After the 1913-1914 northern hydrographical expedition that discovered the Nicholas II Land (currently Severnaya Zemlya), the Academy of Sciences established the Polar Commission. Its initiator, geologist and paleontologist I. P. Tolmachev, emigrated after the revolution to the USA and lived in Pittsburgh. After his departure, the Commission continued its work by organizing arctic expeditions, mapping northern territories, collecting and preserving records, producing expert evaluations of national and international arctic projects, and publishing the periodical "Proceedings of the Polar Commission". In 1930 it hosted the international meeting in Leningrad devoted to preparations for the 2nd International Polar Year (1932-1933). The St. Petersburg Archive and the Library of the Academy of Sciences hold the documents of the commission and its rich book collection.