ENThe paper discusses history manifestos written by Adolfas Šapoka, Povilas Štuopis, Zenonas Ivinskis, Stasys Matulaitis, Juozas Jurginis, the Vilnius University Sąjūdis Initiative Group, Alfredas Bumblauskas, Vincas Trumpa, Eligijus Raila. The texts help us understand not only the situation of the concrete historians and their communities in a concrete period, but also enable us to interpret the causes that determined this situation — society’s attitude to the researchers of the past, the peculiarities of the policy of history in a concrete period, and the development of the relationships between scholars and representatives of power.