American Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences ISSN (E): 2832-8019 Volume 41, | October - 2025 P a g e | 59 www.americanjournal.org DEVELOPMENT OF MUSEUM WORK AND CULTURAL HERITAGE PRESERVATION PROCESSES IN THE KASHKADARYA REGION IN THE 1950–1980 YEARS Ashirov Ulugbek Toychiyevich Head of the Fund Department of the State Museum of History and Culture of the Kashkadarya Region asirovulugbek8@gmail.com A B S T R A C T K E Y W O R D S The article analyzes the stages of restoration and development of museum work in the Kashkadarya region during the 1950s–1980s. It highlights the postwar transformations in museum activities, the policy of centralization, and the processes of reorganization. The study reveals the scientific and educational functions of museums and their role in shaping public consciousness. The research is based on archival materials and official reports. The revival of the Kashkadarya museum marked a new stage in the cultural life of the region. Kashkadarya, museum work, cultural heritage, local history museum, centralization, cultural policy, exhibit, restoration, spiritual life, archival sources. Introduction After the end of World War II, the restoration and development of cultural and educational life in the Uzbek SSR rose to the level of state policy. In this process, the museum system played an important role in preserving the historical memory of the people, forming their spiritual and scientific worldview, and promoting the national heritage. In the 1950s–1980s, museum work in the Kashkadarya region was reorganized, its material and technical base was strengthened, and the collection of exhibits expanded. Museum activities served to instill a sense of patriotism and national pride in the minds of the population of the region, especially young people. Thus, museums were formed as an integral part of the cultural life of Kashkadarya. According to the 1951 report of the Kashkadarya Regional Museum, during this period there were 431 exhibits in the museum's collection. The museum was visited by 4,957 tourists during the year, of which 4,527 were schoolchildren[1]. Main part The Kashkadarya Regional Museum was officially liquidated in accordance with the order of the Ministry of Culture of the Uzbek SSR in 1956. On November 2 of this year, a special act was drawn up with the participation of employees of the Kashkadarya and Bukhara museums, according to which all exhibits and collections of the Kashkadarya Museum were transferred to the fund of the Bukhara Museum of Local Lore. American Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences Volume 41 October - 2025 P a g e | 60 www.americanjournal.org The document states that a total of 103 main funds, 46 priceless main funds, 51 auxiliary funds, 31 priceless auxiliary funds, as well as a number of items of historical and cultural significance of the Kashkadarya Museum were transferred to the Bukhara Museum[2]. This situation shows that as a result of the policy of centralizing museum work in the late 1950s, the activities of local museums were reduced, and their valuable exhibits were transferred to the disposal of large historical centers. This process clearly demonstrated the territorial characteristics of the cultural policy of that time. By the resolution of the Ministry of Culture of the Uzbek SSR No. 65 dated April 15, 1969, it was reorganized under the name of the Kashkadarya Regional Museum of Local Lore, during the year exhibits were collected for the organization of a museum exhibition, and in 1975 the museum exhibition was reopened[3]. By the end of the 1970s, the republican museum system had been stably formed, and it functioned as a cultural institution of scientific, educational and educational significance. According to 1976 data, museums in the Uzbek SSR developed as an important branch of cultural life. There are 8 museums operating in Tashkent city, which store 306.2 thousand exhibits and are visited by 1,378.9 thousand visitors during the year. There are 6 museums in Samarkand region, which receive 805.1 thousand people. There is 1 museum operating in Bukhara region, which attracts 491.4 thousand visitors. 4 museums in Fergana region are visited by 473.6 thousand people. Museums in Andijan, Namangan, Surkhandarya and Khorezm regions play an important role in highlighting regional history and ethnography. The only one in the Kashkadarya region — the Karshi Museum of Local Lore — became the center of the cultural life of the region in 1976. Its collection contained 3.7 thousand exhibits, which were viewed by 30.2 thousand people. Results and discussions The museum employed 23 employees, including researchers, tour guides, and exhibition organizers. In the same year, 2 traveling exhibitions were organized, and the rural population was also covered through exhibits displayed in collective farms and houses of culture[4]. In 1977, the number of museums in the Uzbek SSR reached 33. A total of 1,074.0 thousand exhibits were stored in their collection, of which 71.2 thousand were displayed in permanent exhibitions. During the year, 3,871.4 thousand visitors visited the republic's museums. This is a significant increase compared to 1976, indicating that museums are increasingly playing an important role in the cultural life of the population. 377 traveling exhibitions were organized by museums, which indicates that this activity has expanded not only in cities, but also in districts and rural areas. The number of employees working in museums has reached 1,477 people. In the Kashkadarya region, the indicators in 1977 were also positive: the number of exhibits in the museum fund reached 4.1 thousand, of which 1.5 thousand were exhibited in the permanent exhibition. During the year, 33.8 thousand people visited the museum. 23 employees of the museum were engaged in cultural and educational work[5]. American Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences Volume 41 October - 2025 P a g e | 61 www.americanjournal.org According to 1978 data, the museum system in the Uzbek SSR had become a scientifically and culturally stable institution. There were 33 museums operating in the republic, with more than 1,105.6 thousand exhibits. Of these, 73.9 thousand exhibits were exhibited in permanent exhibitions. During the year, 4,419.7 thousand visitors visited the museums of Uzbekistan. This is 548.3 thousand more than in 1977, indicating that the population's interest in museums is growing year by year. 7,753 excursions and cultural events were organized in museums, which were attended by 772.6 thousand people. A total of 1,345 employees worked in the museums of the republic. In 1978, the only museum in the Kashkadarya region was the Karshi Museum of Local Lore. It housed 35.8 thousand exhibits, 4.3 thousand of which were on permanent display. During the year, the museum was visited by 67,000 visitors, 2 exhibitions and cultural events were held. The museum employed 25 employees[6]. These figures indicate that, despite the fact that museum work in the Kashkadarya region is still at an early stage, the population's interest in historical memory and cultural heritage is growing. In the late 1970s, museums in the Uzbek SSR functioned not only as institutions storing exhibits, but also as spiritual centers that restored the historical memory of the people, strengthened their sense of national identity and patriotism. Conclusion In general, in the 1950s-1980s, museum work in the Kashkadarya region experienced a stage of revival and sustainable development. During these years, the museum functioned not only as a place for storing exhibits, but also as a cultural center that preserves historical memory and provides spiritual education. The increase in the number of museum collections and visitors, the organization of traveling exhibitions, and the growth of personnel potential indicate the effective implementation of cultural policy in the region. Therefore, this period is significant in the history of museology in the Kashkadarya region as a period of cultural revival and spiritual uplift. References 1. National Archives of Uzbekistan (Uz MA), F.1619, vol.11, 8-25-ish, sheet 40. 2. Current Archive Fund of the History and Culture of Kashkadarya Region. 3. Current Archive Fund of the History and Culture of Kashkadarya Region. 4. National Archives of Uzbekistan (Uz MA), F.1619, vol.11, 3570-ish, sheet 47. 5. National Archives of Uzbekistan (Uz MA), F.1619, vol.11, 8-12-ish, sheet 41. 6. National Archives of Uzbekistan (Uz MA), F.1619, vol.11, 8-12-ish, sheet 41.