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Remote Research in Russia: Part Two

The Potential of Russian Archives and Remotely Accessing Catalogues and Materials (Part 1)
Russian archives contain a rich cultural and historical heritage that is of great interest to researchers across a wide range of social science fields. However, the specifics of the Russian archival system, particularly its organizational structure, cataloguing methods and accessibility of materials, need to be explained to foreign researchers.

In this issue of our series, which will deal with conducting research remotely, The Bridge presents an overview of the main online resources available and how to use them.

Main sources for remotely available archival holdings:

  • Archival inventories
  • Printed and online guides
  • Electronic catalogues and reference books
  • Digitized documents through online platforms

While the vast majority of archival documents remain available only in physical form, Russian archives are steadily working to digitize inventories and materials. Researchers can use the following online tools.

  • Official archive websites, which provide electronic catalogues and search engines.
  • The Archives of Russia portal (archives.ru), coordinated by Rosarkhiv, with links to federal and regional archives and reference information.
  • The State Catalogue of the Museum Fund of Russia (goskatalog.ru), though not strictly an archival portal, contains images and descriptions of museum items, including documents and works of art from archival collections.
  • Digital libraries (for example, the Russian State Library and the Russian National Library) offering digitized guidebooks, inventories and other reference materials.
How to use online collections
  • Start with a topic or person of interest – for example, театр, война, ЦК КПСС, Брежнев. This will help you determine the number of relevant materials in an archive, then narrow your search as necessary. Some search engines, such as GARF’s, allow searching by part of a word – for example, велик отечеств войн instead of Великая Отечественная война. This often leads to more relevant results, though it is still not widely used in Russia.
  • Use keyword searches to explore names, dates or terms relevant to your research. If one keyword yields no results, try variations. Say your research focused on the growth of the rural population in Moscow Region in 1939-56, relevant queries could include: население, Московская область, перепись, 1939-1956, деревня, демография, миграция, сельское, крестьяне, колхозы.
  • Consider original spelling and languages in file names – for example, Neue Freie Presse, Daily Mail, Felix Smith, Chambers Encyclopedia. If relevant, try queries in the original language.
  • Check spelling carefully when searching in Russian, including possible variations of surnames (e.g., Цветаева versus Цвѣтаева).
  • Record fund, inventory and file numbers from your search results – these will be needed further down the line.
  • Look out for inventories available only in PDF format (e.g., in RGIA or TsGA Moscow). These may not be integrated into the search interface. Some are handwritten, which may necessitate extra attention or assistance from a Russian-speaking specialist. The same goes for archival guides and printed catalogues.
If you're working on a research project that demands access to Russian or post-Soviet archival collections — whether for academic, journalistic, or personal purposes — our team is here to help. With on-site specialists, deep knowledge of archival systems, and experience navigating institutional procedures, we can assist you in uncovering the sources that matter.

Just reach out — and we’ll take it from there.