Penza provincial conference on the study of productive forces in 1926: historical analysis

Background. The article is devoted to the historical analysis of the Penza Provincial Conference on the Study of Productive Forces, held in 1926. The paper examines the prerequisites for convening the conference, its goals and objectives, as well as the com-position of the participants. Special attention is paid to the consideration of the main re-ports and discussions that unfolded during the conference. Materials and methods. The article is based on a wide range of archival sources from the State Archive of Penza region (GAPO), periodical press materials (“Trudovaya Pravda” newspaper) and scientific publications. The methodological basis of this study is based on the principles of the main historical research methods, using the local research method, the author analyzes written sources. Results. In the course of the research, a holistic picture of the activities of the Penza Provincial Conference on the Study of Productive Forces in 1926 was recreated and its contribution to the development of regional science and economics was assessed. Conclusions. The conference has become a landmark event both in the scientific and economic life of the region. The presented reports reflected the state of the region, showing its problems and ways to solve them. The conference concluded with the adoption of a resolution that determined the vector of further development of local history activities, emphasizing the need for indepth study of Penza province. An important moment was the establishment of the Provincial Bureau of Local Lore, which brought together economic and scientific institutions, as well as individual scientists and experts who were passionate about the idea of a comprehensive study of the local region. Thus, the conference not only summed up the results of the previous work, but also laid the foundation for further research of the Penza Region.