The death of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov did not put an end to the history of the White Dacha. Maria Pavlovna continued to look after the house, maintaining in it the unique “Chekhovian” energy that filled the rooms in the days of the writer. The life of Maria Pavlovna is forever intertwined with the house of the great creator. She did not leave the White Dacha neither in the chaos of the civil war, nor during the earthquake of 1927, nor during the years of the occupation of the Crimea by the fascist invaders. Keeping the ingrained traditions at home, the writer’s sister also initiated the Chekhov’s Readings.

The first such event took place in 1954. From that moment on, scientific conferences are held annually. 1954 was not chosen by chance as the starting point of the Readings. In July, the world community recalled Anton Pavlovich Chekhov in connection with the 50th anniversary of his death. This event was celebrated with the greatest scope in Moscow, with which a huge part of the life and work of the writer is connected; Taganrog - the city of Chekhov’s childhood and youth; Yalta, which has become the haven Anton Pavlovich’s last years.

Yalta events opened with a ceremonial meeting in the A.P. Chekhov’s theater. Members of the Union of Soviet Writers of Ukraine, party and public figures of Crimea have gathered here. Maria Pavlovna was also present in the theater hall. The meeting participants laid flowers at the writer’s monument in Primorsky Park. And on July 18-20, 1954, the first Chekhov’s Readings took place. The conference was organized by the House-Museum of the writer and personally by Maria Pavlovna. Her participation and memories served as the cornerstone of a converging and warm atmosphere in which the Readings took place. The conference resulted in the publication of a series of scientific reports.

For almost 70 years ‘The Chekhov”s Readings in Yalta’ have been the main scientific event of the A.P. Chekhov’s Museum in Crimea. This occasion is the main memorial and scientific event of the year for researchers of the life and work of the writer from Russia and abroad and admirers of his talent.

At various times, since 1954, not only world-famous domestic researchers (Vladimir Yakovlevich Lakshin, Elena Mikhailovna Sakharova, Alexander Pavlovich Chudakov, Alevtina Pavlovna Kuzicheva, Vladimir Borisovich Kataev and others) took part in the Chekhov Readings, but also many foreign scientists and cultural figures.