Abstract. The article highlights the general situation in the field of local studies prior to the establishment of the Russian Institute for Cultural Research and the history of its reorganizations, evolution of its mission and the main directions of its work, development of its organizational structure and changes in location of its rooms and premises in 1932–1947. The author characterises the basic forms of the Institute’s activities, participation in discovery and preservation of historical and cultural monuments in the period under review and represents short biographies of the Institute’s directors including their organisational and academic work.