Rumyantsev Museum and Its Library: Controversy, Reorganization, Disbandment (1917—1921)

Abstract

In 2022, the Russian State Library (RSL) celebrates the 160th anniversary of the Rumyantsev Museum, which has changed its status and official name several times throughout its history (after the February Revolution of 1917 — the State Rumyantsev Museum). The article considers the internal processes that took place in the Museum at the beginning of the 20th century, which resulted in its disbandment in 1918—1921 and the formation of the main library of the country based on its book holdings. This determines the scientific novelty of the study, which for the first time raises questions about the causes of these events. The source base of the research is the materials of the RSL Archive. For the first time, the author introduces into scientific circulation the official notes of employees, designed to make the necessary changes to get out of the critical situation in which the largest cultural centre of Moscow turned out to be before 1917 and in the post-revolutionary period. The presented notes were written by two groups of specialists of the museum, who proposed divergent ways of its further existence. Some of the staff considered it necessary to preserve the integrity of the museum and its further development. Another group insisted on the separation of the library from the museum and on its obtaining the status of an independent institution. For the first time, the article also introduces into scientific circulation the archival documents of the “Minutes Meetings of the Scientific Council” (later the Collegium) of the State Rumyantsev Museum, covering the stages of making decision on the disbandment and further transfer of the monuments of the museum’s branches to other institutions throughout the country. The documents from the RSL Archive reflect the controversy on this issue. In the wake of social changes, the internal museum disputes have gone beyond its borders. When discussing projects, representatives of the central libraries and the new Government spoke out in support of transformation. The process of finding the way out of the crisis situation led to the disbandment of the State Rumyantsev Museum and the formation of the All-Union Public Library named after V.I. Lenin (then, the V.I. Lenin State Library of the USSR, and nowadays the Russian State Library) based on its book collections.