67. TELEGRAM TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SIMBIRSK SOVIET^[1]

Written on April 20, 1918 · First published on January 19, 1928, in the newspaper Proletarsky Put (Ulyanovsk) No. 16. Printed from the original. · page 79

Chairman of the Soviet
Simbirsk

Inform me by telegram of the circumstances and conditions of election of heads of Chuvash teachers’ seminaries for men and women. I am interested in the fate of Inspector Ivan Yakovlevich Yakovlev, who has worked for fifty years for the advance of the Chuvash people and suffered persecution from tsarism. I think Yakovlev should not be torn away from his life’s work.^[2]

Lenin
Chairman, Council of People’s Commissars

Notes

[1] At the top of the document Lenin wrote: “Please send the bill for this telegram to me personally.”—Ed.

[2] I. Y. Yakovlev established the first Chuvash school in the city of Simbirsk (now Ulyanovsk), the birthplace of Lenin. He compiled the first Chuvash alphabet and primer, and did a great deal towards educating the Chuvash people.

In reply to his inquiry Lenin received a telegram on May 4, 1918, saying that Yakovlev continued as chairman of the courses and seminary for women.