The School of Liberal Arts was developed on the basis of the original Department of Chinese Language and Literature，The history can be traced back to the "Chinese Literature Gate" of the Capital University established in 1902。At the beginning of the establishment of National Northwest Normal University in August 1939，The Department of Chinese Language and Literature is one of the independent departments。Renamed Department of Chinese Language and Literature in December 1950。Department adjustment in January 1959，Some teachers of the Chinese Department of Lanzhou University and all teachers of the Chinese Department of Lanzhou University of the Arts were merged into the Chinese Department。After 1977，With the restoration and improvement of the national 188bet entrance examination system，The Chinese Department also has a completely new look。Since the 1990s，During the period when Professor Zhao Kuifu was the head of the Chinese Department，Secretarial education has been opened successively、Journalism、Three new majors in teaching Chinese as a foreign language。September 2000，In order to meet the needs of the development of school education，Department of Chinese and History、Ancient Books Collation Research Institute、Merger of Northwest Cultural Institute and other institutions，Establishment of the School of Liberal Arts，Renamed School of Literature and History in 2008。June 2012，The school carries out institutional reform and professional adjustment，Main Chinese、The Department of Secretarial Studies is the main body of teaching，With Pre-Qin Literature and Culture Research Center、Ancient Books Collation Research Institute、Northwestern Cultural Research Institute、The Chinese Studies Center and others have reorganized the Faculty of Arts as a scientific research platform。
Since the National Northwest Normal University moved to Lanzhou in 1942，A large number of well-known scholars at home and abroad have taught in the Chinese Department and the School of Liberal Arts，Li Jinxi、Tan Jiefu、Luo Genze、Yu Gengyu、Jiao Juyin、Li Chendong、Wang Rubi、Li Jiayan、Ding Yi、Feng Guorui、Zhao Yintang、Xu Brownfu、Shen Xinwu、Yang Bojun、Zheng Wen、Kuang Fu、You Bingqi、Peng Duo、Guo Jinxi、Tang Qi、Wu Fuxi、Zhang Wenxiong、Zhi Kejian、Mr. Sun Keheng and others，Have made outstanding contributions in different disciplines。Li Jinxi、He Shiji、Xu Brownfu、Fu Hengshu、Peng Duo、Hu Dajun、Jian Changchun、Zhao Kuifu、Mr. Peng Jinshan and others have successively served as directors of the Chinese Department、Dean of the School of Liberal Arts，For the Chinese Department、Making outstanding contributions to the reform and development of the School of Liberal Arts。Li Dingwen、Ye Meng、Chen Yong、Huo Xudong、Jian Changchun、Wan Song、Sher Qiao、Li Shukai、Ji Chengjia、Hu Dajun、Mr. Zhang Minglian and others are still paying attention to the progress of the 188bet，Provide suggestions and advice for the development of the 188bet。Three generations of hard work，The old, middle and young people pass on the firepower，Formed a stable and realistic attitude、The academic tradition of forging ahead，Build the 188bet into a unique "Longshang Yuyuan"。