Bureaucracy of the Telegraph Office of the Russian Empire (1842–1864)

The purpose of this article is to examine the human content of one of the central communications management bodies of the Russian Empire, the Telegraphic Department. The paper shows the evolution of the small Telegraphic Department of the Department of Military Settlements of the Ministry of War into a full-fledged Telegraphic Department of the Main Directorate of Communications and Public Buildings. At the beginning of the 19th century, the optical telegraph was under the jurisdiction of the military department, and its staff was in the Department of Military Settlements. The advent of new telegraphic lines required an expansion of staff. Therefore, special telegraphic companies appeared to service the optical telegraph. The development of optical and the planned establishment of an electric telegraph required more and more specialists. In 1842, the Telegraph Department was removed from the Ministry of War and transferred to the General Directorate of Railways and Public Buildings. On the basis of memoir sources, an attempt has been made to give brief characteristics to the heads of the telegraphic department. These include the heads of railways and public buildings, P.A. Kleinmichel, K.V. Chevkin, as well as the first director of the Telegraph Office, L.I. Gergart. The novelty of the research is seen in the fact that the authors reveal and clarify previously unknown aspects of the functioning of Telegraphic Management. New data from archival sources have been introduced into scientific circulation. The peculiarities of the formation and formation of the personnel of the telegraphic department are revealed. The ways of recruitment and social policy of the department are marked. The evolution of the form of Telegraphic management clothing is considered. The results of a comparative analysis of the number and financial situation of officials of the Telegraph Department and the Postal Department are presented.