In this text we present the first documented ideas of establishing the Roma collections and museums. We argue that behind these ideas there was an assumption that Roma had always been an integral part and constituent element of the societies in which they had lived. Together with members of the macro-society they experienced the turnovers of European history and, more significantly for our topic, the breakdowns of old Empires and the establishment of new national or supranational states. Looking at history of Roma movement we can see that, similarly to other East Europeans, the first attempts to create Roma collections and museums were made in the Interwar period. Peer reviewed