Diary of A. A. Polovtsov 1893-1909 is a unique historical source on the history of the Russian Empire of the late XIX - early XX centuries. The participant or witness of many important events in the political life of the state, the author of the diary, as a rule, left detailed notes on their fresh traces. On the pages of the diary, he described representatives of the highest bureaucracy, members of the Imperial family, usually conveyed in detail the content of conversations with them. Often Polovtsov talked about the meetings of the State Council, recorded Petersburg gossip and rumors in detail and with his characteristic sarcasm.. The entire diary of this period is published for the first time.