Смо́льный институт благородных девиц / The Smolny Institute of Noble Maidens - 1900s

Россия на дореволюционных фотографиях Смо́льный институт благородных девиц Санкт-Петербург 1900-e Russia in pre-revolutionary photographs The Smolny Institute of Noble Maidens St. Petersburg 1900s Music: Barcarole by S. m. Lyapunov The institute of the noble maidens of St. Petersburg is the first women’s educational institution in Russia , which marked the beginning of women’s education in the country. The first state institution in Europe for teaching girls.. Originally it was called the “Imperial Educational Society of Noble Maidens”. It was founded on the initiative of I. I. Betsky and in accordance with a decree signed by Catherine II on May 5 ( 16 ), 1764 . This society, as stated in the decree, was created in order to “give the state educated women, good mothers, and useful members of the family and society.” The name Smolny came from the Smolny Palace, built in 1729 by Peter I near the village of Smolny, in which there was a tar factory.......