Penza, 1 November 2017. PenzaNews. An online exhibition will be organized on the website of the Penza state archive in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution, which will be celebrated on November 7. This was reported by the main archivist of the institution Svetlana Petrina.

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"There were no documents that would prove that the revolution took place – no telegrams or things of the kind. People learnt about the event from newspapers. They were extremely worried about the events that had happened on October 25, November 7 in the new style, because there were rumours that some strange things were going on in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Telegraph offices did not work that day. [...] There was anarchy in the regions and the cities – in fact, there was no any authority," she explained to journalists during a tour around the state archive on Wednesday, November 1.

Svetlana Petrina noted that the Bolsheviks' accession to power had been a shock to inhabitants of Penza and the whole region.

"In our city they came to power only on December 17, 1917," the main archivist specified.

According to her, newspapers are the most interesting materials that help to restore the events of that time.

"We have two newspapers that were published during that period: 'Penzenskaya Rech', which positioned itself as an independent newspaper, [...] and the newspaper 'Izvestia' published by the Penza Soviet of Workers and Soldiers' Deputies," Svetlana Petrina reported.

She added that in addition to the newspapers, the online exposition will include surviving photographs of the first executive committee of the Soviet of Workers and Red Army Soldiers' Deputies, images of mess in shops in Moskovskaya street, celebration of the first anniversary of the revolution, as well as some documents from the office of a provisional government commissar. 

According to the main archivist, the online exhibition will become permanent. The day of its start is still under consideration.