Prots N. Kharkov province nobility of the late nineteenth — early twentieth century

The object of the research – Russian empire nobility of the late nineteenth — early twentieth century. The dissertation purpose: to study changes of a socio-economic situation of nobility and participation of noblemen in bodies of local self-management of Kharkov province in 1861-1914. The methods: analysis, synthesis, historical-genetic, problem-chronological, historical-typological, statistical, system, logic. Scientific novelty: In the dissertation according the wide range of sources and literature the first in Ukrainian historiography it is studied some aspects of the evolution of the state of Kharkov province nobility in the second half of the XIX and the beginning of XX centuries; in particular, it is analysis the legal status of the province nobility, which was made according to the current Empire legislation; it is found the quantitative changes in the structure of nobility, ways and social sources of its obtaining; it is also found the dynamics of noble tenure changes and clarified the reasons for the loss of a significant part of lands by the province nobility; it is characterized the methods of agriculture and main branches of noble economy; it is shown the predomi-nance of nobility representatives among rural deputy local governments and activity of the Kharkov county council noble deputy. Practical value of research: the materials of research can be used by preparation of generalizing works on a history of social groups of the population of Ukraine, textbooks and methodical manuals on a history of Ukraine; for development of courses on a history of Slobidska Ukraine, special courses on a history of nobiliary estate, reali-zation of special seminars on a regional history. Sphere of use: higher educational institutions.