The study relating to the history of ethnology assesses the importance of a significant memory institution, the Masaryk University Archives in Brno, for the investigations aimed at the research into ethnographical activities developed within 1945-1989 in Moravia, especially in Brno. The essay submits an overview of particular collections which offer a plenty of noteworthy documents about the department of ethnography at the Faculty of Arts at Brno University, its history, educational and research work, leading personalities and study of numerous graduates. Special attention is paid to the personal estate of Professor Antonín Václavík, the larger part of which is stored there.