Boris Lvovich Modzalevsky was the organizer and director of the Pushkin Jubilee Exhibition of 1899, a passionate advocate for source research and archival work, and one of the founding members of the Pushkin Institute. Boris Modzalevsky saw the establishment of the institute as the “best way to celebrate the 100th birthday of Alexander Pushkin.” The Pushkin Exhibition, which was held at the Imperial Academy of Sciences in May of 1899, served as the model for the future academic institution.

Vice-President of the Academy, Leonid Maikov, and Modzalevsky, were among the organizers of the exhibition. Together, they managed to gather over 700 exhibits, including 93 Pushkin’s autographs, which were scattered across private collections and various institutions. After the exhibition closed, the exhibits were returned to their owners. Soon after, an academic committee for the erection of a monument to Pushkin in St. Petersburg was formed, chaired by Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich, the President of the Imperial Academy of Sciences. Members of this committee came up with the idea of gradually gathering Pushkin’s legacy.

On December 15, 1905, at a committee meeting, it was determined to establish the Pushkin House. “A remarkable, memorable day in the history of Russian culture! Today, the Pushkin House was decided. Congratulations to sensible Russia on this significant acquisition!“, Vladimir Ryshkov, the secretary of the committee for the erection of a monument to Alexander Pushkin, wrote in his journal. On July 14, 1907, the “Regulations” for the new academic institution, drafted by Modzalevsky and Ryshkov, were endorsed by Nicholas II. The main provisions of these regulations set forth the following:

The initial phase of the formation of the Pushkin House was marked by the acquisition or donation of some of the most significant historical, literary, and artistic collections, which formed the basis for its manuscript, library, and museum departments and provided a solid foundation for research and publication activities. At the heart of the foundation of the Pushkin House lies the poet’s own private library, acquired in 1906 with state-provided money. This collection was purchased from Pushkin’s grandson.