N O RDISK MU SEO LO G I 1995• 2 , S. 55- 60

ESTONIAN MUSEUMS IN CHANGING TIMES

Tanis Lukas

The Estonians are a small nation. Therefore, our relationship to our own culture is to a certain extent different ftom that ofthe big nations. The peculiarities ofones own culture are mainly perceived through comparison with others. The wave ofnational awakenings reached Estonia in the middle ofthe 19th century. By that time some Baltic-German organizations ofan enlightening character had emerged, mainly focu­ sing their attention on native people - the ones whose ethnic ancestors had lived in Estonia long before the Germans, Danes, Swedes, Poles, and finally, the Russians had reached here. The main policy ofalien authorities was to occupy our strategically and commercially important territory. The best means for achieving this was war: In the course ofthese conquests, attention was mainly focused on towns and churches; the · changing ofthe everyday lives ofthe local people was not particularly in anybody s sphere ofinterest. As a result, two relatively different kinds ofliving conditions and ways oflife existed side by side - on the one hand, the traditional culture ofEstonian peasants and town craftsmen, and on the other, the European culture characteristic mainly ofBaltic-German nobility and bourgeoisie. If we tried to describe these two different communities in museum categories, we could say that the first one represented a living open-air museum with its ethnographic look and folklore; the other a specimen ofmanor architecture with its art collections, and town architecture with the relics ofa bourgeois way oflife.

Specialized museums such as open-air They were in permanent touch and exer­ farm museums, fine arts museums, town ted mutual influences on each other. museums, literature museum, sea These interrelationships must also be museum, etc., have been set up on the reflected in museums. In Estonia, such basis of collections of this kind. However, complex museums of a generalizing cha­ these two different communities could not racter are the Estonian National Museum exist independently from one another. in Tartu and the Estonian History TbNJS LUKAS

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Beheading sword of the Court of Tai/in ji-om I 525 (R 1683). The blade is inscribed near the hilt: «Gottes gnadt un trew ist alle morgen new. Wann ich das schwert auf thu heben. So helfdem S1111der ins ewige leben". The department of Cultural History ofthe Estonian Hiso1y Museum, Tallin.

Museum in Tallinn; on a regional scale, it Empire, Estonia was a state with a market is the task of central county museums. economy, under the conditions of which How has the role of these different the European Baltic guberniyas (provin­ museums developed in Estonia and how ces) were relatively prosperous. Historical have different ideologies influenced memory was considered important both museums? Being a part of the Russian in families and in privileged organizations. E ST ON IA N M U SE UM S I N CH A N G I NG TIM E

Therefore, up to the middle of the 19th was only natural that after his death it was 57 century private collections were mainly decided that everything collected up to represented by the art and memorabilia that date should be assembled in the collections of the nobility and the bourge­ Estonian National Museum to symbolical­ oisie. Alongside these, the archives and ly commemorate his life work. This kind various collections of Baltic-German of joint museum was founded in Tartu in knighthoods were very important and the 1909. The official Russification policy of share of humanitarian academic societies that period could not destroy initiatives gradually increased. Although up to then like that as, in spite of official propagan­ everything had been carried by the Baltic­ da, the Russian cultural veneer remained German spirit, the so-called Estofilic inte­ negligible and various cultural initiatives rest also became popular by the middle of from the Empire gained no impetus. The the century. It was mainly on the initiative most valuable cultural treasures were pre­ of the Tartu University professors that the served in the more vital Baltic-German research into the history, language, and organizations. culture of Estonians was started. The The Estonian War of Independence enlightened circles found it very exciting against Russia and the so-called Landes­ because of the abundance of ethnographi­ wehr War against Germany waged at the cal colours and ornaments as well as origi­ same time resulted in the proclamation of nal folk songs. From the materials gathe­ the first independent state in the history red collections were composed, and as a of Estonia. From the very beginning, the number of academic organizations became young Estonian Republic took a very seri­ national in their orientation, Estonians ous attitude towards the preservation of its also predominated in them. In addition cultural heritage and the coordination of Estonian became the official language. At museum work as well as the work done the turn of the century, the Learned for the preservation of national heritage. Estonian Society, the Estonian Students' The independent state had risen out of Society, and the Estonian Penmen's cultural independece; therefore, cultural Society were some examples of this kind and educational work were to become the of circle. A number of interesting ethno­ mainstays and guarantees of the indepen­ graphical objects had been collected. On dence of the state. It was Jakob Hurt who the initiative of Dr. Jakob Hurt, one of had pronounced the following idea: "If we the most outstanding leaders of the are not able to become big in strength and National Awakening Movement, the col­ number, we must become great in spirit." lecting of folklore had been initiated, the In addition to the generally favourable scope of which was something Estonians attitude and financial support, state policy could really be proud of. The organizati­ brought about essential changes in the life ons possessed libraries remarkable for their of museums. Larger museums were also size and content. Dr. Jakob Hurt had been academic establishments. An essential one of the leading figures of the most impetus to the supplementing of museum important national organizations as well collections was provided by the land as the initiator of collecting work. So it reform as well as the fact that under TONI S LUKAS

58 changing circumstances, many families of heart of Estonian museum life had remai­ German origin left Estonia. Parts of their ned in the university town of Tartu. The collections were handed over to museums Estonian Fine Arts Museum and the and the University of Tartu as donations, Provincial Museum (the Museum of others were sold and later on still reached History of Tallinn), mainly acting as museums through private collections. All German museums, became the most these changes were reflected, first and important ones in the capital, Tallinn. By foremost, in the Estonian National 1940, the overall number of registered Museum. The post of the director of the museums in the Republic of Estonia was museum was linked to the professorship 39. of ethnography at the university, which The first period of Soviet occupation in meant a higher academic status and recog­ Estonia lasted from midsummer 1940 to nition for the museum. It also ensured midsummer 1941. As the Soviet chauvi­ that from this time on, in the main quali­ nist ideology considered historical traditi­ fied staff were employed at' the museum. on and national state of mind very dange­ A young Finnish academic researcher rous, the new authorities made thorough Ilmari Manninen became the first director changes in the work of the museums. First of the museum. On the basis of progressi­ of all, the property of all private museums ve museological experience acquired in was nationalized. A number of organizati­ Scandinavia and elsewhere in Europe, he ons engaged in preserving cultural herita­ was able to train a school of academic ge were closed down and their property museum workers. This traditional school was nationalized. The objects left behind can even be traced down to the present by the people who had been deported to day. Although during the years of occupa­ Russia were handed over to the museums. tion many well-known museum workers Commissars were nominated to adminis­ were repressed, the classical principle of ter museum work. The collections of a systematizing collections and regulating number of larger museums were redistri­ museum work remained in force in our buted. So, for example, the collections of museums. The mingling of Baltic-German the Estonian National Museum were divi­ art collections with the ones preserved in ded into several parts, and two more state and later on also in county museums museums were set up on the basis of them actually meant the interfusion of both in addition to the aforementioned one. essential facets of Estonian cultural herita­ On the basis of the collections of the ge, enabling them to demonstrate national Provincial Museum, the State History and culture in its entirety. And again it was the Revolutionary Museum was established. Estonian National Museum - housed in Some of the collections were again distri­ Raadi Manor formerly belonging to the buted among other museums. The Soviet von Liphardt family - that became symbo­ authorities were of course tracking down lic, associating Estonian peasant culture the symbols of national history. For­ with the interior of Baltic-German manor tunately, people managed to hide some of architecture and other cultural-historically them. So, for example, the members of important objects and works of art. The the Estonian Students' Society were able E S TO N IAN M U SE U MS IN C HANGI NG T IM E

to hide, under the floor of a farmhouse, found for the collections. At the same 59 the first flag of the society which was at time, the attitude towards national history the same time historically the original was essentially ironic. So, museums had to Estonian national flag dating from the be content with rooms that were actually year 1884. Up to the Soviet period, the unsuitable for their purposes. As religious flag had been preserved at the Estonian organizations were persecuted ,in the National Museum. After regaining inde­ Soviet society, church buildings were used pendence, this national symbol was again as storage rooms for archives and museum handed over to the same museum in collections. This kind of unethical act was 1993. actually not the greatest insult the chur­ During the German occupation which ches had to endure, for their buildings started in the summer of 1941, the orga­ were even used as storage space for flour nizational rearrangements were insignifi­ or as sports halls. cant. On the initiative of the local selfgo­ The new waves of repression were vernment materials pertaining to the his­ accompanied by a tendency to assemble tory of the Republic of Estonia were requisitioned property in the museums. In handed over to central museums; the this way, much of the property of the vic­ Estonian National Museum, for example, tims of the 1949 mass deportations came received a great number of medals and into the possession of museums. At pre­ badges. Under war conditions, some sent the authorities of the Republic of museum buildings were converted into Estonia are trying to solve the complicated military bases for the German army, ownership problems which have arisen which meant endangering them as they from this injustice. As a rule, objects, became strategic targets. When the Soviet documents, and books will be returned to Army was again nearing the Estonian bor­ their former owners. At the negotiations der in 1944, the collections of a number conducted with the Russian delegation, of museums were evacuated to the coun­ the Republic of Estonia is demanding the tryside where they were not so greatly restitution of museum treasures taken to endangered, but, on the other hand, the Russia during times of war. Among them storage conditions were not so satisfactory. the most important ones are the art trea­ In conclusion it can be said that due to sures taken to Voronezh during World the selfless activity of museum staff, most War I and the properties of the Estonian of the treasures were rescued from the dis­ Postal Museum {later the Communica­ aster. The transportation of the most valu­ tions Museum) taken to Leningrad (St. able museum treasures to Germany was Petersburg) by the Soviet authorities. also hindered. During the ideological pressures of the By the end of World War II a number of 1950s, when the museum collections, Estonian museums, including the Eston­ especially the photo, medal, and flag col­ ian National Museum, had lost their buil­ lections, were purged of 'unsuitable' mate­ dings in the holocaust. Now, as the Soviet rial, most of these treasures had to be con­ state became the owner of all the buil- cealed - i.e. preserved without catalo- dings, by rule, replacement rooms were gurng. T ON I S L U KA S

60 The common tendencies of the ideolo­ The general experience of systematizing gical empire - centralizing, changing of and displaying collections exists. Just now names and the cult of so-called correct the primary task of Estonian museum history established by the censor - were workers is to achieve parity with the level also evidenced at Estonian museums. Un­ of contemporary Western museology, doubtedly, the transfer of museum collec­ especially in the scientific sphere, in order tions and staff to the capital, further from to be able to document present time the university, was to weaken and splinter which will soon become history. If more the contribution museums made to educa­ effective financial possibilities arise for ting the nation. As all over the Soviet constructing new museum buildings and Union, the museums in Estonia also had improving conservation conditions, pro­ only two messages to convey: first, culture gress will be possible. One more thing is socialist in content and national only in that is necessary in the contemporary form, and second, only officially recogni­ world is to re-establish and expand the zed people suited to joining the common pre-war contacts between the Estonian revolutionary fight, are worthy of comme­ museums and those abroad. moration and memorial museums. The Undoubtedly, all the previous stages of displays dedicated to the independent history have added something essential to Estonian state disappeared almost comple­ culture. Now when the Russian occupa­ tely from the expositions of central and tion in Estonia has come to an end, we local museums, and the figures who had realize that quite a few things that happe­ established and developed the indepen­ ned during those years in the life of dent state were erased from history. The Estonian museums have become produc­ writers and artists who had defected or at tive. A number of quite important muse­ least remained neutral, were remembered ums have been founded and their network to some extent. Ethnography and some has been expanded considerably. All the historical figures had to be pressed into 145 registered active museums have the the service of the slogan that culture was opportunity to seek for their chances in socialist in content and national in form. the changing economic conditions - the However, the historical memory of the collections they possess are interesting people had already been in existence long enough to educate Estonians themselves as enough. A certain methodological scheme well as attract our visitors. Welcome to for museum work had been developed, our museums! and it was not changed. The museum as quite an exacting and traditional institu­ Ton is Luk11s w11s Director oft he Esto 11 i11 11 N 11tio11al tion continued to function in Estonia Museum until M11rch 1995. At present he is even during the years of the Soviet occu­ Ch11 irm1111 of the Cultural Com mission at the pation. As the nomenclature of historical P11rli11111ent ofthe Republic ofE sto11 i11 events and figures that can be followed by Adr: Riikikogu, Ta lli1111 a Lossip!ats l A, people has now changed, it is increasingly EE-0001 T11lli1111a, fox +372-6313334 important for people to became acquain­ ted with real history.