The paper is devoted to some pages of history of Society for archeology, history and ethnography affiliated with Kazan Imperial University and its individual representatives who made invaluable contribution to the development of pre-revolutionary science of Russia and Kazakhstan. Based on bibliographic materials and archival data, creative fellowship of N.F. Katanov and A.A. Divayev is considered, where a special role is given to the analysis of epistolary heritage of these scientists. The analysis of publications and manuscripts by A.A Divayev and N.F. Katanov allows conclude that Divayev’s activity in this society covers the main period of his creative life and is the most successful in formation of scientific views, in development of principles of collection, research methods and presentation factual material. Divayev’s works as a whole met the requirements of pre-revolutionary science. Established at the end of the XIX century in the historical school of Russia desire to determine social foundations of folk art undoubtedly exerted its influence on the gathering creativity of such scholars – local historians as Divayev.