About the museum

The Museum of History of Yerevan State University is the first, largest, and richest university museum in the Republic of Armenia.

The exhibition of the museum presents the process of formation and establishment of YSU, famous university students, as well as the university's participation and response to the most important events in Armenia.

During the 60 years of its existence, the museum is continuously replenished with many materials related to the university and the development of higher education in Armenia (photos, personal items, valuable documents, archaeological and ethnographic samples, works of fine art, paintings created by famous artists, portraits of YSU benefactors, as well as books with gift certificates, technical devices, etc.).

The Archeology department of the museum stands out with its interesting exhibits, which were formed based on many finds received from the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the NAS RA and discovered during the excavations of the archaeological expeditions of the Department of Archeology and Ethnography of the Faculty of History of YSU, from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages.

An important part of the exhibition of the museum is the corner of the university students who were repressed in the 1930s, where exclusive information about them is presented based on the materials of the RA National Archive.

Noteworthy are the billboards dedicated to university students who died in the Great Patriotic War and in Artsakh Wars, with photos, documents, personal items, as well as books written about them.

Ahead of YSU's 100th anniversary, the museum has been replenished with many new materials related to the university and the development of higher education in Armenia. Such unique samples as "The Law on the Foundation of Yerevan University" adopted on May 16, 1919, by the Council of Ministers of the First Republic of Armenia were shown, as well as transcripts of the sessions of the organizing committee, the first charter of the university, the first timetable, many old documents, manuscripts, etc.

In the museum, you can also be acquainted with the process of formation of higher education in Armenia and the annals of most of the universities established in the republic based on the relevant faculties of YSU.

The museum regularly organizes temporary and traveling thematic exhibitions, cognitive class excursions, round table discussions, and various other events.

The museum is also engaged in the study of materials related to the history of YSU, the life, and activities of famous professors, and university students who died in the Artsakh war, as a result of which a number of valuable books have been published.

The museum cooperates with RA university museums, YSU faculties, RA National Archive, and RA NAS Institute of Archeology and Ethnography, thanks to which a number of important documents and items were restored.

Every year, the museum hosts freshmen and schoolchildren, introducing them to the history of the university, the devotees, and famous graduates, who later gained wide recognition in the field of science not only in our republic but also in the international arena. The university receives more than 2,000 visitors annually.

The foundation of the YSU History Museum was laid by the YSU rector’s No. 5 decision of March 22, 1960. At first, it functioned as a cabinet and was located in the first building of the university (52 Abovyan Str.).

In 1965, the cabinet was moved to the fifth, later to the seventh floor of the central building of the newly constructed university complex.

In 1988 based on the history cabinet, a scientific research laboratory on the history of higher education in Armenia with an attached museum was formed as part of the Research department of YSU.

From January 1, 1995, the museum became an independent structural unit and was called YSU History Museum, whose founding director was Prof. L. Gharibjanyan.

In 2009, the renovated museum was adapted to the logic of exhibitions, and a new exhibition with several sections was opened.

In 2019, on the 100th anniversary of the founding of YSU, and according to decision No. 1/1 of September 2 of the Academic Council, the museum was named after Professor Ludvig Gharibjanyan for his invaluable contribution to the foundation and further development of the museum

The exhibition on the history of Yerevan State University is particularly important in the museum, which tells about the structure of YSU, its faculties, rectors, founding professors and devotees, active student life, as well as international cooperative relations of the university.