A process of the formation and functioning of the Society of naturalists at Kharkiv University, which was founded in 1869 and for sixty years played an impotent part in studying the natural life of Kharkiv and adjoining regions of Ukraine as well as the Crimea and the Caucasus, is investigated from historical and cultural positions. On the basis of a thorough analysis of a wide range of sources, political, economic and scientific prerequisites of the beginnings of societies of naturalists at the universities of Ukraine at the end of the sixties of the 19th century are interpreted. The relationships of the Society of naturalists at Kharkiv University with the local self-government organs, state and social scientific structures are considered, an organizing and structural analysis of the Society is realized, international connections as well as the content and the structure of publishing activities are revealed. "Transactions", edited by the Society, is still an interesting publication, a valuable historical source that enables to judge of the history of the development of the natural science thought in the second half of the 19th century - the first third of the 20th century. Two periods are distinguished in the Society's activities: the first period is the foundation of the Society and the beginning of its activities. The weightiest achievements of this period were the foundation of Donetsk Biological Station in 1914, the publication of the majority of the "Transactions" (48 volumes) and "Proceedings" of the Society, edited during all the time of its activities, the realization of numerous scientific expeditions and excursions, carrying out a wide scope of research mainly in botany and zoology. The second period (1917-1930) is the Society's activities in the Soviet times and stopping its activities. In this period we can mention the active work of Donetsk Biological Station, the foundation of the popular Society's Committee and putting wide cultural and educational activities into effect. A special attention was paid to geological investigations. The fundamental directions of the scientific activities of the Society of naturalists at Kharkiv University are revealed. Specifically, biological, geological and geographical investigations, carried out by outstanding Ukrainian naturalists, are analysed. It is pointed out, that the works of the Society's scientists are different in their nature and amount, but they are all very important on a scientific plane. It is proved, that the success Kharkiv University was provided with the activities of such its members as V.H. Averin, H.F. Arnold, V.M. Arnoldi, N.D. Borysiak, A.S. Brno, A.V. Hurov, V.Ya. Danilevskyi, N.I. Dmytriev, A.N. Krasnov, I.F. Levakovskyi, Yu.I. Morozov, A.N. Nokolskyi, V.I. Palladin, S.M. Pereiaslavtseva, P.P. Piatnytskyi, V.V. Reinhard, L.V. Reinhard, D.N. Sobolev, N.N. Somov, P.T. Stepanov, V.I. Taliev, A.S. Fedorovskyi, L.S. Tsenkovskyi, A.V. Chernai, H.F. Shperk and many other distinguished representatives of the scientific process in Ukraine. In the research, the significance of the Society members' scientific investigations, their contribution to the development of such natural sciences as botany, zoology, geography, geology, paleontology, physiology and biochemistry are shown. The service of the Society members became making valuable collections of plants, animal, minerals and samples of rocks, which were a basis for university natural history museums. The Society organized numerous scientific expeditions and excursions, whose result became monographs, reference books and articles, recognized all over the scientific world. Scientific meetings, conducted by the Society, played an exclusively important role. At them, the members of the Society deeply and critically discussed heard reports and sometimes they argued. Results of observations on the prevalence of some species of plants and animals were reported. The scientists disputed the problems of morphology and systematics. Donetsk Biological Station played an important part in detailed studying plants and animals in natural conditions and carrying out experimental scientific investigations. Research operations were put into practice both permanently in the environs of the town of Zmiiv and by expeditions to various areas of the Siverskyi Donets. The scientists carried out algological, bryological and malacological investigations. Hydrobiological investigations of the Siverskyi Donets were also carried out. At the station, the problems, connected with solving the matters of a great practical significance (acclimatization, fish industry, fish-breeding), were elaborated. Thanks to the efforts of the scientists, who worked at the stations, the issue of water supply in Kharkiv was solved. Complex chemical, bacteorological and hydrabiological investigations were carried out. The role of the Society in the development of natural sciences at the end of the 19th century - the beginning of the first third of the 20th century was appraised. The main directions of the cultural and educational activities of the Society are analysed, systematized and generalized. It is proved, that the Society of naturalists at Kharkiv University played not only the role of a collective subject of the scientific activity, whose tasks are producing, reproducing and transmitting a scientific knowledge, but it also performed a social function. The Socienty was one of the channels of providing the intercommunication between foresaw introducing some active communicative work both within the Society and outside it. Besides, training future generations of scientists was fulfilled at a high level, which testified to another feature of Society as a social institute and a phenomenon in the system of science.
