IN SEARCH OF A WHITE RUSSIAN

[GEX Frangois & Ilene]

Dear Seelangers,

Am in search of a bit of advice; as a journalist helping an older
lady write her autobiography, starting with the story of her family's
escape from the Soviet Union to China in 1930.

Am by no means an expert on Russian History (am in the process of
educating myself at this moment), but searching for extremely specific
information:  anything I can find out about the activities of a man
named "Stepan Misichkina," who lived in Vladivostok and was involved in
forging passports to smuggle White Russians into China. All I know is
that he was born in Moscow, was orphaned when very young and afterwards
raised by the state and attended millitary school. Seems he went to
Vladivostok while in the army. He was frequently imprisoned until he
finally left the USSR for good.

Where should I go, who should I ask, is there such specific info on the
Web or otherwise? If my only choice is to pay for information, I suppose
I could (tho I'm back at school, haven't been working for $$$ for the
last year or so, and won't be paid for the book until it's finished and
published... so naturally would prefer to do it myself... I think y'all
understand).

Am also seeking info about Natasha Tolstoy Koniakin, anything I can find
out about her.

Any advice you folks can give me will be much appreciated.  Thank you,

Ilene Martinez Gex