Abstract: Based on the analysis of mass sources – archival documents of the First General Population Census of the Russian Empire in 1897 and information published by the Tobolsk Provincial Statistical Committee for 1903 and 1909, the number, typical diversity, and population of settlements formed in the exclusion zone of the Perm-Tyumen and West Siberian railways on the territory of the Tobolsk province is determined.
A set of statistical methods was used to analyze the sources. A comprehensive interdisciplinary approach allows not only to identify the historical and genetic features of individual documents, but also to give a certain assessment of their representativeness and information potential for specific historical research.
Intensive construction of railways has led to the emergence of new types of settlements: stations, independent settlements at stations and on the railway line, barracks and semi-barracks, booths, barracks, guard houses, etc. In 1897, at least 128 railway settlements were functioning on the territory of the province, which was about 2.5% of the total number of all settlements in the studied region. More than two thousand people lived in them permanently and temporarily; on average, there were 18 people per settlement. The major settlements were the Tyumen and Kurgan stations. It is concluded that the primary materials of the 1897 census have the most complete information. In connection with the further construction of the Trans-Siberian railway at the beginning of the XX century, there is an increase in the population of stations and pier settlements, their merger, the emergence of new types of railway settlements.

Abstract: The object of this research is the persona of N. L. Skalozubov – agronomist of Tobolsk governorate, public and political figure, breeder, and scholar. The subject of this research is his social circle during the period of being a deputy to the State Duma of the 2nd and 3rd convocations. The goal is to examine the relationships between the deputy N. L. Skalozubov and former colleagues, like-minded people, representatives of science, government, family, and friends. Special attention is given to his participation in the lives of political exiles. The article employs the published and unpublished sources, preserved in the Tobolsk State Archive and Tobolsk Historical and Architectural Reserve Museum (correspondence, memoirs, diaries).. The scientific novelty is defined by the fact that the circle of contacts of the deputy N. L. Skalozubov becomes the subject of special study for the first time. The author concludes that during the five years as a deputy to the State Duma of the 2nd and 3rd convocations, N. L. Skalozubov communicated with numerous people belonging to various social classes, including prominent scientists, public figures, and politicians.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the everyday life of political prisoners of Tobolsk Governorate in the extreme conditions of isolation, including routine and behavioral aspects. Everyday life is characterized with routineness and repetitiveness. In the conditions restriction of practically all spheres of life and total control of prison authorities, the political captives were forced to adjust to the unnatural circumstances and constantly search for the ways of physical and psychical survival. The author examines the following questions: living and sanitary-hygienic conditions of incarceration of political prisoners, daily schedule, arrangement of free time, regime changes affected by various factors, struggle of prisoners against toughening of regime, application of disciplinary sanctions and interpersonal relations among them. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that the author is first to characterize the routine of political prisoners of Tobolsk Governorate in the context of extreme conditions of everyday life, which allows to get having a new perspective on the events taking place in the region during the late-imperial period. It is concluded that separate categories of political prisoners had a number of privileges if compared to criminal offenders. The majority of penitentiary facilities of Tobolsk Governorate were characterized by overcrowding and anti-sanitary state of prison wards, insufficient supply of food, clothes and footgear. To a large extent, the conditions depended on country’s domestic political situation, policy of prisoner authorities, peculiarities of adaptation of political prisoners to extreme conditions, and their commitment to achieving goals.