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Russian Studies in the Pacific Northwest

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2017

Ivar Spector*
Affiliation:
The University of Washington

Extract

Because of the great transformation of Asiatic Russia in recent years, and the rapid development of Alaska during the present war, the Pacific Northwest is so placed geographically that it should occupy a prominent place in the field of Russian studies in the years to come. Even before this war began, there was every indication here of increased interest in the Russian field, particularly as it pertained to the Far East.

Although, academically speaking, there were several desultory attempts to begin the study of Russian here in the Northwest at an earlier date, the permanent foundation of Russian studies was laid at the University of Washington in 1931 – significantly enough, the year the Japanese entered Manchuria. In the academic year 1931–1932, during the Winter and Spring Quarters, a course in Russian literature was offered in the English Department at the University. From the beginning it attracted a good enrollment. Since that time, including the Summer Session and Extension Service, in round figures, nearly 1000 students have taken Russian literature.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies 1944

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References

1 By Ivar Spector (Revised Edition, James, Kerns & Abbott, Portland, Oregon, 1944).

2 By Ivar Spector (Revised and Enlarged Edition, The Caxton Printers, Ltd., Caldwell, Idaho, June, 1943).

3 Since the writing of this article, the Rockefeller Foundation has made a grant of $75,000 for Far Eastern and Slavic Studies at the University of Washington. It is also of interest to note that Washington High School, Portland, Oregon, has recently introduced a Russian language course in its regular daily curriculum.