Organization of Archiving in the Komi Region in the 1920s

Abstract

The article is to show the organization of archiving in the Komi region in the 1920s. Thus, the following tasks have been solved: considering the conditions for formation of the regional archive and archives of organizations, their activities in acquisition and preservation of archival materials, role of regional and uezd authorities in the management of archives. A number of fundamental works are devoted to the history of national archiving formation in the 1920s; however, the organization of archiving in various regions has been studied insufficiently. The relevance of the study is enhanced by the Komi Republic archiving celebrating its centenary anniversary in 2022. The accumulated historical experience can be successfully applied today. This is especially true of the period under study, when the foundations of archiving were laid out, documents actively collected, criteria for interaction between the authorities and archival institutions determined. The article draws on published and unpublished sources deposited in the fonds of the National Archive of the Komi Republic. They are well known to researchers; however, a number of documents have not yet been presented to scholars, these are being introduced into scientific use for the first time. In addition to archival sources, published sources have also been used. In 1922, the Komi Regional Archive was opened in Ust-Sysolsk (Syktyvkar). One of the reasons for the appearance of the first archival institution in the Komi region was the first decrees and resolutions of the Soviet government in the field of archiving. The local history movement played an important role, as well as enthusiasm of some representatives of the national intelligentsia. The opening of the archive was accompanied by certain difficulties: there was practically no funding, not enough qualified personnel, etc. Only by the end of the studied period, the situation improved somewhat: district archives were opened, training of archival workers began. Considering the organization of archiving in the Komi region in the 1920s, it should be noted that archival construction began, the regional archive was acquiring and describing documents, measures were taken to preserve unique sources and to use documents for the purposes of national economic. At the same time, there was no archiving in organizations and institutions, no conditions for storing documents, almost no personnel.