The Russian State Military Historical Archive (RGVIA; Российский государственный военно-исторический архив) is one of the largest archives in Russia. Its focus is on documents concerning the Russian Army from the end of the 1700s to 1918. RGVIA is located at a beautiful palace built in 1699, known as Lefortovo Palace, originally built as a gift to a military leader favored by Peter I.
Current Status
Travel to Russia is currently not advisable. The US embassy is largely closed to civilians and has very limited emergency response. Sanctions also mean that credit and debit cards issued by US banks will not work in Russia. Researchers hoping to access any archives in Russia can still do so remotely via SRAS Research Support Services.
Overall Experience
RGVIA has a small reading room and a copying department on the second floor of Lefortovo Palace. The building itself is on the premises of Bauman Technical University near Baumanskaya Metro Station in Moscow, Russia.
The Russian State Military Historical Archive reading room offers individual places for working with archival originals, and computers for viewing the database of funds, opisi and delos. There are many sockets..
RGVIA is quite slow at making scans and preparing invoices for photos/scans, however. Waiting for an invoice can take up to 30 days. Waiting for scans or receiving an invitation to visit RGVIA for photographing files on your own can take up to 30 more days. So, if you order scans, be prepared to wait at least two months.
Prep Beforehand
RGVIA Putevoditel is available on-line.
To sign up for RGVIA services, you need to fill out an application (заявление) during your “sign up” visit to RGVIA. You will be given a template by the archivist, you will need to indicate your research topic and date ranges.
Getting a Propusk
Documents needed: Passport (w/registration); letter from your university. A zayavleniye must be filled out upon arrival.
Time: 15 minutes, on site.
Zayavleniye template:
Директору РГВИА Журавлеву А.Н.
From (Last name, first name, address, tel, e-mail, passport)
ЗАЯВЛЕНИЕ
Прошу разрешить пользоваться фондами РГВИА для работы по теме:_____
Хронологические рамки исследования ——
Подпись, Дата
Otnoshenie (Institution letter template (should be on official letterhead)):
Директору Российского государственного военно-исторического архива
Журавлеву Алексею Николаевичу
Уважаемый Алексей Николаевич!
Прошу предоставить возможность для работы с фондами РГВИА сотруднику
(RESEARCHER’S NAME, TITLE, POSITION) работающему по теме (TOPIC, TIME FRAMES).
С уважением,
(TITLE, NAME, POSITION OF INSTITUTION OFFICIAL)
Working the Archive
Working days between requesting materials and receipt: 3 days
Maximum delo that can be requested at one time: 10
Photos/Photocopies/Scans: Scans vary in cost based on age and size of document. For example, scans of documents of XIX-XX centuries are 219 rubles per page. Photos taken from a smartphone will cost 71 rubles per page photographed.
Logistics
Address: 3, 2nd Baumanskaya Street (Baumanskaya metro station)
Phone: +7 (499) 267-44-62
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: click here
Working hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 10:00-17:00
Wednesday 10:00-20:00
Friday – 10:00-16:00
Closed Sat and Sun, every last Friday of a month
More Guides
For more guides, see the archvial guide main page.
