The article gives an archaeographic and source evaluation of the collection of documents «Russia and Finland: from confrontation to peace. 1917-1920», devoted to the relationship between Russia and Finland in this period. The author of the article draws attention to the fact that part of the archival documents that formed the basis of the collection is published for the first time, thus it becomes possible to restore the history of the formation of Finland’s independence. At the disposal of the reader is given the history of the development by the Provisional Government of laws that changed the status of Finland in 1917, as well as the prehistory of the conclusion of a peace treaty between Finland and Soviet Russia in 1920. The publication is intended for a wide range of readers, is equipped with an extensive scientific and reference device and maps.