A while back, I wrote about what can be found in museum collections. This time, I want to highlight another valuable resource: libraries. If you are researching your family history or simply curious about your ancestors' lives, libraries might hold the key to fascinating stories.
Why Are Libraries a Valuable Resource
I am currently working on a family book. While genealogical data—names, dates, occupations—has been collected, it only provides part of the picture. This information allows me to deduce whether someone was a farmer or a servant, how long they lived in a particular home, which church they attended, when they got married, and how long they lived. But what about their daily lives?
Did they have time to celebrate holidays amid their hard work? How did global events, local traditions, and community life shape their experiences? To find answers, I turn to museums, books, and newspaper articles.
Where to Start: Digital and Local Resources
You probably already know that the first step is to search periodika.lv, a digital newspaper archive. But that’s not enough! Whenever possible, visit the library in the relevant parish or district. Most libraries have local history folders—collections of newspaper clippings, book excerpts, and other materials.
If the library employs librarians passionate about local history, the collections may be even richer. In some cases, librarians are true researchers of their regions. They have sometimes conducted interviews with local residents, photographed historic homes, or collected photographs taken by others.
The articles in these folders are often not available on periodika.lv, as not all regional newspapers have been digitized. Additionally, local history folders are curated, meaning you don’t need to sift through as much material yourself. For even more specific resources, visit the National Library of Latvia, where you can access materials unavailable online due to copyright restrictions.
What Can You Find?
Newspaper articles typically document significant or dramatic events in a parish. While your ancestors may not be mentioned directly, the broader historical context can help you understand what their lives might have been like.
For example:
Learn how your parish experienced wars and revolutions.
Discover eyewitness accounts of the War of Independence, the 1905 Revolution, or other key events.
Explore day-to-day occurrences: community events, agricultural fairs, or local celebrations.
While local history folders have mostly been created since Latvia regained independence, meaning they may not contain very old articles, they are still a valuable resource for understanding your parish’s and family’s history.
Libraries Active in Family History Research
Some libraries, such as the Valmiera Integrated Library, are actively involved in genealogy. Their website includes interesting and valuable materials and recommendations for family history research. Do you know of any other libraries engaged in this field? Write to me, and I’ll update this blog post!
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