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People > Notable Norkans > Alexander Augustovich Klaus

Alexander Augustovich Klaus

Alexander Augustovich Klaus was one of the most notable and accomplished Volga Germans. He was born in Norka on December 13, 1829, the son of August Klaus, the church organist and sexton (a member of the congregation who maintained the church properties). 

A. A. Klaus was Chief of the Division of Colonial Affairs in the Ministry of State Property and prior to that served as Chief of the Saratov Kontora of Foreign Settlers. Klaus sharply criticized the activity of the Volga clergy which created a storm of discontent with the local pastors and complaints about him in St. Petersburg. As a result, Klaus was fired from the ministry. 

Klaus was the author of the the book Nashi Kolonii (Our Colonies) which was originally published in the Russian language in 1869. As the centennial year of the Mennonite sojourn in Russia approached in 1889, Mennonites began to develop an appreciation of their history. This prompted the wealthy miller Jacob Toews to translate Klaus’ book into German as Unsere Kolonien: Studien und Materialien zur Geschichte und Statistik der ausländischen Kolonisation in Russland. The translation omitted some chapters and appendices that were outdated by 1887. The book was published by Verlag der Odessaer Zeitung in Odessa, Russia.

Klaus published several articles in the magazine Herald of Europe. 

Alexander Augustovich Klaus died on January 7, 1887.
Picture
Title page from the book "Unsere Kolonien" by A.A. Klaus

Sources

http://wolgadeutsche.net/lexikon/_Klaus.htm

Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online (April 15, 2017)

Dietz, Jacob E. History of the Volga German Colonists. Lincoln, Neb.: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Printed by Augstums Printing Service, 2005. Print.

Sinner, Peter, Der Deutsche im Wolgalande. Saratov: 1926. This source states that Klaus was born in Norka.

Cherkazyanova IV Transmission of German schools to the Ministry of Education: the problem of relations between the state,church and society / / Proceedings of the XI International Conference. Moscow, November 1-3, 2006. M., 2007, sec. 142-143;

Adelman NY Pavel Ivanovich Bakhmetev: One of the mysteries of the Russian revolutionary movement / / revolutionary situation in Russia in 1859-1861 years. - Moscow: Nauka, 1965.t. IV, sec. 387-398;

Schmidt, D. Studien über die Geschichte der Wolgadeutschen. Erster Teil. Seit der Einwanderung bis zum Imperialistischen Weltkriege. Zentral-Völker-Verlag, Pokrowsk: 1930, S. 295, Fußnote 2.
Last updated February 23, 2022
Copyright © 2002-2023 Steven H. Schreiber
  • Home
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    • Homesites
    • Geographical Description
    • Government
    • Social Structure
    • Health
    • Education
    • A Land of Ethnic Diversity
    • Cottage Industries >
      • Sarpinka
      • Mills
    • Language
    • Population
    • Military Service
    • Crime and Punishment
  • History
    • Timeline
    • Origins of the Colonists
    • Catherine's Manifesto 1763
    • Why go to Russia?
    • Recruitment 1766
    • Planning 1764-1766
    • Marriages Prior To Emigration 1766
    • Voyage to Russia 1766 >
      • Ship Transport 1766
    • Journey 1766-1767
    • Founding of Norka 1767
    • Early Years 1767-1769
    • Norka 1769
    • Pallas Report 1773
    • Pugachev Raid 1774
    • Norka 1775
    • Norka 1798
    • Norka 1811
    • Napoleons Soldiers
    • Norka 1834
    • Daughter Colonies 1850s >
      • Neu-Norka
      • Oberdorf
      • Brunnental
      • Rosenfeld (am Jeruslan)
      • Neu Hussenbach (Gaschon)
    • Privileges Lost 1871-1874
    • Immigration 1875-1924 >
      • To the United States >
        • Colorado
        • Ft Collins Colorado
        • Globeville Colorado
        • Mason City, Iowa
        • Culbertson, Nebraska
        • Lincoln, Nebraska
        • Sutton, Nebraska
        • Burlington, Oklahoma
        • Weatherford, Oklahoma
        • Canby, Oregon
        • Portland, Oregon
      • To Canada >
        • Duffield, Alberta
        • Ponoka, Alberta
        • Spruce Grove, Alberta
        • Stony Plain, Alberta
        • Vegreville, Alberta
        • Arcola, Saskatchewan
      • To Germany
      • To South America
    • Famine 1891-1892
    • Norka 1898
    • War & Turnoil 1904-1906
    • World War 1914-1918
    • Revolution & War 1917-1922
    • Soviet Rule 1918-1941
    • Famine 1921-1924
    • Famine 1932-1933
    • The Great Terror 1936-1938
    • Deportation 1941
    • Repression 1941-1956
    • Cultural Loss 1957-2006
    • A Culture in Peril
    • Recent Times
  • Traditions
    • Food and Drink
    • Clothing
    • Holidays >
      • New Year
      • Fastnacht
      • Lent
      • Easter
      • Ascension Day
      • Pentecost
      • Founder's Day
      • Harvest Festival
      • Jahrmarkt
      • Christmas
      • Anniversaries & Birthdays
    • Crafts
    • Games
    • Folk Medicine
    • Superstitions
    • Nicknames
    • Folk Music
    • Church Music
    • Prayers
    • Baptism
    • Confirmation
    • Communion
    • Weddings
    • Funerals and Burials
  • Religion
    • Planning and History >
      • Norka Reformed Church 1767-1864
      • 1909 Norka Parish Report
    • Pastors >
      • Johann Heinrich Fuchs
      • Johann Georg Herwig
      • Johannes Baptista Cattaneo
      • Lukas Cattaneo
      • Emanuel Grunauer
      • Friedrich Börner
      • Christian Gottlieb Hegele
      • Christoph H Bonwetsch
      • Gottlieb N Bonwetsch
      • Wilhelm Staerkel
      • Woldemar Sibbul
      • David Weigum
      • Friedrich Alexander Wacker
      • Emil Pfeiffer
    • Church Practices >
      • Parochial Certificates
    • Church Buildings
    • Church Organs
    • Bell Tower
    • Brethren Movement
  • Resources
    • Family Research
    • Research Resources >
      • Arrival Records 1766
      • Descendant Charts
      • German EWZ Records
      • Soviet Gulag Records
    • Maps
    • Glossary
    • Bibliography
    • Periodicals >
      • Die Welt-Post Letters
    • Related Links