The article is concerned with the mass movement of the population during the First World War from the western and south-western regions into the interior of the country which led to the creation of such special structural subdivisions as a governorate, a county and a volost. The author highlights the fact that, legally, the functions of these units were clearly divided, and the scope of work done for refugees within these units was quite high. The special features of working with refugees in the county-level city of Cherepovets of Novgorod governorate, are considered.

The article represents a brief history of the magazine “Children’s Aid”, its main headings, reflects the issue associated with the features of reflection of the regional charity on the pages of national magazines in the last third of the XIX century in the Russian Empire. The features of reflection of charity activities of people under age in the Novgorod and Pskov provinces are under consideration.