The Russian State Historical Archive (RGIA; Российский государственный исторический архив) is the largest archive in Europe and one of the largest in the world, with some seven million items in storage. Its main focus is the history of the Russian Empire. RGIA is recognized by both the Russian state and UNESCO as a site of especial value to the cultural heritage of the peoples of the Russian Federation.
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
RGIA has several spacious reading rooms and Scientific Research Library at a convenient location near the Ladozhskaya Metro Station in the eastern part of St. Petersburg, Russia.
The Russian State Historical Archive reading rooms offer individual places for working with archival originals, special tables for viewing graphic materials and large-format documents, modern computers to access the archive’s electronic catalog and for viewing scanned documents, and devices for working with microcopies. There is a separate small reading room for working with especially old and valuable documents.
There are about seven hundred freely accessible reference books: thematic lists, reviews of documents by departments, prefaces to inventories and reviews of documentary materials on funds, guidebooks to the funds of the RGIA and other state archives. Archive employees are available to assist with searches as well.
Prep Beforehand
RGIA Putevoditel is available on-line.
To order materials from RGIA you need to provide an official letter from a supporting institution. The official letter should be as follows:
Директору Российского государственного исторического архива Штуковой Светлане Викторовне
Уважаемая Светлана Викторовна!
К Вам обращается (NAME, POSITION).
Я провожу исследование (NAME OF RESEARCH, PURPOSE).
В рамках этой работы я планирую заниматься исследованием документов в РГИА (DATE) этого года.
Прилагаю официальное письмо от моего института.
Обращаюсь с просьбой предоставить к моему приезду (ARRIVAL DATE) и приходу в РГИА мне следующие документы:
Ф. (No.) Оп. (No.) Д. (1): (Name of file, Date of file can be specified as well, but not mandatory)
С уважением,
(NAME)
Getting a Propusk
Documents needed: Passport (w/registration); color photo 3×4 cm; letter from your university. A zayavleniye must be filled out upon arrival.
Time: 15 minutes.
Zayavleniye template:
Директору РГИА Штуковой С.В.
From (Last name, first name, address, tel, e-mail, passport)
З А Я В Л Е Н И Е
Прошу разрешить пользоваться фондами РГИА для работы по теме:_____
Хронологические рамки исследования ___
Подпись, Дата
Otnoshenie (Institution letter template (should be on official letterhead):
Директору Российского государственного исторического архива Штуковой Светлане Викторовне
Уважаемая Светлана Викторовна!
Прошу предоставить возможность для работы с фондами РГИА 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: 4 days
Maximum delo that can be requested at one time: 20
Photos/Photocopies/Scans: Copies and scans vary in cost based on age and type of document. Photocopies from hardcopy documents run 60 rubles per page. Wait time between ordering scans and receipt is about one month if an invoice is paid on the second day after placing the order, on RGIA premises. Scans are generally ready faster than photocopies, but cost 188-220 rubles per page. Photos taken from a smartphone will cost 64-73 rubles per page photographed.
Logistics
Address: Zanevsky pr. 36 (Ladozhskaya metro station)
Phone: +7 (812) 438-55-54
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Website: click here
Requests from individuals and organizations:
- send requests to: [email protected].
- Follow up by calling: + 7 (812) 438-55-57
Working hours:
Mon – Thu 10:00-17:15
Fri – 10:00-16:15
Closed Sat and Sun, every last Fri of a month
More Guides
For more guides, see the archvial guide main page.
