ABSTRACT
In late October 1917 George Vernadskyl journeyed from Perm, where he had taken a teaching position in September, to Petrograd in order to defend his dissertation on freemasonry in eighteenth-century Russia.2 He found Petrograd a "gloomy" city, living "in anticipation of the approaching tragedy." Despite the circumstances, his greatest concern was that he was distracted from his preparations for the defense by a futile search for the proper attire: his frock coat violated the tradition of wearing dress tails to a defense. With the days growing short in the northern capital, and people "afraid to walk the streets, especially at night, when all sorts of bandits" were active, Vernadsky was pleasantly surprised that a respectable crowd turned out to witness his defense.3 In addition to the official participants, a certain N.P. Kiselev made "several interesting observations" about Masonic mysticism, and there were brief remarks by two or three other people in the audience. After the history faculty had unanimously confirmed Vernadsky's degree, the official party repaired to the apartment of
Vemadsky's parents for a celebration.4 The supply situation in the capital was such that any food around "quickly disappeared" from the shelves. Nevertheless, his mother managed to provide all the essentials--"tea, sandwiches, sweets and wine. There was even champagne." Joined by AIeksandr Presniakov and the entire complement of his former "circle of young historians," Vemadsky and his family basked in the "warm and friendly" atmosphere which reigned in the wake of his successful dissertation defense.
