1. Home
2. Archive
3. 2016
4. 3/2016
5. How the issue of «food allowances» was beingresolved in “girls’ boarding schools” (second half of 19th – beginning of 20th century)

How the issue of «food allowances» was beingresolved in “girls’ boarding schools” (second half of 19th – beginning of 20th century)

Ponomareva V.V.

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of History, Pr. Lomonosovsky, d. 27, 4, Moscow, 119992, Russia

Ponomareva Varvara V., Ph.D., ORCID ID: 0000-0003-1707-2281, e-mail: varvarapon@mail.ru

Abstract

Closed girls’ boarding schools of the Mariinsky establishment, which were privileged institutions catering mostly to the nobility, had laid foundations for the system of women’s education in Russia, and influenced all types of Russian women’s schools and institutions. Despite this, they remain insufficiently studied in the domestic historiography. Mariinsky schools were all boarding schools, so the administration of Mariinsky establishment had to resolve many issues other than educational, such as economic and house keeping; medical; sanitary and hygienical, and others. Mariinsky schools existed for over 150 years, undergoing a significant transformation, aiming to bring up their students in accordance with the changing demands of the time. Particularly important changes occurred during the 60s of the 19th century, during the time of the Great reforms. With the development of natural sciences, notably organic chemistry, a scientific approach to rational nutrition began to form. Traditional society’s belief was that being full was enough for a child, whilst now food was viewed as a complex organic substance, whose elements play a part in the development and functioning of adolescent’s organisms. Mariinsky establishment strove to organise food rations in a way that complied with doctors’ orders as well as with financial limitations of the establishment, which looked after many educational and charitable institutions and was on a strict budget. This article explores the ways in which during the second half of the 19thcentury the schools developed controls of food quality and its preparation; how it became possible to improve food quality, and gives an insight into the products and ingredients used in the kitchens. The article also looks at the examples of good house keeping as well as failings and limitations of nutritional organisation. At the end of the 19th century the Mariinsky establishment began serious work developing scientific foundations of nutrition. A balanced diet for adolescents was formed, with the rationale of the needed amount of calories, protein, fats, carbohydrates etc. In reality, it was very difficult to apply the new programme even in privileged schools, which had royal protection; and the start of First World War saw the changes interrupted. The article is based on the study of a wide variety of sources, some of which are entering the academic sphere for the first time.

Keywords

historical anthropology, culture of daily life, department of Empress Maria establishments, closed girls’ boarding schools, physiology of nourishment

Цит.: Ponomareva V.V. How the issue of «food allowances» was beingresolved in “girls’ boarding schools” (second half of 19th – beginning of 20th century) // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2016; 3/2016; с. 125-134