The exhibits tell us about shameful "Leshaft's Affair" of 1871. The outstanding scientist was dismissed "from service without requirement to exclude the possibility of appointing him to any post in educational institution" for his speech against the existing university system and warden's tyranny.

There is a group of professors at the photograph, seven prominent scholars, advanced people of Russia: N.A.Golovkinsky, A.Ya.Danilevsky, V.G.Ishmenetsky, V.V.Markovnikov, A.I.Yakobi, A.Ye.Golubev and P.I.Levitsky. On November 2, 1871 they appealed to the University Council with requirement of their common resignation as a protest against government tyranny. The letter with signatures of the seven scientists, exhibited in the Museum, makes us admire their courage and independence. Here is a quotation of it:

"To the Council of Kazan Emperor University

Recently the attitude of the majority of the Council to the rights of the minority we have the honor of belonging to, has become so distressing and constant, that our future involvement in the Council work is of no practical value from our point of you, and what is the most important that it deprives us of the calmness, which is necessary for research work and right teaching.

Taking into consideration all mentioned above we consider as our duty to the Council that we can not be its members any longer.
November 2, 1871.
Ordinary professor N.Golovkinsky
Extraordinary Professor A.Golubev
Ordinary Professor N.Ye.Danilevsky
Ordinary Professor V.G.Ishmenetsky
Ordinary Professor P.I.Levitsky
Ordinary Professor V.V.Markovnikov
Ordinary Professor A.I.Yakobii"

Many historical events have been described in the Exhibition: well-known revolutionary meeting of students on December 4, 1887 with participation of student Vladimir Ulyanov, or revolution of 1905…

The meeting near the University and its dispersal by police is depicted at the drawing by V.Fyodorov; the situation of those days is also explained by the announcement signed by Rector I.P.Zagoskin, which was put on the entrance door of the University: "The University is closed until special order".