Chupyrina Galina Sergeevna

Galina Sergeevna Chupyrina is a journalist, a local historian, and a key organizer of museum activities in the Naro‑Fominsky region: she was the initiator and driving force behind the creation of the Vereya Historical and Local History Museum (since 1985) and one of the founders of the Naro‑Fominsky Local History Museum..

Early years and work during wartime

During the Great Patriotic War, Galina Sergeevna managed an orphanage in the village of Novo‑Zyibinka in the Vereysky District — this work, carried out under difficult conditions, became an important part of her life’s journey and strengthened her connection with the region.

Journalistic and cultural‑educational activities

After the war, Chupyrina actively worked in the field of information and culture:

Radio broadcasting. Since 1945, she was the editor of the Vereya radio broadcasting service: in the area, which had been destroyed after the battles, her programmes were an important source of news and a means of bringing local residents together.
The House of Culture (1948–1951). She headed the House of Culture, and in doing so, she not only oversaw the construction of the building but also developed amateur artistic activities: agit‑brigades and a folk theatre were operating, and Galina Sergeevna participated in their productions both as an organizer and as an actress.
The district newspaper editorial office. In the 1950s, she headed the editorial office of the Vereysky district newspaper, The Banner of Socialism. Later, from November 1966 to September 1971, she worked as the editor of the Naro‑Fominsk regional newspaper Znamya Ilyich.

The creation of museums is the main business of life

In retirement, Chupyrina focused on preserving historical memory through museum work.:

Naro‑Fominsk Museum of Local Lore. Galina Sergeevna headed the organizing committee, effectively becoming its founder. She conducted extensive correspondence with veterans and fellow townspeople, collected documents, photographs, and everyday items, and recorded memories. The original base of the museum was St. Nicholas Church; the exhibition was military‑historical (with an emphasis on the battles at the Narsky line); later, the museum moved and became a historical and local history museum.
Vereysky Historical and Local History Museum Chupyrina, together with local historians (including S. A. Pospelov and B. I. Morozov), was at the origins of the museum, helped to build up its collections, and assisted in organizing the exhibition. In 2004, a memorial plaque was installed on the building of the Vereya Museum in her honor.
A special place in her work was occupied by the memory of the Great Patriotic War: she purposefully sought out veterans of the Battle of Moscow and defenders of Naro‑Fominsk, helped them to document their memories, thereby preserving unique testimonies of the era.

Significance and memory

Chupyrina’s work is a vivid example of how public initiative and personal enthusiasm become the foundation of local cultural infrastructure. Her efforts brought together journalism, education, and museum design: the materials she collected still form the basis of the exhibitions and archives of both museums.