The article presents results of studying archival sources and periodicals that reveal history of development of medical social care to the blind in the Irkutsk Governorate-General. The blindness was especially common among residents of the northern districts of Eastern Siberia. The glaucoma, traumatic and inflammatory affections of the cornea were the causes of development of blindness in conditions of absence of specialized medical care. But much more often it was caused by trachoma, which became widespread. The events are displayed in chronological order. The organization of public institutions, role of charitable capital, eparchy bodies and local authorities in resolving financing issues, attraction of public attention to problem of blind children were examined. The leading role in this process played most various categories of philanthropists, from principal patrons of arts to ordinary physicians providing free medical care. The organization of flying ophthalmological squads became prototype of organization of specialized medical care. The role of guardianship movement of helping blind children in Eastern Siberia is demonstrated. The article presents history of organization of school for blind children in the main city of the Gubernia, founded with funds from testamentary capital of the widow of Ivan Stepanovich Khaminov. This school became the first such institution in the Eastern Siberia. The organization of the pedagogical, educational and labor process for blind children in the school is studied in detail.

medical social care, charity, I. S. Khaminov School for the Blind, the Empress Maria Alexandrovna Guardianship of the blind.