Abstract: On the basis of archival sources introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, the issues of preparation, the peculiarities of conducting the census of the urban population of the Tobolsk province in 1917 are revealed, and its results are analyzed. The census materials were in demand to coordinate the food issue, supply the population with food, the urban economy as a whole, and prepare for elections to the Constituent Assembly and local authorities.
In the study of the processes of formation of urban settlements and their transformation, various methodological approaches are traced. In this regard, the modernization theory of social development is of interest, where, according to the concept, urbanization is considered through the prism of demographic processes primarily in cities. The work is based on the materials of the 1917 urban census in the Tobolsk province. To analyze documentary sources, a set of statistical methods was used, as well as historical-genetic, historical-comparative, historical-typological research methods, methods of graphical representation of the obtained statistical data.
Based on newly introduced and published sources of population statistics. The author made the following conclusions: despite the presence of general instructions, there are specific features in the preparation and conduct of the census associated with tight deadlines, lack of qualified personnel and other reasons; the results obtained, although they had a number of drawbacks, suggest an increase in the proportion of the alien population, a decrease in the number of males due to mobilization to the front.
The author made the following conclusion: despite the presence of general instructions, there are specific features in the preparation and conduct of the census associated with tight deadlines, lack of qualified personnel and other reasons.

Abstract: In the modern world, the Arctic region retains its important strategic importance. Close interest in the formation and development of a network of settlements in the polar countries can be traced in modern research. The purpose of the work is to trace the influence of modernization processes on the transformation of the settlement network on the example of the Yamalo-Nenets National District in the 1920s and 1930s. The object is the settlement network of the studied region, the subject is its spatial and quantitative characteristics. The analysis of the data obtained takes into account the influence of natural, geographical, socio-economic and other conditions for the development of a network of settlements. In the study of the processes of settlement network formation and its transformation, various methodological approaches are traced. In this regard, the modernization theory of social development is of interest, where, according to the concept, urbanization is viewed through the prism of not only demographic, but settlement processes in both cities and rural areas. The work is based on the materials of the Circumpolar Census of 1926-1927 and the All-Union Census of 1939. To analyze documentary sources, a set of statistical methods was used, as well as historical-genetic, historical-comparative, historical-typological research methods, methods of graphical representation of the obtained statistical data. Based on the newly introduced and published sources of statistical accounting of the population of the Yamalo-Nenets National District, the influence of modernization processes on the development of the settlement network is traced. The factors contributing to the growth of the number of settlements have been identified. In 1939, the national settlements of the indigenous inhabitants of the tundra were the most numerous – out of 222 settlements, almost half were yurts (107), more than a quarter (44) were trading posts. During the 1920s and 1930s, new features in the settlement network of the district can be traced on the territory of the district: the district center was transformed into a city; the number of working settlements increased; new types of settlements appeared, most of their names reflected the features of industrial and economic activity (fishing, fish patch, sand, St. John's wort, forest patch, state farm, farm, weather station, radio station). Thus, against the background of the preservation of the complexity of the economic life of the population and the traditional types of settlement, some features of urbanization were traced.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the cultural and educational work in Tobolsk special detention center (detention facility for political prisoners) during the 1920’s. The objectives and content are determine by the Penal Code of 1924. The organization of curricular and extracurricular activity in the extreme conditions of incarceration has its own peculiarities, associated with multiple factors: number of prisoners, incarceration conditions, material resources, qualified teaching staff, theatre administration, etc. The article explores the questions of organization of schools, libraries, educational, professional, literary, music, theatre groups, and prison theatre. History of this penitentiary facility is not fully covered in the modern historiography. Precepts of the Penal Code of 1924 pertaining to organization of cultural and educational work has not become the subject of special research. The administration of detention facility for political prisoners observed the formal aspect of the problem: created an educational-custodial division, opened a school, library, various interest groups, maintained a theatre, published a newspaper. Similar to other prisons in the country, the results of work were negatively affected by the weak resource base, lack of financing, teaching personnel and specially trained instructor for the professional training of prisoners. The extreme incarceration conditions required the development of new approaches and methods for accomplishing set objectives.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the living conditions of inmates in the only maximum security prison in Western Siberia. This implies the pattern of daily routine for satisfying physiological needs of a human. The article examines the following questions: dynamics of the number of inmates and related to it and other factors living conditions; peculiarities of funding and providing prisoners with food, clothes and living essentials; rendering of medical aid; and acquisition of spiritual wealth. The scientific novelty is defined by the fact that the history of Tobolsk maximum security prison became the subject of special research. The introduction into scientific discourse of archival documents allows circumstantiating the elements of daily routine of inmates, set of methods and approaches, as well as vies these processes from the standpoint of understanding the severe everyday life. The conclusion is made that the organization of the inmates’ dality routine of Tobolsk maximum security prison had the same flaws as the penitentiary system of the 1920’s overall: weak financial base, number of prisoners that exceeds normative indexes, unsatisfactory provision with food and living essentials, low level of medical services.