The idea was conceived around 1955, and gained traction when prominent writer and future Nobel Prize in Literature laureate, Ivo Andrić, decided that the original manuscript of his novel The Bridge on the Drina be kept in Sarajevo.

The idea was conceived around 1955, and gained traction when prominent writer and future Nobel Prize in literature laureate, Ivo Andrić, decided that the original manuscript of his novel The Bridge on the Drina be kept in Sarajevo.

She decided to take advantage of the fact that Ivo Andrić was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature that year, and that he already donated valuable original manuscript of his novel.

[3][4] In 1970, the Theater Department was founded and added to the Museum of Literature, expanded its activities to theatrical and performing arts.

[3] Through museological principles museum collects literature and theater materials, such as manuscripts, correspondence, photographs, personal documents, pamphlets, magazines, books and articles, owned by the writers, literary critics, their heirs or other collectors.

For the Theater Department museum collects stage sets and individual photographs, programs, posters, production and costume sketches, paintings, portraits and other materials, dating back to 1920.

[7] Museum publishing included three books of documentary materials, about Peter Kočić, Svetozar Čorović, and Ivan Franjo Jukić respectively.