Evgeny Miletin with SPbGASU students
Students and teachers from the SPbGASU Faculty of Architecture learned about the work of the Russian State Historical Archive (RGIA). Evgeny Miletin, Deputy Director of the RGIA, led a tour of this largest archive in Europe, located in St Petersburg.
For two hours, the students learned about the workings of one of the country's most important historical archives. They saw that an archive is not just a place for storing documents, but a complex system that ensures the preservation of historical heritage, staffed by highly qualified professionals.
Participants were shown various archive departments and learned about the principles of organizing the collections' storage. Students learned how documents, books, drawings, and other historical materials were preserved. Particular attention was paid to the processes of restoring archival documents, digitizing them, and creating microfilms.
In the restoration laboratory
For future architects, learning about the archive's work is particularly important: archival materials are a vital source of information in the study of the history of architecture, urban planning, and cultural heritage sites. Original drawings, design documentation, building descriptions, and historical evidence allow researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the processes that shape the urban environment and the architectural appearance of buildings from different eras. A visit to the Russian State Historical Archives (RGIA) allowed the students to see how the country's documentary memory is preserved and the role primary sources play in education and research.
The SPbGASU Faculty of Architecture is grateful to the Russian State Historical Archive and Evgeny Miletin personally for the informative tour and attentive attitude toward our students.