Cultural and historical heritage of Chișinău consists of the monuments of history and art. Many of them took the form of an illustrated postcard that has become an important source of information, and author of the picture became a “field” correspondent, who transmitted the public authentic images. Such are the three photographic postcards from the collection of the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova with the image of the building of the Hârbovăț Community of Nurses in Chișinău, located at the intersection of Sinadinovskaya and Fontannaya streets (now Vlaicu Pârcălab and Veronica Micle). The earliest of them was released before 1917 by the G. Sheinberg’s Book and Stationery Store in Chișinău; the other two date from the interwar period, bear the same image and differ only in the inscriptions.

This paper is a continuation of the deltiological study of museum collections and addresses the history of the building, as well as the activities of the Community.

This is one of the few buildings of that time, partly preserved in the architecture and functional use. Charitable complex was built in 1907-1912 and includes three two-storey and five one-storey buildings. The author of the project is a provincial architect A. Asvadurov (first floor), the second floor was designed by an engineer M. Chekerul- Kush, and the interior has been arranged for the British model by Bessarabian doctor T. Ciorba. Over the years, this charitable medical institution developed from a ten-bed inpatient to 40 beds, outpatient clinic served about 250 patients a day (for free), and there was a well-trained staff and well-equipped consulting rooms.

After 1918 the building became the property of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Romania, and in 1920 there was opened the “Regina Maria” Children’s Hospital, in honor of the visit of the royal family to Chișinău from 19 to 22 May 1920.

The complex was built by the Bessarabian Red Cross Society. The first building was consecrated on May 20, 1907, having received the patronage of the thaumaturgical icon of Our Lady from the Hârbovăț Monastery. At the head of the Community there was the committee of ladies of the Chișinău high society headed by the wives of governors of Bessarabia. A special role in the history of the Community belongs to the wives of governors Urusov, Kharuzin, and Kankrin, who laid the foundation of this medical center. As a branch of the Russian Red Cross Society, the Hârbovăț Community of Nurses provided active assistance to the wounded during World War II. From 1914 to1916 at the hospital there was functioning a school of nursing, which had two issues.

After 1918, the Chișinău Red Cross becomes the branch of the Bucharest Red Cross and was headed by Florica Niță, and then by Maria Pelivan.

After 1944, this building housed the 4th Sanatorium Department 4, and later converted to the Republican Sanatorium Clinic. Today, the part of the building is occupied by the Polyclinic of the Government Apparatus, and the “central” block houses the Coordinating Council for Television and Radio of the Republic of Moldova.

List of Illustrations:
1. Illustrated postcard “ Chișinău. Hârbovăț Community “, early XX century. Released by the Book and Stationery Store G. B. Sheinberg and Son, Chișinău. Black and white image; was not in circulation.
2. Illustrated postcard “ Chișinău. Sinadinovskaya Street. Hârbovăț Community”. Color image, circulated in 1909.
3. Ad unit of the Book and Stationery Store G. B. Sheinberg and Son in Chișinău (Nashe Ob’yedinenie 1911, 33).
4. Illustrated postcard “Chișinău. “Regina Maria” Hospital”. Published in the interwar period. Black and white image, was not in circulation.
5. Advertisement of the “Regina Maria” Hospital located in the building of the Hârbovăț Community (Anuarul 1940, 111).