Abstract: On July 10, 2024, Alexey Anatolyevich Frolov, Doctor of Historical Sciences, President of the Association "History and Computer", a leading researcher at the Institute of Universal History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a talented scientist and a wonderful person, passed away. His contribution to historical science, in particular in such areas as the source study of Russian history, historical geography and cartography of Russia, as well as historical computer science, is difficult to overestimate. The entire life of the graduate of the Faculty of History of Lomonosov Moscow State University A.A. Frolov was associated with research work in the listed branches of historical science. After graduating from the university, his professional activity began in the Tver region, Torzhok, a significant part of his activities during these years was related to archaeological research.  Within the framework of historical informatics, A.A. Frolov was a unique specialist, combining in his work high qualifications in the field of history with a deep understanding of the essence of information and computer technologies and possession of practical skills in creating databases, Internet sites and digital maps. He raised the issues of creating a repository of historical spatial data and integrating geodata. A.A. Frolov stood at the origins of Russian historical geoinformatics, his contribution to the process of adapting geoinformation systems and technologies for the needs and purposes of historical science is invaluable – ultimately for turning historical geoinformatics into a full-fledged historical research tool. A.A. Frolov actively participated in scientific life, was a regular participant in scientific conferences in Russia and abroad, he is the author of a number of scientific papers that brought him well-deserved fame in the circles of the Russian scientific historical community. In 2022, A.A. Frolov was elected President of the Association "History and Computer", where in a relatively short time he managed to become a leader of the scientific community and earn high prestige not only as a scientist, but also as an organizer of science.

Abstract: The article focused on problems and prospects caused by the rapid development of data science and discusses the opinions and remarks made by the participants of the round table called "Methods and Technologies of Data Science: Its Prospects in Historical Research" held by the editorial board of the "Historical Information Science” journal " and the Association "History and Computer" on July 3, 2020. The round table was attended by over 60 teachers, researchers, as well as students from 5 countries. Online discussions and talks were assisted by Zoom video conferencing service. The participants addressed issues related to the term "data science" itself, artificial intelligence and big data issues. All these were discussed in the light of problems that arise and are solved in the framework of historical research. The speakers addressed the problem of historical sources digitization and text recognition, the opportunities of programming languages (R and Python) use as well as many other issues. The very fact of the round table and its results have demonstrated the undeniable usefulness of the dialogue and the need to develop this form of scientific contacts. It is emphasized that that the development of such a field as "digital historical source studies" is becoming more and more urgent.

Abstract: The article starts a special issue of Historical Information Science journal which addresses a topical and an important impact of the “digital turn” on a historian, methodology and practice of historical research and historical education. These questions were raised when questioning well-known scholars applying mathematical methods and information technologies to historical studies and education who work at various research centers in Russian and abroad. The research novelty is a new approach to evaluate the current state of one of the most popular domains of humanities – history in the context of the “digital turn”. The questionnaire has been drawn up by the editorial staff and the editorial board members of the journal. The focus is the impact of the “digital turn” on historical studies and education, new terms and definitions, ties of historical information science with such domains as digital humanities and “digital history”, the role and the importance of an analytical component in research done by historians using new methods and techniques, the status of “digital sources” as well as the necessity to form a new branch of source studies (“digital source studies”).
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Abstract: The article studies the formation and activity of History and Computer Association (HCA) that is a union of historical information science specialists. The HCA development was accompanied by the formation of historical information science, a historical field employing mathematical methods and computer technologies. The article describes the formation of a new research domain, the main aspects of HCA activity connected to the development of historical information science as well as the main stages of HCA development. The role of the journal “Historical Information Science” for this new domain is emphasized. The research methodology is to analyze the key events and processes of HCA life a scientific community which influenced the formation and development of such a domain as historical information science.
Today the association is a professional community developing a topical interdisciplinary field, historical information science, that is increasingly active. By autumn 2017 about 200 people were HCA members. They represent research centers and universities from Russia, the Republic of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Latvia and the Ukraine.