History of Science and Engineering Annotation << Back BIOGRAPHY RECONSTRUCTION OF V.M. DESYATNIKOV (PERIOD OF 1883–1924) A.R. Narskiy All-Russian (previously – All-Union) research Institute of aviation materials (VIAM) is currently the largest material science enterprise with the status of the State scientific center of the Russian Federation. One of the most interesting and little-studied issues in the history of this In-stitute, numbering 86 years, is the study of the biography of its first leaders. They play a leading role in the organization and establishment of scientific and technical activities of VIAM in the 1930s, and, consequently, in the development of aviation materials science in our country. In the first of a series of articles about the chief of VIAM Vasily Matveyevich Desyatnikov (1883–1953) is considered the early period of his life – from birth in 1883 and 1924. Vasily Matveyevich was the head of VIAM for five years – from 1933 to 1938. Also like its predecessor, the first chief of VIAM Pyotr Andreyevich Bakhmatov, he was a typical representative of intellectuals. V.M. Desyatnikov was born in 1883 in the village of Fokino of Vasilsursky district of the Nizhny Novgorod province in a large peasant family; at the age of seven in view of the plight of the family was brought up in a children's shelter in the city Astrakhan, then studied carpentry in a vocational school, mastered several working professions, he worked in workshops, in factories, at shipyards, on ships; later «coopted» member of the Russian Committee of the workers of the artillery factories, he held senior positions at the enterprises of the military industry. The biography of the second chief of VIAM is restored on the basis of archival documents of the Russian State Archive of the economy, the Russian State Archive of socio-political history, the Russian State Archive in Samara, the State Archive of Khabarovsk territory. Materials about the life and activities of V.M. Desyatnikov currently used in Vasilsursk branch Vorotynsky district Museum (Nizhny Novgorod region). Keywords: aviation materials science; All-Union research Institute of aviation materials; biography; archival documents; labor intelligentsia. DOI: 10.25791/intstg.03.2019.512 Contacts: E-mail: andrey-n2007@yandex.ru Pp. 15-29.