THE LIBRARY OF RUSSIAN AMERICAN COOPERATION
Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov cuts the ribbon for the future Library of Russian American Cooperation, with Ambassador Ushakov, RCC Director Batova and FRCC Chairman Costley, April 27, 2000.

Plans are for construction to begin in the fourth quarter 2008. Proceeds from the current "Best of Russia" tour go to the construction of the Library - the last of three libraries to be developed at the RCC.

The Library will feature a four-wall mural which will be a time-line of important examples of Russian American cooperation through history. Some examples are listed below.
The Library will research, chronicle and exhibit, important examples of Russian American cooperation through history.
The Earliest Contacts
Left, an early American rows his kayak out to the Russian ship of the Gvozdev and Fedorov expedition, and with sign language, tells them of the "Great Land" to the east. (1732).

Right: Peter the Great had an encounter with William Penn and his followers in London, in 1698, on Peter's "Incognito" tour of Europe. Some scholars believe that Penn, who had returned from founding the Colony of Pennsylvania in America, suggested that Peter explore the eastern part of Russia to see if it connected to the American continent. Peter later appointed Vitus Bering to conduct the expedition(s) which landed in America in 1741.
Early American rows out to Russian ship 1732 Peter the Great 1698 William Penn
Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Trade
From 1783 to the War of 1812 there were 1320 commercial voyages on sailing vessels from St. Petersburg to the United States. Exports from St. Petersburg included hemp, iron, cordage, duck, sailcloth and quills. The vessel pictured at the left carried 3,746,000 quills. A professor on a recent tour of the RCC from William & Mary College advised that America had turkey feathers to write with, but were inferior to the elegant white Russian goose quill pen-- the desirable writing instrument of the day. The Library will research the question: was the Declaration of Independence by Jefferson, or the Constitution by Madison, written with a Russian goose quill pen?
Courtesy of FRCC Governor, Margaret Coleman of Boston
Indicative of the brisk trade between the young American country and Russia, this American vessel, from Boston, was named the "Czarina."
Catherine the Great and John Paul Jones
Catherine the Great was asked by George III, in 1775, for 20,000 Cossacks to fight against the American colonies. She refused. The Library has a copy of her letter to George III denying his request. Americans say that had she not refused, the outcome of the Revolutionary War might have been different and "we might be speaking better English."

After the War, America returned the favor when its new Minister to France, Thomas Jefferson, recommended that America's most famous naval hero, John Paul Jones, provide assistance to Catherine in her battles in the Black Sea. Jones, a brilliant strategist, serving under Prince Potemkin, defeated her enemies in the decisive Battle of Liman (June 1788). Catherine made him an Admiral (the highest rank in the U.S. Navy at the time was Captain) and awarded him the royal order of St. Anne.
Catherine the Great painting in the RCC Great Hall John Paul Jones, father of the American Navy.
In addition to refusing George III's request for the Cossacks, she established the League of Armed Neutrality which prevented England from embargoing ships supplying Washington's army. In the night before the Battle of Liman, with the assistance of a Russian sailor, Jones, in a small rowboat in the midst of the enemy fleet, wrote in chalk on the back of fleet's flagship: "To Be Burned. Paul Jones."
We wish to express our appreciation to James Cheevers, Senior Curator, U.S. Naval Academy Museum, Annapolis, Maryland.
Allies in World War II
The famous "Handshake at the Elbe River", across a bombed out bridge, when the Americans from the west met their Russian allies approaching from the east, after crushing the Nazis in World War II---followed by a celebratory stroll through the nearby German town of Torgau. April 25, 1945. Portrait by Anne Rowe of leaders of the two patrols which met at the Elbe: American Lt. William Robertson and Soviet Lt. Alexander Silvashko. Gift to the Library by Bob Swan.
Over 6000 Russian Presidential Medals have been awarded to Americans who served in joint operations in WWII. Here, Gen. Marshankin presents medal to Nicholas Anikeeff who trained with Russians in Florida on sub-chasers to fight German U-boats. Russian American Room 2002. Elbe River Monument at Arlington Cemetery. Right: annual RCC ceremony at Arlington. Below right photo includes Ambassador Ushakov; Defense Attache General Marshankin; Embassy Counselor and RCC Director Batova who, together with American partner, Gen. Kicklighter at Pentagon, were responsible for the Monument's creation; and Americans awarded the Russian Presidential Medals including Gregory Gagarin, and Igor Belousovitch who took the first Elbe River meeting photograph, April 25, 1945. Two Elbe monuments were created by the American and Russian governments for the 50th Anniversary of the victory in WWII (1995); the second is in the Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow.
The Summits Ending the Cold War
Reagan Presidential Library Reagan Presidential Library Soviet Life Courtesy Novosti
Breaking the cold war ice: Geneva, November 19, 1985 Reykjavik, 10-12-86. "We came this close." Washington, D.C. December 8, 1987 End of the Cold War. Moscow, June 1, 1988
Our Continuing Joint Ventures in Space
Soyuz-Apollo hook-up in space in midst of Cold War, July 17, 1975. Deke Slayton and Alexei Leonov. Cooperation on major projects in space: the U.S. Space Shuttle and Mir; the International Space Station; scientific probes to other planets in the solar system, and beyond.
Nuclear Disarmament and Allies in War Against Terrorism
Presidents Bush and Putin sign nuclear arms reduction treaty, Moscow, May 24, 2002. "This treaty liquidates the Cold War legacy of nuclear hostility between our two countries."
The Library and Library Mural will also contain Russian-American references including:

John Quincy Adams - First U.S. Ambassador to Russia (1809). Diplomatic relations began in 1807 with exchange of messages between Russian Foreign Minister and U.S. Secretary of State James Madison. 1808 - the first Russian Ambassador (Russian Consul and Charge d'Affairs), A.Dashkov, was appointed. In October 1809, John Quincy Adams arrived in St. Petersburg, and presented credentials to Czar Alexander I from President Madison.

Mark Twain in Russia

The Crimean War

James Buchanan, later President of the U.S., as Ambassador to Russia 1832-33, concluded important commerical treaty.

James Whistler, famous painter, in Russia 1843-48 while father supervises construction of first Moscow to St. Petersburg Railroad.

Russian Imperial Navy 19th century assistance to the U.S. on both the east and west coasts

The Russian Grand Duke Alexis visit to U.S. (1871) and Ulysses S. Grant visit to Russia (1877)

American assistance to Russia in the Great Famine of 1892, and 1920s famine

Details on the sale of Alaska to the U.S. and the role of Riggs Bank (1867)

Cassius Marcellus Clay from Kentucky - the boxer's namesake - named Ambassador to Russia by Abraham Lincoln 1861-62 and 1863-69.

Founding of St. Petersburg, Florida, by Russian Peter Demens and American John Williams (1892).

President Theodore Roosevelt as mediator of peace in Russo-Japanese War (1905)

Countess Marguerite Cassini, daughter of Russian Ambassador to U.S. (under Czar Nicholas II), , Alice Roosevelt (daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt) & Evalyn Walsh McLean (owner of Washington Post and Hope Diamond) meet at 1825 Phelps Place (1901), now home of RCC. Countess Cassini's father (full name: Arthur Paul Nicholas, Marquis de Capuzzuchi di Bologna, Count de Cassini) was born in Trieste but moved to Russia and served Czar Nicholas II in diplomatic posts in China and as Russian Ambassador to the U.S., 1899-1901. Countess Cassini's son was famous fashion designer, Oleg Cassini.

Russian and American scientific achievements at the North Pole and South Pole

American appreciation and acquisition of Russian art---in particular, Andrew Mellon, Armand Hammer, Ambassador Davies and Mrs. Davies (Marjorie M. Post) and Eleanor Davies Tydings Ditzen (Amb. Davies daughter)

Paul Robeson and Russia

Major WWII interactions: Lend-Lease...training of Russian pilots and naval officers in the U.S. on Lend-lease aircraft and ships....secret joint operations...liberation of 7700 Americans from Nazi Stalag Luft1 by Russian General Batov's 65th Army...American Sgt Beyrle who fought with Russian tank corp on Eastern Front against Nazis...Handshake at Elbe River...Russian Presidential medals to Americans for WWII service with Russians.

Russian-Americans who made great contributions to America from Irving Berlin to Igor Sikorsky to Sergey Brin

Kennedy and Kruschev negotiate peace, through "back channel" communications, rather than start WWIII over Cuba (1962). Both suffer personal political cost as result of the compromise, as Soviets lose strategic foothold in Cuba, and Kennedy agrees not to invade Cuba (a JFK campaign promise was to free Cuba from communism).

The Samantha Smith visit to Russia (1983). Natalie Batova, later founder of the RCC, was named Samantha's liaison for the official visit.

The U.S. and Russian (Soviet) Chautauquas of 1985-1989

The 1990 Bilateral Agreement permitting cultural centres (End of Cold War)

Major commercial partnerships including space contractors

The Test Ban Treaty, SALT, Helsinki Accords, INF Treaty, START, the 2003 Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions

December 1999 - opening of Russian Embassy Cultural Centre in Washington, D.C., in partnership with American Friends of the RCC - three major rooms dedicated to Russian American relations.

International Launch Services, or ILS, a partnership formed in 1995 between Lockheed Martin Corp. and the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center. The partnership uses the reliable Atlas and Proton rockets to launch satellites into orbit, and shares technical expertise to continually improve launch vehicle performance.

Russians rescue American honey bee industry in agreement with USDA by sending a sturdy species of queen bees immune to parasitic mites which had attacked American queen bee population (1999)

Rescue of American astronauts, Ken Bowersox and Don Petit (and Russian Nikolai Budarin) stranded on International Space Station after Columbia Space Shuttle disaster, February 1, 2003. Rescued by Russian Soyuz capsule which returned the three astronauts to earth on May 4, 2003.

President Putin awards medals to several members of the FRCC for their service to Russian-American relations.

Two Centuries of Official Diplomacy - List of Russian and American Ambassadors - 1807-09 to Present.

Mission of the Library

Unique in the history of relations between American and the European and Asian powers, Russia and America have never declared war on the other---three centuries of resolving difficult and dangerous issues, ultimately peacefully, and without military conflict---a civilized relationship between two world powers. The mission of the Library is to provide a permanent and visible reminder of that fact for 21st century decision-makers.

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Contributors names will appear on the walls of the Library:

The RCC/FRCC wishes to acknowledge for historical research the valuable assistance of FRCC Governors Vera Beery of St. Petersburg, Florida; Margaret Coleman of Boston; David Fogle of Annapolis, Maryland; Barbara Reinike of Bethesda, Maryland. For the early West Coast Russian-American history: Barbara Smith of Anchorage, Alaska.

Special appreciation to James W. Cheevers, Senior Curator, U.S. Naval Academy Museum, Annapolis, Maryland.

Financial contributors (in chronological order of donation): FRCC Governors & Founders & Friends: the late Joseph Beyrle of Michigan; Chuck Chandler of Washington, D.C.; Barbara Reinike of Bethesda, MD; Alexander and Natasha Jadan; Robert Halcombe; Doug & Elena Smyly and Tatiana; David Fogle in Memory of Prince Alexis Obolensky;FRCC Patrons & Underwriters: Lockheed Martin; Sovereign Group;