In 1916 on the initiative of A.A.Shakmatov the Academy of Sciences commissioned Boris Shergin to Shenkursky District of Arkhangelsk Province to research local dialects and collect folklore pieces.
In 1917 upon graduating from the Stroganov’s School he returned to Arkhangelsk to work in the local Society for Studies of the Russian North and later in arts and crafts workshops.
Shergin was also into archaeography: he collected antique books, poetry albums, songbooks, old sailing directions, and skippers’ notebooks.
In 1922 Boris Viktorovich moved back to Moscow to work for Children’s Reading Institute under People’s Comissariat for Education.
The beauty of the Russian north, with its proud people and rich culture, is reflected in his books.