The article is dedicated to the personal archive of Shamgali Kharesovich Sarybayev, which forms a part of the Sarybayev family archive. Sh.Kh. Sarybayev (1893-1958) was a multifaceted individual, serving as a teacher, linguist, journalist, poet, literary critic, translator and folklore collector. The uncovered documents shed light on the breadth of his historical significance, offering insights into his academic interests, social connections, and contributions to various fields. In our analysis, we aimed not only to explore the memoir texts themselves, but also to learn more about the history of these texts. The presence of the draft versions of the published texts made it possible to trace the author's intentions and to establish some features of the documents. The examined memoir texts not only allowed us to reconstruct certain fragments of the biography of Shamgaly Sarybayev, but also provided insights into the historical context in which he lived. The details presented in these documents offer an extensive window into a historical period characterized by significant changes in culture and education of the country during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

A thorough research of Sh.Kh. Sarybayev’s life and work will not only allow to reconstruct his scientific biography, but also expand the understanding of socio-cultural landscape during his active professional years.