BALTIC HERITAGE NETWORK
Newsletter no. 1 (34) 2021 issn: 228-3390 High Recognition for Anu Korb Dear BaltHerNet members and • friends! • RIP William R. Schmalstieg These unprecedented times continue. Some of • Fact and Fiction us can occasionally go to work in the archives, • Book “Breaking Through the museum or office, but most of us are still forced Iron Curtain” to find new solutions for how to get everything done in our home offices or online. New times • VEMU Translation Competition call for new coping strategies in both our • Democracy - One Defining personal and work lives. Moment - a New Virtual The Baltic Heritage Network is also forced Exhibition by the Lithuanian to set plans according to how the battle Museum Archives of Canada with COVID-19 continues to go. 2021 is a • Recent VEMU Online Events conference and new board election year for our organization. The Martynas Mažvydas Photo: Kerly Ilves • A Virtual Exhibition on National Library of Lithuania in Vilnius was supposed to Lithuanian Press in the be the venue for this year’s conference, but considering both the social and travel Diaspora Post-1990 Is Now restrictions, as well as the overarching sense of uncertainty, it does not seem likely Available in English that our global family will meet in Vilnius this summer. The Corona crisis has also Ilme – searching through reduced the financial resources of our institutions. For these reasons, the NGO • board has decided that the 2021 BaltHerNet conference will take place online on historical photographs by face 15-16 September. Save the dates! The topic and call for papers will be announced at the beginning of April. Editor-in-Chief: Piret Noorhani Challenging times have also hit the Baltic Heritage Network. This is related to Editor: Kristina Lupp a number of memory institutions in Baltic countries not being able to legally be Designer: Kristina Lupp institutional members and many individuals who had become members early on TheBaltic Heritage Newsletter is distributed have decided to no longer be members. This has led to BaltHerNet losing members quarterly, on-line. The next deadline for is 15 May 2021. Please send all as well as income from membership fees. There are also members who still have submissions related enquiries and submissions to Piret membership fees owing. Unfortunately, we have not been able to organize our Noorhani: [email protected] usual profitable lotteries and finally, year after year the supportrom f the Estonian The Non-Profit Association Baltic Heritage Government has also decreased. In this way, the savings we had in our bank account Network was founded in Tartu on January has reached a critical limit. 11, 2008. NPA BaltHerNet was established to foster cooperation between national and BaltHerNet needs your help now! How can you help? private archives, museums, libraries, and # If you are our member, please make sure that your membership fees are paid institutions of research, public associations on time! and organizations collecting and studying the cultural heritage of the Baltic diaspora. # If you participate in our events and read or contribute to our newsletter, but It aims to facilitate the preservation and haven’t become a member yet, now is the best time to do so! research of the historically valuable cultural property of the Baltic diaspora, as well as to # If you have colleagues or friends who may be interested in our activities, invite ensure accessibility of these materials to the them to join! public. # If you have already done all of the above, then consider making a special one- NPA BaltHerNet is also committed to the organising of conferences, seminars time donation, which will soon be possible at www.balther.net and workshops, and to developing and We are grateful from the bottoms of our hearts to everyone who has contributed to administrating the electronic information BaltHerNet’s activities! We have grown into a large and friendly global family that website Baltic Heritage Network, a multilingual electronic gateway for shares the same values and works together toward common goals. If you think that information on the cultural heritage of the BaltHerNet should continue fulfilling our mission in the future, please find a way to Baltic diaspora. show your support. www.balther.net Stay healthy and keep up the good spirit! ISSN 2228-3390 Piret Noorhani - President
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High Recognition for Anu Korb Lilliküla, Estonka in the region of Estonian Oral Histories to Omsk, Jurievka, Koidula in the region The President of the Republic of be inscribed on Australian of Kemerovo, and many others. She Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, bestowed has gone to almost all the remaining Memory of the World Anu Korb, Estonian Literary Museum Estonian communities (there are about Register senior researcher in Estonian folklore 40) and gathered diverse oral heritage and long-time collector of Siberian and historical village material. In fall Estonian heritage and compiler of the 2003, Anu Korb started gathering publication series “Eesti asundused heritage from Estonians born in Russia I-VII” (Estonian Settlements I-VII), (primarily Siberia) who had returned with the Order of the White Star Class to Estonia (including in Põlva and V. Ahead of the Republic of Estonia’s Võru counties). The heritage that Independence Day, 152 people whose has been recorded, written, filmed dedication to their work and community and photographed is archived at the have improved life in Estonia were Estonian Folklore Archives and is bestowed honourable decorations. accessible to all researchers and those Anu Korb graduated from the University interested. The heritage that has been of Tartu as an Estonian philologist in gathered from both Siberian Estonians 1974 and has worked as a researcher in Siberia and those who have returned at the Estonian Literary Museum in to Estonia has also been published in the the Estonian Folklore Archives since popular 7-part series “Eesti asundused” 1975. From 1991-1998 as the archives (Estonian Settlements). director and starting in 2007 focusing In 2003, Anu Korb initiated a series more on research as a senior researcher. of family days “Venemaale veerenud” Anu Korb is a member of the Academic (Rolled to Russia), where the gathered The Memory of the World Register is Folklore Society and the Eastern material on Russian settlements maintained by UNESCO as a record of Estonians’ Cultural Society. During the is introduced to a wider group of documents, books and other records years 2004-2010, she was the president interested people. Similarly, she has of enduring worth for the world. It is a of the latter. compiled photo exhibits, the largest parallel register to the World Heritage Anu Korb’s first contact with Siberian of which is “Siberian Estonians” Register of Places. The Australian Estonians took place in August 1991 in completed at the end of 2008 in section of the Register includes records Verkhnii Suetuk village (Ülem-Suetuk collaboration with the Estonian such as the convict records held in the in Estonian) in Krasnoyarsk Krai. Since Academy of Arts. NSW, West Australian and Tasmanian then, Anu Korb has organized regular Anu Korb is a member of the Baltic Archives, the Endeavour journal of heritage collection trips to Siberian Heritage Network and a long-time Captain James Cook, and the First Fleet Estonian settlements, including to a member of the BaltHerNet Estonian journals. number of villages of Siberian Estonians working group. Her work with A major entry on the Register is who had emigrated out of Southern preserving the heritage of Siberian ‘Migration Voices’, recognising migrant Estonian: Zolotaya Niva, Semjonovka, Estonians has significantly expanded oral histories held in archives and research on Estonians abroad by libraries such as the Victorian State demonstrating that Estonians abroad are Library, the Mitchell Library in NSW not only in the West but also in the East. and the Migration Museum, South We wish Anu hearty congratulations and Australia. The Estonian Archives in good luck and inspiration for her future Australia was invited to submit its oral undertakings! history collection for consideration as an addition to ‘Migration Voices’. Diaspora radio on Estonian The collection has now been accepted Public Broadcasting becoming the first ethnic community As of the beginning of this year, Estonian oral history collection held outside a Public Broadcasting’s most popular major national library or archive added radio station Vikerraadio is hosting a to the Australian Register. The Estonian weekly show “Hajala ringvaade” dedicated oral history collection will be formally to the activities of Estonians abroad. The inscribed on the Register at a ceremony host is BaltHerNet long time board member at 3.00 pm, Friday, 26 February 2021. and historian Maarja Merivoo-Parro and This will be a virtual ceremony held via she welcomes hints for topics. She can be ZOOM. reached at [email protected]
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Viewers can access the ceremony shared a video of his, Prof. Pietro Dini’s via the link https://us02web.zoom. and Prof. Phillip Baldi’s visit at William us/j/81586806400. R. Schmalstieg’s home in Pennsylvania The Estonian Archives in Australia is in 2004: https://vimeo.com/50391673 currently investigating the digitisation 4?fbclid=IwAR1K_0WKHW-62cjlh1 pTWjRoXHJWrv9DVuUsglEDjhPgf of its oral history collection. C3JMsTNNrLfX10 RIP William R. Schmalstieg Fact and Fiction It is with great sadness that we share I am a researcher and therefore well the news of the passing of William R. familiar with the joys and tribulations of Schmalstieg, Sparks Professor Emeritus archival research. When at the end of of Slavic and Baltic Linguistics, Penn the day I feel I have gained a tiny piece State University, on January 22, 2021, of something new, I feel elated, however at the age of 91. small the gain. By contrast, if I have not Prof. Schmalstieg was a prominent gained anything after perusing a stack linguist, especially in the study of the of files for days, I am irritable, unhappy, Lithuanian and Prussian languages, a deep in the doldrums. Perhaps you long-time member of the Association have experienced something like that for the Advancement of Baltic Studies yourself? In 1959 he wrote to Torma: „Your letter moved me deeply. For me, you are of the (he served as the President of AABS My interest has been in pre-WWII same block as [Lithuanian ambassador from 1982-1984) and a Lithuanian Estonian diplomacy. I have read a great to Italy Stasys] Lozoraitis, both in work friend. William R. Schmalstieg actively many official reports the diplomats and make-up. Your feelings are under cooperated in the Lithuanian diaspora sent to Tallinn, also private letters they lock and key, as if you had no human press, many of his linguistic articles sent to each other. It all started with weaknesses, made no mistakes and appeared in the journal “Lituanus.” August Torma, the Estonian ambassador never erred. One can just about guess He is the author of a number of books to Britain from 1934-1971, whom with you, the best one can do. That’s on the Lithuanian language. At least a I studied for my PhD. He was a very how it is. What has happened to you that couple of generations of Lithuanians reserved man and I was hoping to you could write about Alice this way?“ in the United States grew up learning discover a few personal details from his Torma’s original letter to Leppik has from the textbook “Introduction to correspondence and at least establish unfortunately gone missing, so it is not Modern Lithuanian,” written by him his circle of friends from casting the net known how exactly he had described together with Leonardas Dambriūnas wider. This is how I discovered Johan his wife’s illness but in his reply Leppik and Antanas Klimas (Brooklyn, N. Y., Leppik, a friend of Torma’s, who was was very direct: he knew Alice, was 1966). at one time the Estonian ambassador concerned about her health and told After the breakup of the Soviet to Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Italy Torma off for his lack of compassion. Union when Lithuania regained its and Hungary. Torma and Leppik were independence in 1991, the Lithuanian roughly the same age and both, to my Leppik was in correspondence with government officially honoured Prof. delight, had highly legible handwriting. another colleague: Kaarel Pusta, and Schmalstieg for his accomplishments in However, few of their letters to each 94 of his letter to Pusta have survived. the study of the Lithuanian language. other have survived. There are unexplained gaps in the letters; a few of Pusta’s replies are In 1994, Vilnius University presented Most diplomats’ personal letters have available. In a way this is even pleasing: Prof. Schmalstieg with the honorary proved less interesting than I had Pusta’s handwriting is ever so hard to doctor regalia. expected. The men were far from home, read although it seems very regular. Recently, Prof. Giedrius Subačius lonely, self-centred, wanted to let off The two men corresponded over several steam about working hard while being decades. Leppik regarded Pusta as a short-staffed, felt neglected by Tallinn. leading light, was grateful to him for This is why Johan Leppik’s letters stood having brought him to diplomacy and out. Even his official reports to the taught him the ropes. Foreign Ministry in Tallinn contained an occasional personal comment, a hint By that time I had already published a at humanity. Torma’s official reports biography of August Torma and felt that by contrast were lifeless, bone dry. In Leppik would deserve similar treatment. private letters Leppik was even more However, there was not enough archival revealing: he readily admitted that he material for a full-length biography, not Prof. Schmalstieg presented his book at was an emotional man – something of a enough was known about his life. So Vilnius University in 2004. surprise. what was I to do? In 2018 I had already Photo Giedrius Subačius. published a novel about Konstantin Päts
2021 n o . 1 (34) Baltic heritage network 4 who was at the helm of the first Republic of Estonia for more than a decade, so I decided to write another novel, about Leppik. Its title is „Otseütleja“ (Straight talker). I aimed to stick to the facts and archival sources as much as possible, but the novel format allowed me to fill in the gaps where information was scarce. I am not the only Estonian who thinks that Leppik was an interesting and remarkable man. Quite a few people have remembered him in their memoirs, The Book “Breaking Through who successfully fled abroad. Dr unlike August Torma who hardly the Iron Curtain” Juodis’ book presents various stories features in expatriate writing. In half a of escapees, photos of persons who dozen memoirs Leppik has secured a At the end of WWII, the Baltic fled and border crossings and KGB full chapter that describes his hobbies States found themselves in the Soviet documents from the Lithuanian Special and personal idiosyncrasies, but one grip, isolated from the free world. The Archives, other memory institutions and can also read admiration into these people who remained in the country personal archives. pages. The pianist Käbi Laretei, who lost the opportunity to travel freely. is, unfortunately, better known for Soviet oppression and restrictions on VEMU Translation having married the Swedish film director freedom of movement prompted many Competition Lithuanians to flee Lithuania. The book Ingmar Bergman than for piano playing, The Museum of Estonians Abroad “Breaking Through the Iron Curtain” had a teenage crush on Leppik, who (VEMU) in Toronto together with prepared by Dr Darius Juodis examines incidentally also played the piano. the Estonian Writer’s Union and the flight of the Lithuanian population Leppik and Laretei corresponded for Estonian Literature Center announce from the Soviet Union. decades and she has said in one of a competition to find new translators her books that she kept all his letters, The book presents several periods: the of fiction from Estonian into English. hundreds of them, sorted by date. first escapes (1940-1941); the period Participation is open to people of all ages However, she died in 2014 and the after WWII; the partisan escapes; the provided they have not previously made letters have since gone missing. This is flight of the Lithuanian population to public any translated book. This competition why one can marvel at the treasures of the West from the 1950s to the 1990s hopes to encourage linguaphile Estonians the Estonian national archives: despite and the subsequent escapes. living abroad to delve more deeply into their political upheavals, so many diplomats’ Estonian language skills and to also use their personal letters have survived. Two components stand out in the structure of the book: research and strength in the English language. Non-native My novel „Otseütleja“ is a kind of the analysis of the situation and a Estonian speakers who are interested in biography of Leppik, one individual, biographical description of each promoting the translation of Estonian while actually summing up what flight. The latter part lists the persons literature into English are also invited happened to all Estonian diplomats to apply. This competition may help after 1940 when the Soviets occupied discover new talent, who in the future, the country. They were told to return to could aid in the global dissemination of Estonia but chose to stay put, labelled Estonian literature. traitors by the Soviet authorities. They Contestants must translate both lost their income, diplomatic status and prescribed texts: Jürgen Rooste’s place in life, were forced to adjust to the “Astrid Lindgreni surm”, Mehis new circumstances. All kept longing for Heinsaar’s “Rändaja õnn”. Texts can be their homeland, knowing they would found here at vemu.ca. never see it again. The competition deadline date is There must be other remarkable men, March 31, 2021. perhaps also women, of that long-gone era that you know of. If there is not To ensure anonymity please use a enough archival material for a full-length keyword, and submit your work to piret. biography, why not consider writing [email protected] or by mail to The a novel? It is not too late to resurrect Museum of Estonians Abroad (VEMU) their names, recapture their era. History 310 Bloor St. W., Toronto ON.M5S.1W4. matters. Personal data (name, address, e-mail and phone number ) should be submitted Tina Tamman separately by e-mail.
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A three-member jury will announce the The World Federation membership winners at the end of April. Winners consists of the leadership of central will be eligible for publication in the organizations in Canada, the USA, Estonian Literary Magazine and to Europe, Russia, South America/ receive a travel stipend to attend the Caribbean and Australia. translators’ seminar taking place in mid- In truth, diaspora archival work did not June in Estonia. always get the support that it deserved. A New Batch of Documents Democracy - One Defining Today, however, it seems that there is a sudden surge of interest due to the from the Lithuanian Cultural Moment - a New Virtual possible availability of some minor Attaché in the UK Exhibition by the Lithuanian funding. It may also be the realization The archive of Justė Kostikovaitė, Museum Archives of Canada that neglect will mean losing a part of our documentary heritage. In this age of the cultural attaché of the Republic Thirty years later, we return to the fake news, political revision of history of Lithuania in the United Kingdom, events of January 13th, 1991, in Vilnius and cyber warfare in social media, it is covering the period from 2016 to Lithuania. A fledgeling democracy is more important than ever to save the 2020, has arrived at the National challenged by Soviet military force. true record of our past. As they say, Library of Lithuania. Kostikovaitė Many civilians are injured and fourteen are „If you do not know where you have noted that during the four years of her killed. term as a cultural attaché, the need for been, you will not know where you are contemporary cultural content had In the virtual exhibition, “Democracy - One going“. This applies, in particular, to arisen. The events focused on virtual Defining Moment”, we explore these the arriving younger generations who content distribution have become very tragic events and show how the Lithuanian are not necessarily well versed in history important, particularly during the on- Canadian community heard the calls for help and are more susceptible to influence going pandemic. and responded using all of the tools of a from a lack of information, or worse, democratic society available to them. an overabundance of misinformation, While in the office, Kostikovaitė was thus damaging the chance for critical able to introduce new communication Visit the virtual exhibition at: thinking. tools now used by almost the entire https://www.lithuanianheritage.ca/ network of Lithuanian cultural attachés. january-13/ In Canada, the central organization for the Latvian Community is LNAK or One of them is an e-newsletter, which and listen to our presentation Latvian National Federation in Canada. helps to inform the audience about introducing the Lithuanian Museum Its official administrative files, up until Lithuania. There is also a huge array of Archives of Canada and the virtual 2004, are found in the Archives of archival and communication material exhibition at: in social media, such as a Facebook Ontario. A number of years ago, we “Lithuanian Art and Culture in the https://www.lithuanianheritage.ca/ created the Canadian Latvian Archive UK,” Twitter—“@LtCultureUK,” explore/ and Museum or in the Latvian acronym, and Instagram—“lithuanian_art_in_ Latest in Canada LNAK-KLAM. In Latvian, KLAM is the_uk,” created and administered by Kanadas Latviešu Archīvs un Mūzejs. PBLA - The World Federation of Free Kostikovaitė. KLAM strives to identify the existence Latvians has announced an initiative, of documentation, letters, photos or Kostikovaitė also noted that in recent to create a digital listing of archival artefacts relating to the contribution years there has been a great need to sources in the diaspora (www.pbla. made by Latvians and their extended form a digital archive of cultural and lv „Jaunumi“). The survey’s goal is to communities to the development of other special attachés, which currently work in collaboration with the Latvian Canada. This includes personal archival contains a large number of material on Ministry of Culture and the central materials which travelled with them from dissemination and documentation of the cultural and archival centres outside the homeland. It should be noted that events. Latvia, with a view to documenting the the first traces of Latvians go back to the existence, condition and accessibility of 1890s. historical materials. Though it is still growing, researchers Archival and museum awareness has have found the holdings of KLAM very for many years been championed by useful. Times, however, are changing enthusiastic activists in the community while taking into consideration diverse local resources, whether it be space, finances or availability of volunteers. The evolution and recognition of the need to locate and preserve Various documents collected by the documentation has varied by regions. Lithuanian cultural attaché in the UK. Photo: Ženija Vītols
2021 n o . 1 (34) Baltic heritage network 6 and new opportunities arise on how of three languages and my uneven to deal with our historical record. The language skills. It also serves the pandemic has actually helped us look at purpose to introduce the Baltic cases the virtual experience. It has emphasized to researchers from outside the region. the need and possibilities of digitization. The Baltic Heritage Network is naturally Though original documents are vital and mentioned in the article as an example must be preserved, they can nevertheless of continuing Baltic collaboration and be easily digitized at home and sent the place to start looking for archival directly to KLAM. sources. In addition to the PBLA survey, we The biggest challenge – and the main strongly encourage our Canadian public difference from other chapters in the to inform us directly at LNAK-KLAM if anthology – was to have a balanced they should have something of archival proportion of each national group. interest. However, my ambitious plan to have a We are all an intrinsic part of the history systematic chart of every national group of Canada and Latvia. in every destination country failed. If I could not acquire certain figures for Andris Ķesteris each occasion, I could not use that President the structured presentation in writing exact figure for the other two countries and then move on to find parallels and LNAK - Latvian National Federation in either, only some approximates. The similarities in other national groups. Canada most significant detail left out regards This would increase the theoretical the world festivals: Estonians started E-mail addresses: perspective in our diaspora research their festivals in Toronto in 1972 every LNAK - [email protected] and eventually to discover what is truly four years, but I could not find the unique in each national emigration. KLAM - [email protected] information on Latvian and Lithuanian Assistant Professor Anna Mazurkiewicz gatherings and even the Estonian case With special thanks to Ženija Vītols, from the University of Gdansk was the was accidentally erased. Aija Kārkliņš, Skaidrīte Tērauds, Ilze organizer of many of these conferences Maksiņa, Aivars Vinters, Jānis Ivsiņš, and she became the editor of the Despite these shortcomings, I’m quite Sibilla Korulis and the Capt. Jānis anthology. The guidelines were drafted satisfied with the outcome. The article, Korulis archīve. in November 2014, and although Anna like the book, is not the final word of Cold War emigration but hopefully New book sums up Eastern made laudable work, the book came out in May 2019. These things just take invites new researchers on the topic.’ European emigrant stories their time. The book is available on the DeGruyter The publication, East Central European Originally my idea was to have three website to download [https:// Migrations During the Cold War. A authors for the Baltic article, but www.degruyter.com/document/ Handbook brings researchers from I quickly ditched it. It would have doi/10.1515/9783110610635/html]. A eight countries to look at the emigrants made me an interim-editor to collect cheaper paperback version came out in from the former Soviet bloc. Each the contributions from two other December 2020. chapter provides the basic information authors and accommodate them to VEMU Online Events in from the escape (destinations, persons, a single presentation. I figured that organizations, relations across the Iron it would be equally burdensome to January and February 2021 Curtain) until the fall of Communism find the information myself. Such a As the COVID-19 situation in Toronto and the return. Dr Pauli Heikkilä, collective article would have repeated has not brought us back any of our old currently visiting researcher at the the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian freedoms, VEMU has continued to University of Latvia, has written the stories. Certainly, there are significant organize events online. During the first chapter on Estonian, Latvian, and differences in these diasporas (such as two months of the year, we have had Lithuanian emigrants. He had this to Estonians in Sweden, and Lithuanians many exciting events. say: in the West since the 19th century), The season began on January 13th, ‘The project started in various but on the other hand, the three groups with the workshop “Baking with conferences on Central Eastern engaged in Baltic cooperation in such Ene: Healthy Rye Bread”, where European emigration. The papers on a magnitude, which was impossible to Ene Timmusk taught us how to bake national diasporas followed a similar ignore. traditional Estonian bread in her home pattern and they sounded like the The guidelines were to summarize the kitchen while sharing specific tips for same story only with different names. current research, and furthermore, the achieving the best results. Naturally, these stories are important as instruction was to limit the literature in such, but there was a broad consensus of On January 21st, Gabriel Doherty English. This eliminated the problem gave a getting past this introduction by having (University College Cork)
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can gather like this again. On February 16th, we listened to a lecture on school lore by Piret Voolaid, a senior researcher at the Estonian Literary Museum. Piret introduced the materials obtained during the collection campaigns organized in Estonia and talked about the competition for collecting school lore of Estonians in Canada. The collection campaign began at the end of 2020 and will conclude when lecture on the topic “Escape by Victory: final submissions are due on June 1st, inside – vague or distinct – conjuring up Ireland and Refugees, 1949-51”, where 2021. The lecture was also attended an attachment to place. In the current he unveiled the dramatic story of the by students of the Toronto Estonian climate of reflection, such memories are disrupted journey of Baltic refugees Supplementary School together with more precious than ever. teachers and parents. on their way from Sweden to Canada. Recordings of the events can be viewed The presentation, based on thorough The 103rd birthday of the Republic at https://www.youtube.com/user/ archival research, brought together a of Estonia was celebrated on February VEMUESC hundred viewers from various Estonian 20th with the screening of Elmo communities abroad, many of whom Nüganen’s film “1944”, an Estonian A Virtual Exhibition on had personal memories of this historic war drama that follows the devastating Lithuanian Press in the episode. One person who travelled events that occurred as the Soviet Union Diaspora Post-1990 Is Now aboard Victory, now a Toronto resident, advanced against the Germany army to Mall Puhm, helped to organize the occupy Estonia at the end of the Second Available in English lecture. The discussion was moderated World War. The film was followed by a The exhibition illustrates the wide by Andres Kasekamp, Chair of Estonian discussion with screenwriter and former variety of media that has existed in Studies at the University of Toronto. military officer Leo Kunnas. the diaspora since 1990. Presented On February 3rd, Peeter Põldre, who The month’s events ended on in seven sections, it invites visitors participated in the 2019 Estonian February 25th with the premiere to learn about both print media and Jubilee Song Festival in Tallinn as of Estonian Music Week’s online electronic publications in Europe, a photographer, shared with us his concert series “Memories of Home”, the USA, South America, Canada impressions of and photos taken at introducing two female performers and Australia. A separate section is this memorable event. His stories and central to expanding the sonic dedicated to publications that were recollections allowed the audience capabilities and breaking through genre repatriated to Lithuania, and another to to look at this great event from a barriers of the accordion, Tiina Kiik radio and television programming that slightly different perspective. For (Canada) and Tuulikki Bartosik was important to the diaspora. Finally, those accustomed to the limitations of (Estonia), with a special guest Julia the section “Communication on the COVID-19, it seemed strange to see Aplin. The series embraces the duality Internet” is an overview of virtual forms such huge crowds of people together, of having roots in one country while of contact and information. as the main concert of the Song Festival starting afresh in another. In a global The exhibition includes only a small brought together more than 100,000 society characterized by immigration, number of Lithuanian publications that people. At the end of the lecture, many many Canadians are familiar with existed in the diaspora. According to listeners must have wondered when we memories that compete for the title the National Library of Lithuania data, of “home”. Such memories might be there were more than 50 publications in fleeting images or feelings deep down English alone after 1990. Thirty years ago Lithuanian communities outside of Lithuania were flourishing, and are still dynamic, as shown by the profusion of available media, from traditional newspapers to today’s websites, social networks, forums and blogs. The exhibition was curated by the staff of the Adolfas Damušis Centre for Democratic Studies and the Lithuanian Studies Section of the Department of Heritage Documentation Research of
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The book is an important contribution to the body of work on migration within Europe in the period since WWII. England but set against a background of tumultuous international events. In the book, Lithuanian author Aldona Grupas reveals the personal tales of Lithuanian migrants who moved to Britain in the A virtual forum was dedicated to the wake of WWII. Unable to return to their Lithuanian education in the world. homeland due to the Soviet occupation, the the Martynas Mažvydas National from 1947 onwards, several thousand Library of Lithuania. The English refugees swapped the refugee camps translation was provided by Ramūnė of Allied-occupied Germany for basic Sakalaitė Jonaitis. accommodation in Britain, along with jobs in manufacturing and agriculture. The exhibition in English is available In the following decades, they put here: https://parodos.lnb.lt/en/ down roots in Britain, all the while exhibits/show/lithuanian-press-in- keeping their Lithuanian identity alive. the-diaspo In a series of interviews, Grupas teases The National Library of out the personal experiences of five Lithuania Hosted a Virtual members of this migrant community in and her local branch in Wolverhampton, the West Midlands of England. Language Forum which organized social, religious, The book begins with an overview of sporting and cultural events. In recent years, an increasing number Lithuanian history, taking in WWII and Grupas concludes her book with a of foreigners has been interested in the the post-war Soviet period. Drawing summary of the key factors that caused Lithuanian language and Lithuania. on existing literature, Grupas explains these post-war migrants to bond in the People want to learn the language why so many Lithuanians were stuck way that they did, forming a strong and for different reasons. If in the past a in Germany in the post-war period and vibrant community that nurtured their lot of foreigners wanted to study the were subsequently offered new lives in distinct identity against all the odds. Lithuanian language because it was the Britain under resettlement programs Prepared from Amazon.co.uk mother tongue of their significant other, like Balt Cygnet and Westward Ho! today a large number of students search The Year of Marija for their Lithuanian roots and identity. The main part of the book consists of five interviews with members of the Alseikaite-Gimbutiene In January, Vytautas Magnus University Lithuanian migrant community in the Academy of Education, in cooperation This year Lithuania celebrates a city of Wolverhampton, where the world-renowned American-Lithuanian with the National Library of Lithuania, interviewees spent most of their lives. organized a virtual forum, “Teaching the archaeologist, anthropologist, a Language in the 21st Century: Current The first interview is with a woman pioneer of archaeomithology, Marija Experiences and Future Trends,” named Gene, who arrived in Britain Birutė Alseikaitė-Gimbutienė (Marija in which researchers talked about in 1947. Gene tells of the wartime Gimbutas). multilingualism, language learning, the experiences that caused her to flee Marija Birutė Alseikaitė-Gimbutienė survival of a native language in the 21st Lithuania, her time as a refugee in was born on January 23, 1921 in century, Lithuanian education in the Germany, and her migration to England. Vilnius. She began to study at Vilnius world, and the importance of creativity She describes the basic living conditions Vytautas Magnus Gymnasium. and innovations teaching the language. and the long process of building a new life and raising a family. This year, the researchers of the National Library of Lithuania have The author describes the ongoing been giving lectures to students of the effort to balance two conflicting forces: Lithuanian Saturday schools abroad on the need to integrate into one’s host the topics of Lithuanian cultural history, culture, and the desire to preserve one’s language and literature. national culture and identity. This latter task was important to migrants such as A Book About Lithuanian Gene, due to the Soviet occupation of War Refugees in Britain their country, which they feared might erase the national culture. The author A new book “West Midlands Ho!” tells of the creation of a network of is a compelling work of local history, The Lithuania Post issued a postage community groups that linked all post- focused on a particular corner of stamp dedicated to Prof. Marija war Lithuanian migrants across Britain, Gimbutienė. By E. Kulbytė.
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In 2003, a film about Gimbutienė photographic depictions of anyone’s “Signs Out of Time” was released. The predecessors, depending on their life film examines her theories and their story. Sadly, the information on who is influence on the academic community, standing before the camera hasn’t always the development of feminism, etc. In reached the National Archives with 1993, for the book “The Civilization the photograph. This is where the new of the Goddess: The World of Old searching tool called Ilme (https://www. Europe” (1991) the professor was ra.ee/ilme/) comes to the rescue. “The Civilization of the Goddess: The World awarded the prestigious Anisfield-Wolf Ilme searches not by name but by face. of Old Europe” (1991) is among the most Book Award in the non-fiction category. More precisely, it uses the help of notable works of Gimbutienė. In 1993, Gimbutienė was presented artificial intelligence to find the most In 1931, the family moved to the with the title of Honorary Doctor of similar counterparts in FOTIS to the provisional capital of Lithuania, Kaunas. Vytautas Magnus University. face on an image You upload. This way There, Gimbutienė studied at Aušra Gimbutienė died in 1994 in Los for example You can try searching for Gymnasium, which she finished in Angeles. images of Your grandmother. Or take 1938. In the same year, she started The Lithuanian Archives of Literature a selfie and look for historical look- studying linguistics at the Faculty and Art prepared a virtual exhibition alikes of Yourself. Facial recognition of Humanities of Vytautas Magnus dedicated to Gimbutienė. The technologies are in wide use today, University. In 1936, she participated exhibition showcases photos from the be that by law enforcement agencies in archaeological research in Lithuania, archeologist’s private and professional or in apps that draw dog ears on Your in 1938-1939, she took part in the life, as well as her correspondence with face. The working principle behind excavation works of prehistoric burial students and colleagues. The exhibition them is generally the same – first the grounds in Kaunas. After Lithuania is available here: computer searches for where the face regained Vilnius, Gimbutienė went to https://tinyurl. com/4su3d6xe is in a picture, then it marks certain study archaeology at Vilnius University. points on them like the eyes, nose and In 1942, she defended her MA thesis Ilme – Searching Through mouth. By comparing those to other “Modes of Burials in Lithuania in the Iron Historical Photographs by Face photographs, the computer then tries Age.” In 1944, when the Soviets were to find the closest corresponding faces, The photographic collections of the approaching Lithuania, the Gimbutas hoping that those will be of the same National Archives of Estonia are family left the country. person. Efficient systems do that quite impressive and always worth exploring, In 1946, Gimbutienė defended her PhD well. Sadly, at this stage, Ilme does with the database FOTIS (http://www. dissertation “Prehistoric Burial Rites in not belong to them. The results can be ra.ee/fotis/) containing over 700.000 Lithuania” at the University of Tübingen, heavily influenced for example by the digitized and born-digital photographs Germany. In 1949, the Gimbutas family person’s age in the photo or the angle of from the 1840s up to today. It does not left for the United States and settled in their head towards the camera. So one only consist of photographic recordings Boston. From 1950 to 1956, Gimbutienė shouldn’t get their hopes too high, but of important public events and figures. worked at Harvard University translating Ilme is still definitely worth a try, for its The photographs in the archives of Eastern European archaeological entertainment as well as practical value. for example newspapers, societies or texts, teaching at the Department of educational institutions may contain Anthropology and later collaborating with Harvard’s Peabody Museum. In 1956, Gimbutienė’s book “The Prehistory of Eastern Europe” was published, in 1958, a study “Ancient Symbolism in Lithuanian Folk Art” and in 1963, a book “The Balts” came out. Gimbutienė conducted archaeological research in the Balkans, Italy and Greece. Since 1964, Gimbutienė worked as a professor of European Archeology and Indo-European Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); since 1965, she was a curator of Old World Archeology.
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