Iván Nagy genealogist historian founded the museum on 15th March 1891 in Balassagyarmat. The scientist gifted all his possessions to the altar of public affairs. He also donated his library of about 10 thousand volumes to the museum.

Kálmán Mikszáth was born on 16th January 1847, Szklabonya (Mikszáthfalva) and died on 28th May 1910 in Budapest. After his legal studies made in Debrecen he became a clerk in Balassagyarmat. His writings were first published in 1869. Since 1873 he had been working as a journalist in Budapest. After two years of married life he divorced his wife in 1875, but later marriad her again.

The exhibition gives a summary about the paeasant life of the past 100-120 years. Because of the unfavourable natural aptitudes and social conditions, the opportunities of those living here were rather limited. The peasant lifestyle and culture could but slowly change and develop, and as such a good number of old customs were still continued in the 20th century.