Chronicle of Voronsky’s Life

Early Years

• 1884, August 27 (September 8)
  Born in Khoroshavka, in the Tambov area, the first child of Konstantin Osipovich Voronsky, the village priest, and Feodosiia Gavrilovna, his wife.
• 1889?
  When Konstantin Osipovich dies, Feodosiia Gavrilovna moves to Dobrinka, in the Lipetsk Province, with her two children, Larisa and Aleksandr.
• 1900
  Finishes the 1st Tambov Religious School and enrolls in the Tambov Seminary.
• ?
  Helps organize an illegal library of almost 200 books for the seminary students.
• 1904
  While a seminary student, joins the Bolshevik Party in Tambov.

Party Life 1904-1917

• 1904
  While a seminary student in Tambov, joins the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social-Democratic Labor Party.
• 1905, March 26
  Leads a student rebellion at the Seminary. Is expelled for "political unreliability."
• 1905, July-August
  Travels to Khoroshavka; meets V. P. Nogin, a leading Bolshevik, who gives him address of contacts in Petersburg.
• 1905
  Goes to Petersburg, where he meets Mar’ia I. Ul’ianova (Lenin’s sister) and the worker, Sergei Malyshev. The latter tries to pursuade the young expelled seminarian to return to Tambov; Voronsky stays.
• 1905, Fall
  Lives in Petersburg apartment known as "Senia Markov’s Commune." Carries out party assignments with Sem’en Vasil’evich Markov, Aleksandr Mikhailovich Buiko and Mikhail V. Bogdanov among Putilov factory workers.
• 1905, November 16/29
  Sees Lenin for first time at meeting of St. Petersburg Party workers held in the main hall of the Free Economic Society, where Lenin gives a report: "Criticism of the Agrarian Program of the Socialist-Revolutionary Party."
• 1906, August 27
  Party meeting in Terioki organized by Petersburg committee of the RSDLP. Disagrees with Lenin, who was against boycott of the Duma.
• 1906, September 14
  Arrested together with Markov, Buiko, and Bogdanov at Markov’s apartment. Voronsky sentenced to one year of solitary confinement in Petersburg’s "Kresty" prison. Finishes last two months in a Tambov prison.
• 1907, August
  Released from Tambov prison. Goes to Moscow.
• 1907, August-October
  Heads the Vladimir area party committee. Works closely with Pavel Stepanovich Baturin, Sergei Ivanovich Gul’shin, and Aleksandr Alekseevich Novosadov.
• 1907, October 26
  Arrested for second time in Vladimir. Sentenced to exile for two years. While in Vladimir prison, meets Mikhail V. Frunze, who had been sentenced to death.
• 1908, February
  Exiled to Yarensk in the Vologda province. On way to Yarensk meets his future wife, Serafima Solomonovna Pesina, also a young Bolshevik.
• 1908
  In Yarensk, meets Vadim Podbelsky, a Bolshevik from Tambov. Other exiles in Yarensk: Ivan Fioletov, Petr Rovner, Mikhail Lashevich.
• 1909, October 1
  Podbelsky and Voronsky publish first issue of journal, "Yarensk Colony of Political Prisoners."
• 1910
  After finishing exile, travels to Moscow. Becomes secretary of the Moscow Trade Union of Tanners. Flees to Tambov to avoid arrest.
• 1910
  On mother’s advice moves to Saratov. Soon joins Mar’ia Ul’ianova and Stanislav S. Krzhizhanovsky in forming a central provincial group of Bolsheviks.
• 1911, spring
  Helps organize number of major strikes in Saratov’s factories and railways.
• 1911, mid-May
  Sent to south to avoid arrest in Saratov. Travels to Evpatoriia, where Serafima Pesina is living.
• 1911
  Under the name "Nurmin," publishes articles in "Evpatoriiskie novosti" and in Odessa’s "Yasnaia zaria," edited by Vatslav V. Vorovsky.
• 1911, September
  Moves to Nikolaev. Is joined there by Leonid Serebriakov. Rebuilds party cells in area.
• 1911, December?
  Elected as delegate from Saratov to Prague conference.
• 1912, January 5-17
  One of 18 delegates to the Prague Conference of the Bolshevik Party. Takes the minutes of the conference. Speaks strongly for a mass daily workers’ newspaper.
• 912, January
  Returns to Russia as representative of the Central Committee, entrusted with giving reports in Nikolaev, Odessa, and Saratov, before heading to Petersburg for underground work.
• 1912, before March 12
  Speaks before three party meetings in Nikolaev.
• 1912, April
  Visits Vorovsky in Odessa. Reports on Prague Conference at two gatherings of Bolsheviks on April 12-14 and April 15.
• 1912, May 8
  Arrested in Saratov, along with Ul’ianova and Krzhizhanovsky, and exiled for three years to the village of Kem in the Arkhangelsk region.
• 1912-1914
  Exile in Kem. Sentence shortened by one year as partial amnesty granted during 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty.
• 1914, September 22
  Exile period ends; three days later leaves for Tambov with his wife and newborn daughter, Galina.
• 1915-1916
  Lives in Ekaterinoslav.

Odessa and Saratov 1917-1918

• 1917, March-April
  Chairman of the Collegium of the Odessa Executive Committee of the Council of Workers’ Deputies.
• 1917, April - February 1918
  Member of the Odessa Executive Committee
• 1917, 10 May
  Attends the First Congress of the Soviets of Soldiers, Sailors, Workers, and Peasant Deputies of the Rumanian Front, the Black Sea Fleet and the Odessa Military District (Rumcherod). Kerensky, Kolchak and Verkhovsky are present. Voronsky speaks on behalf of the Bolsheviks.
• 1917, 26 May
  Speaks at public meeting: "I will be defending Lenin’s point of view."
• 1917, 6 July
  First issue of the Bolshevik newspaper, "Golos proletariia" [Voice of the Proletariat], with Voronsky as one of the editors.
• 1917, 6 September
  Gives report "On the Current Moment" at a plenary session of the Odessa Soviet. A resolution is passed condemning the coalition government.
• 1917, 25 October
  At a joint session of the Executive Committee of the Odessa Soviet, announces that the Petrograd garrison and Soviet have begun an uprising. Calls for support only for the Congress of Soviets.
• 1917, 19 November
  Speaks at a conference of representatives of the Soviets of Workers and Peasant Deputies "On the Organization of a Central Regime and [Our] Attitude toward the Government of Lenin and Trotsky." Opposes the chairman of the Executive Committee of Rumcherod, Rozenblat.
• 1917, 10 December
  Second Congress of Rumcherod. Voronsky assists Volodarsky with several speeches.
• 1918, 10-18 January
  Participates in the III All-Russian Congress of Soviets in Petrograd. Voronsky and Degot advise Lenin on telegram from Odessa stating that, after three days of fighting, power had passed into the hands of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviets of the Rumanian Front and Odessa Region.
• 1918, 28 January
  Joint session of the Presidium of the Odessa Soviet of Workers Deputies and Rumcherod. One of Voronsky’s last speeches in Odessa.
• 1918, 13-14 March
  Leaves Odessa.
• 1918, March - June
  Works at the Saratov newspaper "Izvestiia". Spends two weeks in Moscow. Soon is assigned to work in Ivanovo, where his old comrade Frunze heads the party.

Ivanovo-Voznesensk 1918-1921

• 1918, May
  Becomes editor of the Ivanovo-Voznesensk newspaper, "Rabochii Krai" [Workers’ Land].
• 1919, 30 January - 1919, 29 September
  Heads the Ivanovo Province Party Committee.
• 1919, March
  Delegate to VIIIth Congress of the RCP(b).
• 1919, 11 August
  Orgburo approves Frunze’s request that Voronsky join him at the front. The Ivanovo Provincial Committee objects.
• 1919, 10 September
  Orgburo rescinds its decision in August. Voronsky remains in Ivanovo.
• 1920, March
  Travels to Ukraine for a month, where he assists A. P. Rozengolts in Kharkov. Helps organize railways.
• 1920, 26 September
  In Moscow for session of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (VTsIK). Writes letter to Lenin.
• 1920, October
  Appointed head of the provincial wing of Gosizdat.
• 1920, 26 December
  Orgburo decides to send Voronsky to Moscow, to be at the disposal of Glavpolitprosvet.
• 1921, 22 January
  Leaves Ivanovo for Moscow.

Moscow 1920-1929

• 1921, January
  Works in Glavpolitprosvet [Main Political -Educational Committee, part of the People’s Commissariat of Education].
• 1921, early February
  Meets with Lenin, Gorky and Krupskaya to discuss plans for new "thick" journal, which becomes "Krasnaia nov" [Red Virgin Soil].
• 1921, February 3
  Krupskaya signs an order appointing Voronsky head of editing and publishing matters within a subdivision of Glavpolitprosvet.
• 1921, early June
  First issue of Red Virgin Soil is published.
• 1922, February 14
  Delivers report to Glavpolitprosvet "On the Character of Contemporary Literature."
• 1922, February 21
  Conference of the Collegium of the Agitation-Propaganda Department of the CC. Voronsky gives report on "The State of the Private Literary Market."
• 1922, February 27
  Reports by A. Ya. Yakovlev and Voronsky to Orgburo "On the Struggle against Petty-Bourgeois Ideology in the Literary and Publishing Realm".
• 1922, April 21
  Writes letter to Lenin about "literariness" in RVS.
• 1922, July 6
  Politburo forms Commission for Organizing Writers and Poets into an Independent Society. Its members include Y. Yakovlev, A. Voronsky, N. Meshcheriakov, P. Lebedev-Poliansky.
• 1922, July 26
  Meeting held in Trotsky’s office to discuss literary matters. In attendance: Trotsky, Kamenev, Bukharin, Osinsky, Shmidt, Voronskys, Polonsky, Bubnov, Pyatakov, Preobrazhensky, Popov-Dubovskoy, Lebedev-Polyansky.
• 1922, July 26
  Special commission of Politburo names Voronsky responsible for organizing new publishing house, which becomes "Krug" [Circle].
• 1922, August
  Debate organized by editors of "Krasnaia nov": "Contemporary Writers and the People," discussing N. Osinsky’s article, "&Побег травы" [Blade of Grass] from Pravda, 30 April 1922.
• 1922, September 14
  Voronsky reports on "Kuznitsa" at Politburo meeting. His proposal that they be rendered material support is accepted.
• 1923, February
  Becomes co-editor with Bukharin of journal, "Prozhektor."
• 1923, July Lunacharsky writes letter to Voronsky, to see if their views coincide.
• 1923, October 15
  Signs the "Letter of the 46," throwing support behind Trotsky’s policies. English translation
• 1923, December 16
  Visits Lenin for last time at Gorki.
• 1924, March 18
  Speaks before the Agitation and Porpaganda Department of the Central Committee with a report: "On the ‘Current Moment’ and the Tasks of the RCP in Imaginative Literature."
• 1924, May 9-10
  Conference of Press Department of the Central Committee; Voronsky gives one of two main reports.
• 1924, May - 1925, March
• Twelve articles in Zvezda on literary policy.
• 1924, June 24
  Raskolnikov appointed an editor of RVS. In Italy until October.
• 1925, January
  Voronsky driven from editorial board of RVS; Raskolnikov takes over
• 1925, February 13
  Attends session of the commission of the Politburo "On Proletarian Writers," called by Vareikis and attended by Bukharin, Frunze, Lunacharsky, Lebedev-Polyanksy, Kanatchikov, Narbut, and many writers.
• 1925, late February
  Voronsky reinstated to editorial board of RVS; Raskolnikov dismissed.
• 1925, March 3
  Second session of the Politburo commisssion "On Proletarian Writers," attended by Vareikis, Bukharin, Frunze and Lunacharsky.
• 1925, June
  Spends couple weeks with Babel in Sergievo, a rural village.
• 1925, July 1
  Central Committee Decree "On Party Policy in the Realm of Imaginative Literature" is published in Pravda.
• 1925, December 8-31
  Attends XIVth Party Congress. Photo
• 1926, February 12
  Participates in a debate, "Literary Russia," in the Hall of Columns.
• 1926, late summer?
  Meets Buiko, Markov and Bogdanov in the "Red Rocks" sanatorium in Kislovodsk. Photo
• 1926, October 12
  Writes to Gorky from Kislovodsk.
• 1926, November 21
  Attends Congress of North-Eastern Writers of "Pereval" in Vologda.
• 1927, February 21
  Jubilee celebration of RVS at Herzen House in Moscow. Photo Article About
• 1927, April 18
  Speaks before hostile session of the Press Department of the Central Committee. Agenda: "On the Journal, ‘Red Virgin Soil’"
• 1927, May 30
  Orgburo appoints new editorial board for RVS: Voronsky, V. I. Vasilevsky, V. M. Friche, and F. F. Raskolnikov.
• 1927, June 6
  Voronsky asks Orgburo to relieve him of his duties at RVS.
• 1927, June
  Signs "Declaration of the 84."
• 1927, September 14 Letter to CC and CCC about readiness to defend views before XVth Congress. Signed by 31, including Voronsky, Lashevich, Smilga, Rakovsky, Radek, Sosnovsky, Zorin, Trotsky, and Zinoviev.
• 1927, October 13
  The Politburo removes Voronsky from the editorial board of "Red Virgin Soil."
• 1928, February
  Expelled from party.
• 1928, July 8
  Writes to Zamoshkin from Essentuki (near Kislovodsk)
• 1929, January 24
  Arrest announced in Pravda. See document
• 1929, January 29
  Yaroslavsky writes letter to Stalin: "It would be sufficient if he were exiled from Moscow to a non-industrial area, somewhere like Lipetsk in the Tambov region, since Voronsky is a very sick man."

Lipetsk 1929

• 1929 August
  Babel visits Voronsky in Lipetsk.
• 1929, September 7 Asks for permission to travel to Moscow Document
• 1929, November 3
  Statement by Comrades I. N. Smirnov and M. S. Boguslavsky that they are leaving the Opposition.
• 1929, November 11
  Voronsky states that he is leaving the Opposition. Document
• 1929, November 28
  "Pravda": Voronsky leaves the Opposition.

Moscow 1929-1937

• 1930, May 29
  Readmitted to party.
• 1930, September
  Becomes senior editor of Imaginative Literature at Gosizdat.
• 1931 February 17
  Voronsky, Lelevich, Freilikhman and others read and discuss Trotsky’s book, "My Life."
• 1934, May
  Accepted into the Writers’ Union.
• 1935, February 15
  Expelled for maintaining ties with Sergei Zorin.
• 1935, February 17
  Applies for readmission to party.
• 1935, March 15
  Expelled by the October Regional Committee
• 1935, March 28
  Letter to Moscow District Party Control Commission
• 1935, April 11
  Party Control Commission confirms expulsion.
• 1935, May 26
  Appeals to Ordzhonikidze (who forwards letter to Yezhov); writes to Yezhov.
• 1935, November 15
  Appeals for reinstatement.
• 1936, April 11
  Letter to Party Control Commission denouncing Trotsky-Zinoviev; praises Stalin’s "genius."
• 1936, August 7
  Party Control Commission confirms Voronsky’s expulsion.
• 1936, August 19-24
  "Trial of the Sixteen" in Moscow. Defendants include Zinoviev, Kamenev, Ter-Vaganian.
• 1936, October 28
  Party Control Commission to Press Department: "You decide."
• 1937, February 1
  Voronsky arrested by NKVD.
• 1937, August 13
  "Tried" before the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR; sentenced to be shot; probably executed immediately after sentencing.