The Department of Folklore Archive preserves, researches, disseminates, and collects folklore of Lithuanian and Lithuanian minorities (Ukrainians, Belarusians, etc.). The origins of this department can be traced back to the founding of the Lithuanian Scientific Society (1907-1940) in Vilnius (chair Dr. Jonas Basanavičius) and its activities, which later, from 1935 to 1939, were continued in Kaunas, at the Archive of Lithuanian Folklore (chair Dr. Jonas Balys). During the Soviet occupation, the Archive of Lithuanian Folklore was renamed the Lithuanian Folk Manuscript Archive. In 1952, it was transferred to the Institute of Lithuanian Language and Literature. When Lithuania regained its independence in 1990 and the Institute was split into the Institute of the Lithuanian Language and the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore, the latter initiated the Department of Folklore Archive. From 1994 to 2002, Dr. Kostas Aleksynas was in charge of the department, from 2002 to 2017, Dr. Rūta Žarskienė, and from 2017 to 2022, Dr. Austė Nakienė. From 2022 it has been chaired by Dr. Asta Skujytė-Razmienė. 

 

The researchers of the department study various problems related to the origin and development of folklore, such as the change of Lithuanian folk singing and instrumental music traditions and their manifestations in today’s culture; sociological aspects of folklore dissemination; folk medicine; urban studies; sacred music traditions, etc. Its scholars participate in the ongoing long-term research program“Research on Lithuanian Folklore Tradition and Its Changes” (headed by Dr. Lina Būgienė, 2022-2026). 

 

In parallel, the department carries out archival work, implements digitization projects, works on a digital archive, and publishes old sound recordings. On the initiative of the staff, an annual Folklore Week is organized, during which the winner of the best collector of folklore is announced. The department also organizes conferences and seminars, presents publications, offers excursions and educational activities. 

 

The Archive of Lithuanian Folklore is a member of the network of the archives of the Nordic-Baltic tradition. It cooperates with the archives of traditional culture and folklore in Poland, Germany, Austria, USA, the Baltic and Scandinavian countries. The staff are members of international organizations, such as SIEF, ISFNR, ICTM, ESEM, ISOCM and IBBY. 

 

The department currently has eleven staff members, five of whom are PhDs.