History of Russia: The exhibition “Officers’ Societies of the Russian Imperial Guard” opened in the Martial Chamber

The exhibition Officers’ Societies of the Russian Imperial Guard has opened in the Tsarskoe Selo State Museum and Heritage Site. The exposition in the Martial Chamber features over 400 objects from the collections of the Tsarskoe Selo State Museum, the Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineers and Signal Corps, and several private collections.

Visitors to the exhibition will learn about the lifestyle and traditions of the members of officers’ societies. The exhibits include paintings, regimental books, paramedic Soroka’s drawing, a women’s bracelet in the shape of a sword belt with a sea daggers. Some of the objects are exhibited for the first time.

Officers’ societies in the pre-revolutionary army have been analogues to officers’ clubs, but with more complex organization and features. Basically, it has been a place for meals, leisure and meetings of the officers. Nevertheless, if the first military clubs date back to the late XVIII – early XIX centuries, officers’ societies with legally regulated rules and charters have existed since the 1870s. Some of the rare documents of officers’ societies are displayed at the exhibition.

An integral part of officers’ societies was a library. In many guard units, libraries have already been functioning in the early XIX century. Some of the officers have donated hundreds and even thousands of valuable books to their regiments. The catalogue featured numerous publications by officers themselves, especially in the artillery and engineering units. Often, the library became a favorite spot for leisure, where it was possible to learn recent news, read books and talk to friends. The exhibition showcases a typical collection of publications from the regimental library, some of which are signed by famous figures.

By the early XX century, many of the guard units have formed regimental museums, containing military relics, memorable gifts, rare documents, awards and sculptures, as well as collections of paintings, dedicated to the military history and peaceful life of the regiments. They included portraits of regiments’ chiefs and commanders. Some of these works from the collections of the Tsarskoe Selo State Museum are exhibited for the first time.

After the eruption of World War I, officers’ societies continued to exist at the front in the mobile format. For this, suitable spaces were used, as well as dugouts and blindages in the line of trenches. A drawing of such improvised society, made in the beginning of 1917, during the trench warfare by paramedic Soroka from the 70th Infantry Ryazhsky Regiment is displayed at the exhibition for the first time.

The February Revolution, followed by the October Revolution in 1917, has destroyed long-standing traditions of the Russian Imperial Guard, which seized to exist as well. Many valuable regimental relics were lost, a part of them were later distributed between Soviet museums, and many were transferred abroad.

The exhibition will run until October 18, 2022.