Aaaaarrrrrggggghhhh!

[matteti]

Sadly, they'll last much longer in the Archives than they will out of the Archives. At least in the Archives they're relatively temperature controlled and in closed boxes, so UV-proof. If you have collectors who handle and frame up the documents, those will probably have a life a fraction of those documents that stayed in the Archives.

Of course, the thing that worries me about the Archives is a fire. If a fire started in one of the Archives buildings, all of that history would be GONE IN SMOKE forever. :(

Dave

I know it is a huge task, but I wonder why they don't start a project of digitalizing all those documents for future generations.

[jefflgarrison]

They could and they could also open up the archives for business. They do the research and then send it to the requestee. Then after about 10 years of doing this, they go after the person for owning "their" property.

[desantnik]

Unfortunately there is not enough investment to do this and is often the case in Russia, people are looking to make a quick buck without thinking of longer ramifications. The stability situation there is still that it's not worth thinking long-term.