«If others can do it, so can I»: The Association of Self-taught Naturalists (ASSNAT) in the early Soviet History of Science

The revolutionary events of 1917 opened the door for “folk talents”, “self-taught” workers
and peasants to enter the scientific sphere. This paper focuses on the Association of
Self-taught Naturalists (ASSNAT), founded by agronomist and plant breeder Alexander
P. Modestov with the aim of uniting “non-caste” scientists and providing conditions for
their research. In recruiting “self-taught” individuals, Modestov, the chief ideologist of
ASSNAT, turned to the history of the natural sciences as an important propaganda tool.
Over time, historical and biographical writing became the primary goal ofhis work. Under
the auspices ofASSNAT, a series of biographical essays on “renowned scientists of the
past” was published, and a program for the institutionalisation of the history of science
and technology was outlined. This paper addresses the question of the value of
ASSNAT’s legacy for the history of science.