, and senior scoutmaster of the Natsional'naia Organizatsiia Russkikh Skautov (National Organization of Russian Scouts, or St. George's Knights, as it was incorporated in California). Most of the collection relates to the history of the Russian Boy Scout movement abroad, particularly for the period 1963-1975.

Detailed processing and preservation microfilming for these materials were made possible by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and by matching funds from the Hoover Institution and the Museum of Russian Culture. The grant also provides depositing a microfilm copy in the Hoover Institution Library & Archives. The original materials remain in the Museum of Russian Culture, San Francisco, as its property. A transfer table indicating corresponding box and reel numbers is available at the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

The Hoover Institution assumes all responsibility for notifying users that they must comply with the copyright law of the United States (Title 17 United States Code) and Hoover Rules for the Use and Reproduction of Archival Materials.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1909 August 5 (N.S.)
Born, Tsitsihar, China
1933
Degree, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Harbin Polytechnic Institute, Harbin, China
1935-1948
Scoutmaster, Tientsin, China
Engineering and administrative positions, Kailan Mining Administration, Tientsin, China
1941 April 27
Married Eugenia Smikovska
1949-1951
General Consulting Engineer, International Refugee Organization, Tubabao, Samar, Philippines
1952-1955
Instructor of Russian, U. S. Army Language School, Monterey, California
1955-1958
Instrumentation Designer, Bechtel Corporation, San Francisco, California
1958-1974
Senior Draftsman, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Francisco, California
1959-
Scoutmaster, Natsional'naia organizatsiia rossiiskikh skautov (St. George's Knights)
1993
Died, San Francisco, California

Born at Tsitsikhar station on the Chinese Eastern Railway on 5 August 1909, where his father, an army engineer officer, was stationed, Kniazev spent the first half of his life in China. As his father was transferred to Manchuria station, where he was commandant during the Russian Civil War, and later to Harbin, where he was assistant commandant, A. N. Kniazeff moved with him, graduating from American Methodist College in Harbin in 1927. From 1927 to 1933 he was a student at Harbin Polytechnic Institute, receiving his baccalaureate degree in electrical and mechanical engineering. Simultaneously, he completed a training course at the Russkii Obshchevoinskii soiuz military academy in 1934.

Following his graduation, he moved to Tientsin, where he worked as an engineer for a number of companies until 1945, when he was forced to escape to Shanghai. He was interned at Tubabao refugee camp until January 1951, when he finally arrived in San Francisco. From 1952 to 1955 he was an instructor at the Army Language School in Monterey until he was able to secure employment closer to his field of specialization, first as an instrumentation designer for Bechtel Corporation (1955-1958), and then at Pacific Gas and Electric Company until retirement (1958-1974).

As a member of the Russian boy scouts since 1922 in Harbin, he rose to become Chief Russian Scout of St. George's Knights (Natsional'naia organizatsiia russkikh skautov). Kniazeff died in San Francisco in 1993.

Acquisition information:
Acquired.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Hoover Institution Library and Archives Staff
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-01-31 15:24:11.790306

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Alex N. Kniazeff Papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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