Russian State Archive of Socio-Political History, Archive in Moscow, Russia

The Russian State Archive of Socio-Political History (RGASPI) is a major archive in Moscow, Russia, holding documents from the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and personal papers of Soviet leaders. Its main building is a tall rectangular structure with a brown and tan facade, seven stories high, topped by a recessed upper section and a flat roof with antennas, and an inscription in Cyrillic letters above the date 1927 near the top.

The archive was established in 1999 through the merger of two other archives, the Russian Centre for the Preservation and Study of Documents of Most Recent History and the Centre for the Preservation of Documents of Youth Organisations. Its roots go back to the Institute of V. I. Lenin, founded in 1923, which later became the Central Party Archive.

The archive holds a vast collection of political caricatures and graphics from the late 18th and 19th centuries, including works by famous English and French artists. Visitors can see these materials by appointment, offering a window into European political satire.

The archive is located in a broad, open area with a single tall streetlamp in front of the entrance, making it easy to spot. Visitors should check access conditions in advance, as many documents are restricted and require special permission.

After World War II, the archive received trophy materials from displaced German archives, including police files on Marx, Engels, and other German socialist leaders. This acquisition added a rare dimension to its holdings, with documents that trace the lives of key figures in the socialist movement.