The article analyzes the documentary materials of the Republic of Tatarstan State Archives on the history of the formation and activities of Kazan University’s Tatar Language and Literature Department in the middle of 1940s – 1950s. The study of the protocols of the department provided an opportunity to identify the academic staff, the main directions of the department's work in the first post-war years, the material and technical equipment and the specifics of organizing the educational process. It was concluded that the activities of the Department of Tatar Philology made a significant contribution to the determination of further ways of developing Tatar philological education and demonstrated the importance of preserving the language for the culture of Tatar people.