“Enter into action before declaration by governing senate” (on the history of the establishment of the faculty of physics and mathematics at Saratov State University)

The full verified text of the Decree of the Provisional Government of Russia dated July 1 (14), 1917, from the newspaper “Newsletter of the Provisional Government” dated July 23 (August 5), 1917, about the establishment of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics at the Saratov University is analyzed. The main milestones of the biography of Pavel Ivanovich Preobrazhensky (1874–1944), are given. He was Deputy Minister of public education, a talented administrator, scientist and geologist, who opened the major placebirth of potassium-magnesium salts and oil in the Volga-Ural basin in the late 1920s years. The support of the Saratov City Duma for structural development of the University is noted.