There is little (nothing, really) that can be added to edubs' excellent account of this conference. Way to take notes, e! And be able to organise them so coherently.
I found most compelilng the presentations on the route of the last Imperial Family to canonization, the elaboration and resurgence of earlier style icons and their creation (hello, Alexandra!) and the institution and influence of the press in the last 50 years of the monarchy.
Re: the latter in edubs' reply 6. The Yiddish language daily in question published in NYCity is the Jewish Daily Forward, itself the New World incarnation politically and socially of the press organ of the German Social Democratic Party, Vorvaerts, (Forward). The former is still published and is quite recognisable politically as the descendant of its founders.
On a more general note, but still very interesting, it's striking to note the continuity unto the present day of the poitical arguments and atitudes toward the last three Romanov monarchs held in the roughly 1860s to 1918 period , held by the Conference participants who were very distinguished writers and academics,including several Russians. That is, though they were properly as objective as required or might be expected, , with impressive experience and research to support their work, nevertheless there were some surprising instances of personal biases (antagonisms?). One speaker virtually apologised to the audience for bucking the conventional and predominant historical view of Alexandra Feodorovna as an hysterical ,manipulative, narrow-minded and religious fanatic who was the real power behind the throne.
In addition, in the question and answer period following the individual presentations, one could often hear some zealous and almost geeky questions and near-speeches which we Forum folks would readily recognise., though not the IF adoration part. Not that there's anything wrong with that!
