The article characterizes the state of the leading sphere of the Russian folklore – folk and literary lyric poetry – in the publications and studies of the folklore researchers of Saratov State University in 1940–2010. The contribution into the sphere by the outstanding folklore specialist T. M. Akimova, whose 115th a nniversary i s c elebrated in 2014, as well as the input of professor V. K. Arkhangelskaya are given a more in-depth consideration.