The paper presents the stages of development of photonics of molecules at Tomsk State University. Student of Academician A.N. Terenina - N.A. Since 1935 Prilezhaeva stood at the origins of the birth and development of domestic photochemistry, laid the foundation for the Tomsk school of spectroscopists, the only one beyond the Urals at that time. Research in the field of molecular spectroscopy and quantum chemistry of complex molecules began in 1950 by a student of N.A. Prilezhaeva - V.I. Danilova, later a professor at TSU. Fundamental questions related to the establishment of a relationship between the spectra, the structure of the electron shell and the physicochemical properties of a number of classes of complex organic molecules were posed and resolved. The generalizations made were of great importance for the theory of molecular spectra and practical application and allowed V.I. Danilova in the 1970-80s. create your own scientific school.