CLERKS
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Fort Ross Clerks’ Role Sheet
Dear Parents, AKA. Officers – First – thank you for assisting your classroom with this
adventure. The ELP experience is one that you, as an officer, and the students, as
employees, will remember for a lifetime. This packet is to assist you to ready yourself and
your group for the overnight experience to Colony Ross. The more prepared you are, and
the more prepared the students are, the better the experience for all. Please read the
packet carefully. The packet is in two sections: first section is for pre-site preparations and
the second section is for the onsite visit. You will want to bring the on-site section with you
as it has pertinent information you will need.
Please remember that you are coming to a state park. Do NOT remove any objects that are
lying on the ground: rocks, shells, glass, bones etc. If you find anything that appears to be
historically or environmentally important please leave it where it is found and advise Park
Interpretive Specialist of the item’s location. All features of the park are protected.
Remember: Take only pictures and leave only footprints.
Also remember that many things that have been done in the past are not acceptable
today. Butchering of live animals on-site or bringing in weapons is not permitted. All
butchered meat must be dressed before you bring it to the fort. State Park rules and
regulations must be observed. If you have any questions please call the Interpretive
Specialist.
Clerk Role Group
During the Russian period, three on-site warehouses supplied Fort Ross and its
inhabitants. The reserve store, magazin zapasnoi, contained company owned trade goods
and fur storage. The trade store, torgovia lavka, sold supplies that employees could
purchase with cash or credit. The materials store, magazin obshchestvennoi, stocked
essential tools and supplies for work at the fort. Each warehouse played a critical role in
sustaining the colonies. The magazin, which means store in Russian is the office of the
clerks.
The reconstructed Magazin allows us to show and tell about these commercial activities
that that occurred at Fort Ross between 1812-1841. The reconstruction of the Magazin at
Fort Ross was based on archaeological evidence, extensive research, and comparisons to
buildings at other Russian American Company (RAC) settlements. The building has been
constructed in a similar manner to the original structure and will interpret the role of all three
warehouses.
Every item in the building is intended to be used or touched. Students can explore trade
from all over the world brought in for trade or purchase by company employees. They can
see examples of the food grown at the fort. They can also get ‘hands-on’ with furs of many
of the animals hunted or otherwise utilized by the fort.
During the Russian period, Clerks staffed each of the magazins. Clerks were required to
keep detailed logs and record daily transactions, employee’s credits and debts, lists of
supplies, and inventories of each building. The ELP Clerks role group reflects these tasks
and provides students with a more accurate understanding of the commercial role of Fort
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Ross during the Russian period. Clerks were critical to the success of Colony Ross. Fort
Ross was not a fort in the military sense. Instead, its primary role was to supply provisions
for the Russian-American Company outposts in Alaska and to manage the California sea
otter harvest and trade. As a commercial outpost, Fort Ross relied on clerks. One of the
most famous Fort Ross residents, Kirill Khlebnikov, performed many duties of a clerk.
To do their jobs, clerks needed a variety of skills. They had to know accounting, chemistry,
and be able to read, write, and do math. Clerks had to be familiar with foreign taxes,
languages, currencies, and weights and measures. They also had to be strong enough to
pack fur bales, which the standard weight of which was ninety pounds. Clerks also had to
be able to make tools of their trade such as ink and quill pens. Few, if any, clerks
possessed all of these skills. Instead, they often specialized in certain areas.
In the past, Clerks tasks included, but were not limited to:
1. Preparing lists of goods and provisions needed for the fort;
2. Helping to write and keeping copies of official correspondence;
3. Conducting an annual inventory;
4. Checking incoming goods against the requisitions and invoices that accompanied
them when the trade ships arrived;
5. Sorting goods and preparing them for travel;
6. Weighing, sorting and checking furs for quality;
7. Determining the value of the furs and other goods;
8. Keeping journals that recorded the daily activities at the fort; and
9. Distributing pay and rations.
Clerks generally began their careers as apprentices. Most were already educated, having
at least good penmanship and spelling, as well as the ability to do bookkeeping. As the
people responsible for accounting and handling the trade goods, clerks had to be
trustworthy. The RAC employed both Russians and creoles as clerks. After a few years, if
an apprentice proved competent, he would be promoted to clerk. Over working for several
decades with the RAC, clerks might become shareholders in the company.
As Fort Ross was a commercial, not a military, outpost, Clerks were essential for its day-today functioning. As with the RAC clerks who were here 200 years ago, they have specific
tasks that they must accomplish in careful and precise ways. Clerks are responsible for
keeping records, maintaining inventory, preparing pay packets and running the trade store..
Creating the trade store: In the past the trade store was optional, today, with the
clerks group it is now highly encouraged to augment the economy of your Company.
For those that would like to add the cost of a purchased ‘Trade Store Box’ into the
cost of their program we now offer a $200 trade store that has four items for 30
students for a total of 120 items. Please contact staff for the list of items.
You can also have employees (students) of the class make craft items for the store
receiving pay for their hand work. The more the employee contributes to the store the
more they get paid. The Clerks are responsible for creating and bringing a class ledger
and/or company script to account for each employees pay.
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Clerks: The clerks and their officers are responsible for packing the trade store items,
bringing the items to the fort, and setting up the Company store.
On the morning of the second day, clerks will either distribute pay packets to each
employee or update the ledger brought from the class to use as the accounting records of
each employee.
How employees get paid: Salaries will NOT be based on historic records. Employees can
earn money for the work they do in class, or for the contributions they make to the trade
store with their hand crafts. Employees can then use their salaries to purchase items from
the trade store. The manager has the option of allowing company employees to earn
additional rubles or script while in the classroom or during the program at Colony Ross. If
and how this is done is up to the manager. In past years, some managers have developed
a payment system for work completed and a system of fines for work that is not completed
–in the classroom, on-site or at both locations. This system could be specific to ELP tasks,
or could be used as a broader classroom management tool. While at the fort, the
employees may earn a salary and may also earn rubles for their extra work. Officers or the
manager may, if the manager chooses, also pay employees if they perform exemplary work
while on-site.
A popular approach to the trade store is for children to work throughout the year making
things like beaded necklaces, painted headscarves, woven belts, etc. Employees may be
paid by the manager for the work completed. This payment can help ensure there are
sufficient items for the trade store, and help supplement the salary each employee will
receive onsite. The more an employee makes to sell in the store, the more that student has
to spend at the store.
The ‘rubles’ included in the appendix of this manual may be duplicated. You may choose to
print them in various colors to represent the different values of scrip. If there is concern the
children will lose their rubles, the manager should introduce a bank book or ledger in which
to record students’ accounts. A page that can be used for the bank book is located in this
manual for duplication. The manager should keep this book and record all earnings and
deductions. Clerks could be involved with this task, e.g. by adding up totals and reporting
weekly or monthly to other employees, however, we recommend that the manager maintain
control of the book.
Shortly before the trip, clerks should calculate the amount of money each employee has
earned. They can place rubles in an envelope marked with the employee’s character name,
which can be passed out upon arrival at the fort or right before they enter the company
store. Or the ledger can be given to the clerks and they can add the ‘earned’ rubles to the
salary pay packets that they will prepare at the fort.
Suggested Items for the Trade Store: soaps, wooden combs, wooden boxes, wooden
toys, fans, individually wrapped Chinese candy or rock candy, apples, jerky, licorice, trail
mix, dried fruit, homemade cookies, beaded necklaces or bracelets, shell necklaces or
bracelets, other sorts of adornment such as rings, pins, earrings, wooden stick dolls or
other sewn items, a Chinese bowl, wooden eggs, little Chinese coin bags, chopsticks,
donated items from officers, sandalwood fans or other fans, small cups and/or with juice, or
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licorice. An additional item is from Lindt Chocolates – called “Mini Babushka Dolls.” They
are seasonal at Christmas time. Look them up online and order for your class.
One further idea to create even more of a connection to work, payment, and ownership of
needed goods is to have the children buy their own pencil, paper, and their own plate, bowl,
and silverware for dinner. One Company charged the employee for the pencil that they had
to have to write in their journals, spoons for their meals, and for the comfort of a building to
sleep in. It really brought home to the employees how everything was paid for.
CLASSROOM PREPARATION:
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Research items traded at the Fort, origination, and discuss why it would be at the Colony.
Working with the fort manager (your teacher) develop a class ledger in which you will keep
records of payments for the employees.
Learn about the geography of the Forts trading partners and create a map of the trade routes.
Prepare company script for use in the trade store or simply use the ledger as your record of
employees pay.
Make or gather items for the trade store. Suggested ideas are noted above.
Make an abacus and learn how to use it. Learn the history of this item.
Students’ & Parents’ Equipment List
Encourage students to bring a minimum of personal gear.
1.
A BAG LUNCH FOR YOUR ARRIVAL AT THE FORT.
2.
WARM SLEEPING BAG, PAD & GROUND CLOTH--You will sleep on wood floors
in the fort buildings.
3.
EATING UTENSILS: Cup, plate and/or bowl, knife, fork, spoon, and water bottle.
4.
PERSONAL TOILET ARTICLES: Don’t forget sun screen, the sun can be very
strong. Bring toothbrush and toothpaste.
5.
ANY NECESSARY MEDICATIONS: Include written instructions for the teacher;
give medications and instructions to the teacher upon departure from your school.
6.
PENCIL: For writing in journals and sketching.
7.
HEADGEAR: Russian style babushkas (scarf) for girls and/or a warm hat for night
watch. Sun hats are highly recommended for students and adults alike, especially
for spring or fall dates.
8.
CHANGE OF CLOTHES AND SHOES: Children and parents should wear their
costume to the fort. Bring a second set of clothes as well. Even if the weather looks
warm, evenings are always quite cold on the coast. Students’ feet and clothing often
get wet during the day’s activities therefore two pairs of shoes are essential. Black
rain boots are highly recommended.
9.
WARM JACKET AND/OR SWEATER.
10.
NAME TAGS: Create your own name tag with a Fort Ross design and character’s
name.
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Role Play Characters for the Clerks
Dmitrii Fedorovich Chernov (Dmit’rii
Fyo’dor-o-vich Chern-ov’) - A Russian- A ship
commander with the Russian American
Company from 1825 to the 30’s. He mapped
several areas in Alaska for the Company, and
sailed to several locations in Siberia,
California, and Okhotsk.
Illarion Ivanovich Arkhimandritov (Il-lar-eeon’ Ee-van’o-vich Arkh-ee-man’dree-tov) - A
Creole- Russian American Company skipper.
He was assigned as a crewmember on the
sloop Urup on a voyage to California.
Another voyage to California was on the ship
Naslednik Aleksandr in 1841.
Johann Joachim Bartram - A Scot Engineer/Seafarer. In 1839 he joined the
Russian American Company. In 1841 sailed
to Baja California to collect salt for the
colonies in Alaska.
Kirill Timofeevich Khlebnikov (Kee-reel’
Tee-mo-fay’e-vich Khleb’nee-kov - A Russian
- was born March 18th, 1785 in Russia to a
merchant family. In 1820 Kirill joined
Company service. He worked several years in
Okhotsk in Siberia. Once he was arrested for
refusing to listen to an officer’s orders to
change prices of goods. He was imprisoned
for three months. He returned to Russia and
remained in service. On September 15th
1817 he arrived at the Ross Colony on the
sloop Kutuzov. He visited the Ross settlement
a total of twelve times. In 1818 he became
office manager for the Company. On June
19th, 1820 he was on the brig Il’mena when
they ship wrecked at Point Arena. As
accountant for the Company, he detailed
accounts of the Ross colony regarding the
employees and how much they're paid, how
much was paid for what goods at the Spanish
ports, and detailed records of daily life of the
Ross Colony. Today his works are some of
the most valued documents on the Ross
Colony. He died of a stroke in 1838 in St.
Petersburg.
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Scribe
Zakharii Petrovich Chichenev (Za-khar’ee
Pe-tro’vich Chi-chen’ev) - A Creole - Born to a
Russian Irkutsk townsman and a Tlingit
mother. By 1806 he was already wishing to
stay in America. In 1819 he was sent to St.
Petersburg for medical education at the
expense of the Company. In 1829 he married
Lukeria Petelin at Unalaska. In 1833 he
arrived at the Ross Colony with his wife
Lukeria and two sons Prokopii and Il’ia and a
girl Katerina Kychkova on the brig Polifem. He
was assigned the duty of scribe at 500 rubles
a year. When Ross was sold he and his family
returned to Sitka. He died February 1879.
Language Interpreter
Pavel (Oglayuk) Akliaiuk (Pah’vel) - Possibly
a Creole - Russian American Company
interpreter. He was raised at Fort Ross. We
do not have dates of birth or if in fact he was
born at Fort Ross. We do not have any
information about him during his time at the
Fort other than he served as an interpreter.
He left Fort Ross when it was sold in 1841
and died in 1851.
Accountant
Fedor Svin’in (Fyo’dor Sveen’in) - A
Russian- Started working for the Russian
American Company in 1802. He arrived in
Kodiak and then was assigned to the Ross
settlement. About 1814, he worked keeping
the books (also known as a prikazchik) for the
Company. His salary was set at 400 rubles a
year. In 1823 his salary was raised to 600
rubles. In 1831 he was to be removed from
the Ross office because of shortages in the
books. It was noted he owed the Company
6,000 rubles. He died at Ross on December
30, 1832. His wife, Anis'ia, a Creole, was
given the house, agricultural field, and
animals including one bull, two cows, and one
horse. They had two sons, Alexander and
Mikhail.
Clerks
Andre Frantsovich Delivron A Russian- Entered the navy service in 1803
and in 1812 he became a midshipman. In
1817 he was promoted to lieutenant. As a
passenger on the sloop Kamchatka with
Captain Golovnin, he sailed around the world
to the Kamchatka region. He then joined
Russian American Company service. In 1819
Delivron took the brig Il’mena to the Ross
settlement where he then took command of
the brig Rumiantsev, just built at Ross. He
returned to Sitka and went to other areas of
the Company colonies, including Okhotsk. In
1840 he was promoted to Captain of 1st
Rank. In 1842 he retired from Company
service.
Pavel Afanas’evich Dokhuturov - A
Russian- In 1787 he entered the navel cadet
corps. In 1804 he became a midshipman. For
several years he sailed in the Baltic and
Finnish waters, with several trips to England.
September 1820 he left Kronshtadt in
command of the RAC vessel Kutuzov, bound
for Sitka, around the Cape Horn. On June 27,
1821, he arrived at Rumiantsev Bay (Bodega
Bay), in California. He sold some cargo and
bought provisions then sailing on to Sitka. In
January 1822 he left Sitka to return to Russia
with furs worth 1,100,000 paper rubles. In
1824 he attempted another voyage like his
first, but his ship ran into heavy storms and he
returned to Russia.
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