Tatar ethnographic collection in the accumulation of the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan

The article examines the history of the formation of the Tatar ethnographic collection, one of the most significant collections of the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan. The main stages of admission of Tatar ethnography subjects are listed. The first stage is connected with the work of Kazan collectors, such as A. Likhachev, L. Sickler, and N. Katanov. The samples and jewelry from the first half – the middle of the 19th century from A. Likhachev and L. Sickler’s collections are particularly valuable. The next stage is associated with the arrival of the famous ethnographer B. Adler and the activities of N. Vorobyov’s tenure as the museum’s director, which was marked by the beginning of scientific research and collection of Tatar ethnography, as well as the organization of expeditions and exhibitions. The expeditions conducted in the 1920s by N. Vorobyov, P. Dulsky, and G. Gubaydullin laid the foundation for the systematic collection of materials on the culture and everyday life of the peoples of the Volga region and the Urals, including Tatars. The 1920s were also notable for the arrival of collections from the Museum of Oriental Peoples and other museums in Kazan. The museum’s collaboration with academic institutions allowed for the targeted acquisition of the Tatar ethnographic collection in the 1950s–1990s, including participation in ethnographic expeditions and organization of its own historical and cultural expeditions. The museum’s efforts to study and promote its collections through the creation of thematic exhibitions, albums, and catalogs, as well as its cooperation with the academic community and artisans are showcased.