Questions connected with the process of creation, approval and changes of the principal ideas in the chief document of public organization on the basis of which the society opened and developed its activity have been considered using the charter of the society. Created and confirmed in 1882 by a well known businessman P.I. Makushin, the charter was supplemented and changed. The goals and tasks, organizational and financial structure of the organization varied all the time. From the point of view of the goals, ways of the structure formation, management of the society and material resources creation, we can assert that it was the model of the charter of a charitable society. This charter became a sample for creation educational organizations in Siberia in the end of the 19th century. On the basis of the analysis of authorized documents it is possible to point out the following stages of life and activity of the society: 1. 1880s: the activity of the society is defined by the person of the chairman and his ability to involve sponsors and to cooperate with the authorities. The primary goals of the society are charitable. 2. 1890s: the basic role in the life of the society is played by Councils. Commissions help them and provide cultural-educational work. In the activity of the society the accent is displaced towards primary development, professional and out-of-school education. 3. The beginning of the 20th century: management decentralization, strengthening of the role of public meetings. The basic field of activity is cultural-educational work. The activity of government officials was directed at creation of a normal charter unified for all educational societies. Without allowing the expansion of the goals and tasks, the government made an attempt to limit the society structure, to implement intensified control over the activity of all its structures. The society tried to resist the introduction of restrictions. Members of the society refused to recognize and approve the amendments brought by the government and as an answer sent new petitions for expansion of the rights up till their closing in 1906.

Рассматриваются история создания и утверждения устава первого в Сибири «Общества попечения о начальном образовании в г. Томске», а также изменения, внесенные в документ на протяжении всей деятельности общества и причины, их вызвавшие.