Abstract

The Faculty of History at Lomonosov Moscow State University recently celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ivan Dmitrievich Koval’chenko (1923–1995), a distinguished full member of the Academy whose pioneering work has profoundly influenced the field of historical science. Recognized internationally, his contributions continue to shape the discipline. This centennial milestone was marked by a series of commemorative events, including a scientific conference, an exhibition of books and materials, and a display of photographs and documents. The seventh memorial conference, held on 28 November 2023, addressed contemporary issues in historical science, with themes reflecting the scientific problems initiated and developed by Koval’chenko. His students, colleagues, and emerging researchers honored him through their speeches and reports, emphasizing his signifi cant contributions to the development of historical methodology, source studies, historiography, and the introduction of quantitative methods in historical research. The conference underscored the importance of identifying classes of mass historical sources and evaluating the application of modern information theory in source studies. Participants shared personal memories of Koval’chenko as a scholar, professor, and heroic participant in the Great Patriotic War. Discussions focused on the current state and future prospects of the research areas Koval’chenko championed throughout his career, the impact of his scientific school on contemporary historical science, and the formation and professional training of young historians. His leadership in defining the tasks and directions of the Department of Source Studies at the Faculty of History, as well as his role in establishing a laboratory for the application of electronic machines in historical research — later transformed into the Department of Historical Informatics — was also highlighted.