The article deals with the history of the publication of the guide to the Central State Historical Archives in Leningrad (now the Russian State Historical Archives) and of the opposition of Leningrad archivists to the ideological oppression of the late 1940s. The study is based on hitherto unknown archival documents. The article describes the position of managers and leading archives specialists during the discussion concerning the guide. The guide to the Central State Historical Archives in Leningrad remains as a historic evidence of not only the ideological oppression and repression of censorship, but also of the courage and professionalism of Leningrad archivists.