The article presents a case study of one of the important and least researched areas of self-government bodies’ social policy – charitable activities of the Zemstvo in Saratov province. The main attention is paid to the forms of childhood protection and the process of building up a system of Zemstvo’s assistance to orphans and children left without parental care. The paper places a significant focus on the history of creation of the Zemstvo’s orphanage and other institutions of social care for foundlings.
