Russian Historical Archive

Categories / Science. Education/Archives
RUSSIAN HISTORICAL ARCHIVE, STATE (RSHA) (4 Angliiskaya Embankment) was founded in 1925 as the Leningrad Historical Archive. In 1929-34, it became Leningrad Department of the Central Historical Archive, and the four archives were formed from it in 1934: agrarian, internal affairs, law, culture, naval history, and military history. In 1941, the Central Leningrad State Historical Archive was formed on the basis of agricultural, home affairs, law, and cultural archives. In 1961, it was renamed the Central State Historical Archive of the USSR, since 1992 it has been known by its present-day name. The archive contains (2002) 1368 foundations (over 6.5 million files), which date mainly the late 18th to the early 20th centuries. Among them are foundations of the majority of higher and central state institutions of the Russian Empire including the State Assembly, the State Duma, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Senate, the Synod, His Imperial Majesty's Chancellery, the State Control, and a number of ministries (excluding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Navy Ministry and the Military Ministry), as well as foundations for the bodies of certain banks, joint-stock companies, commercial and industrial partnerships, scientific, educating, and other associations and organisations. In the archive there are personal foundations for many state and public figures, scientists, and representatives of noble families. Among the graphic documents there are materials on the history of St. Petersburg and its suburban planning and development since the first quarter of the 18th century. They contain information on the projects and construction of all the most important architecture objects of the city, large engineer buildings (Peter and Paul Fortress, dockyards, canals, bridges, embankments, etc.), as well as the data about the installation of monuments, laying out gardens parks and boulevards. In the archive reference library there are over 400,000 copies of books, newspapers, journals and reference editions. The archive is situated in the former building of the Senate and the Synod and the former mansion of Countess A.G. Laval (see Laval's house).

References: Вайнштейн А. Л., Павлова В. П., Люлина Р. Д. Здания Центрального государственного архива СССР (бывш. Сената и Синода) как архитектурный и исторический памятник // Проблемы архивоведения и истории архивных учреждений: Материалы юбил. науч. конф. архивистов Ленинграда. Л., 1970. С. 242-254; Фонды Российского государственного исторического архива: Крат. справ. СПб., 1994; Российский государственный исторический архив: Путеводитель: В 4 т. СПб., 2000. Т. 1.

O. N. Ansberg. Laval Alexandra Grigoryevna, Countess
Angliiskaya Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 4
Вайнштейн А. Л., Павлова В. П., Люлина Р. Д. Здания Центрального государственного архива СССР (бывш. Сената и Синода) как архитектурный и исторический памятник // Проблемы архивоведения и истории архивных учреждений: Материалы юбил. науч. конф. архивистов Ленинграда. Л., 1970
Фонды Российского государственного исторического архива: Крат. справ. СПб., 1994
Российский государственный исторический архив: Путеводитель: В 4 т. СПб., 2000 State Assembly
State Duma
Senate
Synod
Chancellery, His Imperial Majesty's Personal
State Inspectorate
St. Peter and Paul fortress
Senate and Synod Buildings
Laval, House of