Refat Kurtiev is a prominent representative of the Crimean Tatar intelligentsia. He is the author of widely known works on the history of Crimean Tatars, ethnogenesis, toponymy, culture and traditions. These are 3 volumes of the book “Deportation”, “Essays on the History and Culture of Crimean Tatars”, “Calendar Rites of Crimean Tatars” and others. Refat passed away in 2012, but left a huge documentary heritage. In preparing the publication, materials of the Gasprinsky Crimean Tatar Library, the newspaper «Voice of Crimea» and «Avdet» were used