The Tatar literary language is one of the most important values created by the people over the centuries. Language is not only a means of communication, but also the main indicator of a nation’s spiritual activity. Over the centuries spiritual wealth has been accumulated in literary written monuments, reflecting traditions, linguistic norms and various social events of each historical period. The study of the Tatar literary language found in written monuments and of the language development patterns is one of the current scientific trends followed by the Tatar Language Department at Kazan University. The studies focus both on the the development of the Tatar language and on the historical place the language holds in the Tatar people’s ethnogenesis and in the current existence of the Tatar language as a state language on the basis of traditions. Kazan University has more than a century-long history of comprehensive studies in the history of the Tatar language. This article is about the legacy of outstanding scholars who left their indelible mark on the study of the Tatar language history.