Aleksandr Butakov papers, 1869-1914

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Butakov, Aleksandr, 1881-1914
Title
Aleksandr Butakov papers
Dates
1869-1914 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.23 cubic feet (1 box)
Collection Number
6080 (Accession No. 6080-001)
Summary
Personal papers, photographs, war communiques, and correspondence of Aleksandr Butakov, a Russian naval officer during World War I.
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access.

Languages
Russian, English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Aleksandr Butakov was born in 1881 to Vera Vassilevna Davu(y)doff and Rear Admiral Ivan Ivanovich Butakov, and was one of the last of the famous Butakov marine officer dynasty. Tsar Alexander III served as Aleksandr Butakov's godfather at his christening. Aleksandr grew up in St. Petersburg. In 1902 he graduated from the Marine Corps. His title was Naval Officer, Senior Lietenant Aleksandr Ivanovich Butakov, commander of the 4th company. He served on the Imperial yacht Standhart, and was one of the closest Naval officers to the Imperial Family. Aleksandr was one of Tsar Nicholas II's favorite walking companions, referenced frequently in the Tsar's diary. Alexander was married to Aina Ottovna Lindholm, daugher of famous Swedish shipbuilder, Otto Lindholm. Aleksandr and Aina had one son, Nikita born May 9, 1908. In December 14, 1914, during World War I, Butakov was killed during military action near Vyschegrod, Germany. He was deeply mourned by the Royal Family, the Empress Alexandra sending a telegram of grief and sympathy to Aleksandr's wife, Aina Butakova. The Tsar, his daughters GD Olga Nikolaevna and GD Tatiania Nolaevna, as well as The Dowager Empress Maria Fedorovna, the Dowager Queen of Greece, and two sisters of the Tsar all attended Aleksandr's funeral in St. Petersburg. He was survived by his wife, Aina Lindholm Butakova and his son, Nikita Butakov who emigrated from Vladivostok to Hong Kong, and later to San Francisco. By 1930, they were living in New York City where Nikita worked as a bank teller and where Aina died in 1971. Nikita died in Spokane, Washington in 1974.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Personal papers, photographs, war communiques, and correspondence of Aleksandr Butakov, a Russian naval officer during World War I.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Dr. Ann L. Putnam (University of Puget Sound), 2017-02-10

Custodial History

The Butakov papers were among the personal papers left to the donor by her father, Dr. Homer F. Cunningham. He had been an American history professor at Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington. The donor speculates that Aleksandr Butakov's only child, Nikita, may have come into contact with Cunningham and passed along the papers but it is unclear how they would have met. It is known that Nikita lived in Spokane for a time before he died in 1974.

Separated Materials

Material Described Separately:

Aleksandr Butakov Photograph Collection (PH1453)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1 Field report
Official report outlining the battle of December 16, 1914 near Vyshchegrod
1914
1/2 Field communiques book
Aleksandr Butakov's reports from the field between August and December of 1914; Most are reports to Butakov's superior officer(s)
1914
1/2 Passport 1907
1/3 Service record and enrollment in nobility
1/4 Marriage certificate
Certificate shows that Aleksandr Butakov and Aina Lindholm were married in Tokyo in 1907
1907
1/5 Field report
Report on the death of Aleksandr Butakov in battle dated December 16, 1914
1914
1/6 Medical report
Report from the field on the injuries and death of Sr. Lt. Butakov dated December 15, 1914
1914
1/7 Testimony of birth
Document providing testimony of the birth of Aleksandr Butakov
1902
1/8 Marriage certificate
Copy of marriage certificate with signatures of witnesses dated January 8, 1907
1907
1/9 Birth certificate
Certificate of Nikita Butakov's birth on May 28, 1908
1908
1/10 Membership certificate
Aina Butakov, widow of Aleksandr Butakov, receives certificate of membership in the gentry class
1/11 Letter from Aleksandr Butakov to his son Nikita 1914
1/12 Marriage certificate 1907
1/13 Condolence telegram
Telegram from Tsarina Aleksandra (wife of Tsar Nikolai) expressing condolences on the death in battle of Aleksandr Butakov
circa 1914
1/14 Article
McClure Newspaper Syndicate article written by Aina Butakov (sp. Butakoff) in English about how she rescued and kept hidden from the Red Army the Tsar's son, Alexi's, spaniel.
1/15 Certificate of induction into nobility
Certificate of induction into nobility of Aleksandr Butakov
1896
1/16 Enrollment of Aina Butakov and son, Nikita, into the rolls of the gentry in Kostroma 1915
1/17 Death certificate
Certificate of death of Aleksandr Butakov in battle and payment to widow
1914
1/18 Birth certificate of Aleksandr Butakov 1881

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Battles--Russia
  • Men--Russia

Personal Names

  • Butakov, Aleksandr, 1881-1914--Archives
  • Butakov, Aleksandr, 1881-1914--Family

Corporate Names

  • Russia. Voennyĭ flot--Officers

Form or Genre Terms

  • Ephemera
  • Personal correspondence
  • Records (Documents)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)