The Department of Early Literature was established in 1993. Prof. Algis Samulionis (1936-1994) served as department’s first chair. During the seven years of Samulionis’s leadership, scholars, mostly young, joined the department determined to expand and renew the understanding of Lithuanian Early Literature. Samulionis initiated the Seminar on Early Literature, which commenced one month after the restoration of Lithuania's independence. The first chair of the department also became the originator and editor-in-chief of the series Senoji Lietuvos literatūra [Early Lithuanian Literature], which later grew into an academic publication. 

 

From 1994 to 2000, Dr. Dainora Pociūtė was the chair of the department, and from 2001 to 2010, Dr. Sigitas Narbutas, who was particularly concerned that the issues of the series on Early Lithuanian Literature should not be discontinued due to the lack of funding. Narbutas also initiated the Lebedys Readings, annual conference devoted to various aspects of Early Lithuanian literature. From March 2010 to June 2020, Dr. Mintautas Čiurinskas was in charge of the department. Under his leadership, the Seminars on EarlyLiterature resumed on January 30, 2019. Since July 2020, Dr. Asta Vaškelienė has been serving as the chair of the department.

 

 

Over the course of almost three decades, the department has secured a position of an important centre of research on the literature of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Prussian Lithuania in Central Eastern Europe. To maintain contacts with Polish, Ukrainian and German scholars, especially those researching common cultural heritage, and to coordinate and integrate research activities in the field of Early Lithuanian Studies, the department employs various forms of academic cooperation (international conferences, editing and publication of the journal Early Lithuanian Literature, and joint projects). Inter-institutional cooperation with Lithuanian scientific and educational institutions has also been taking place. The staff of the department presents papers at national and international conferences, and intern in foreign research centers (Poland, Austria, Germany and Italy). 

 

The public dissemination of research on the topics of classical Lithuanian literature is another important activity of the department. The staff teaches at universities, maintains contacts with schools, public institutions, and cultural centers (e.g. the Kražiai Cultural Centre, Liudvikas Rėza Cultural Centre in Juodkrantė), organizes cultural events, seminars, participates in press conferences, gives public lectures, speaks on radio, appears on TV programs, etc.

 

Currently, eleven scientists, one emeritus scientist, and two Ph.D. students work in the department.