My studies at the Imperial University and the historic building of the Twelve Collegia - St. Petersburg Imperial University (St. Petersburg State University now).

I was a student of Mathematics Department of  St. Petersburg Imperial University in 1900-1913. 

Visiting  of the University was not necessary for students.  We have established the timetable of visiting our classes  ourselves. The students  could not visit there university  over the years.  I had not practical classes on my Department  of  Mathematics in St. Petersburg.

It  was very interesting to study at the Imperial University  and I wanted to be a good mathematician.

The Saint Petersburg Imperial  University Seal

The Saint Petersburg Imperial  University

was Established in  1724.

The historic building of the Twelve Collegia (The Saint Petersburg State University now).
                                            

This is the corridor is the Twelve Collegia.

It evoked the continued admiration of all visitors, past and present century. Thus, the guest of St. - Petersburg State University, wrote in the journal "Contemporary" (1838, Vol X): "The most remarkable is the University Gallery. Its large picture windows, shining parquet, purity and taste of the furniture, the infinite length of it are something unique in its kind. There's never been in any public institution in Europe such ornaments of the temple of Science. "

In the central part of the building were built the main entrance and stairway, the church was consecrated June 29, 1837 in the name of the Apostles Peter and Paul, two tiers of windows solemn assemblies Hall (now the Assembly Hall), with choirs and columns made ​​of artificial marble.

Hall has witnessed many, including political, events. Anti-government rallies crowded student orientation is held, inter alia, in September-October 1861, in February 1881, in February 1899, in March 1901 and February 1903, February and October 1905, November 1910, February 1917, for example, March 18, 1903, from 12 to 2 o'clock in this room held violent student assembly. Rector of the University Professor of Civil Law and Procedure A.H.Golsisten wrote in a memo: "The participants are not allowed to speak to Mr or the Trustee, neither I nor Mr. Inspector. Classes at the University suspended. Perpetrators will be brought to a professional disciplinary tribunal." February 7, 1905 there was a mass gathering of students, which was torn to pieces and the center of the room hung a portrait of Tsar Nicholas II and damaged a portrait of Alexander III. Head of the St. Petersburg Police Department on this issue reported that the public sees it as undermining the credibility of the government, attempting to "the laws of the consecrated form of government."

The Twelve Collegia building on Vasilievsky Island in Saint Petersburg is the 

university's main building now.

 Panorama of University Building from Neva River (1861).

The Twelve Collegia building (University Building) as it appears on a 1753 engraving.

Peter the Great planned to build a New Venice on Vasiljevsky Island. There were  built a lot of   channels, which were later buried (in the middle of XVIII century).

The English embankment in front of The Twelve Collegia building in 1801.

Saint Petersburg State University now.
This is the view from the University embarkment of Neva river.

 

The Twelve Collegia building as it appears on a 1753 engraving.

View of the Building 12 area colleges and Vasilevsky Island, Hermitage



This information is taken from the diary of Adrian Fedorovich Timofeev (1882-1954) – the mathematician, socialist, revolutionary, financier and banker.

The full text of diary is on :

opentextnn.ru/history/familisarchives/Timofeyevs_family_Archives/Adrian_Timo