Among the few scientific and historical associations who managed to open their representations on the ground was the Society of adherents of Russian historical enlightenment in memory of emperor Alexander III under the chairmanship of Count Sergey Sheremetev. The creation of regional branches became the guarantee of its successful existence, especially in the period before the revolution of 1905-1907. Based on archival materials, it was established that there were three types of departments. Many of them could bring the Society a real benefit, spreading his ideas in the people's environment and sending materials for publication to the archives of the Society. However, enthusiasts willing to give their time and forces of social activity, usually was not enough in one locality, often lacked the money for the practical implementation of these ideas, so to resist the serious historical cataclysms of the early XX century the majority could not.