S.L. Frank: A Lithuanian Trace

Abstract

The article examines the question of the place of Lithuania in the life and work of S. L. Frank. In order to fulfi l this aim, the philosopher’s genealogy is briefly examined, using new archival materials, as his ancestors on both mother’s and father’s sides came from Lithuania. I also present Frank’s tour around the Baltics countries (several cities in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania), which took place in 1928 under the auspices of the Russian Student Christian Movement. Two lectures that Frank delivered in Kaunas at that time are described, using archive letters to his wife and materials of the newspaper “Echo”. First of all, Frank delivered a talk on the topical issue of the time concerning the status of the so-called paranormal phenomena, which was met with indefatigable interest in different European cities. The second lecture, held in Lithuania, dealt with social and political issues, which was also of importance to the philosopher. Announcements of Frank’s lectures are presented and their reception by the public in Kaunas is examined. Besides that, the relation of the thinker with another philosopher in exile, Vasilii Sesemann, who was professor at Kaunas University thanks, among other things, to Frank’s recommendation, is emphasized. In the concluding part of the article, I note the role played in Frank’s life in the 1930s by his another friend, Lev Karsavin, who gave a public lecture in Kaunas and designated the fee from it to the philosopher’s family.