Glavnauka

(full name, Central Administration for Scientific, Scholarly-Artistic, and Museum Institutions), an administrative body that existed from 1922 to September 1933 as part of the People’s Commissariat for Education (Narkompros) of the RSFSR; in 1930 it was renamed Scholarly Sector. Glavnauka ran academies and scientific societies, research institutes, libraries and bibliographical institutions; organized scientific expeditions, archaeological excavations, and the restoration of historical and artistic monuments; approved the repertoire of state academic theaters and the collections of museums; supervised general museums, the inventory and preservation of historical and artistic monuments, preserves, parks, botanical gardens, and all matters concerning environmental protection. Furthermore, Glavnauka convened congresses and conferences that not only heard scholarly reports but also reviewed the methodological and planning problems of scientific research and the ties between scientific institutions and planning and economic institutions.