Since the second half of the 18th century, generations of intellectuals and sponsors have laid foundations of the contemporary Moravian historiography. Although the founders came from various material and social conditions, they pursued one common objective: the economic, cultural and scientific advancement of Moravia. An excellent knowledge of the Moravian history was the device and key for these people to discover their own capabilities. Beside the well-known founders of the Moravian historiography, many small researchers, fallen into oblivion today, worked hard in different regions for the common idea. František Vilém Horký was one of such renowned regional historians. His life and work is a telling example of an intellectual who arose from the poorest social stratum. He was able to free himself from gloomy situation, and to guarantee a reasonable material standard to his family by his diligence and tenacity. In addition to that, he started copying historically valuable documents and he drew and described various memorabilities. Thus, he created a vast family collection which was later on used by his talented son for publishing historical works. Manuscripts conserved until today are documenting the width of interest of this small intellectual living between 1764 and 1825.