So, the interwar documents are gone. Now what?
Yes, we all gasped. Overnight, huge chunks of interwar records vanished from online access. After the initial panic and several unslept nights, I decided to continue anyway and do something useful about it.
This course is the result. I’ve reworked and split my original idea into focused parts, and this autumn we’re zooming in on the Interwar period.
This is a hands-on workshop about what can still be found — how to search surviving databases and collections, prepare for archival research, and figure out which records are worth ordering when you visit Latvia.
You’ll learn through a mix of recorded lessons, live Q&As, and practical examples.
And if you’re one of the lucky six Premium participants — I’ll personally fetch selected archival copies from the Latvian Historical Archives for you.
What We’ll Cover (Week by Week)
01
Where exactly did they live?
We’ll start with the Arolsen Archives to pinpoint your family’s parish, then dig through digitized newspapers, books, and the interwar passport database.
What can you actually find there? How do you search smarter? And what do you do with the results once you’ve got them?
02
Finding home — literally.
We’ll hunt down family farms on historical maps and marvel at how one location can change names several times for no apparent reason.
You’ll also prepare for your future Latvia trip — so next time you go, you’ll know where your ancestral farm was (or maybe still is?)
03
Preparing for the censuses.
A clear, step-by-step guide to ordering the 1935 and 1941 census records: how to request them, what to expect, and what kind of juicy details they reveal about your ancestors — from occupation to religion.
Premium folks: I’ll fetch the census records for you. You just need to tell me the correct parish and farm names 😉
04
What else is out there?
We’ll explore public databases with interwar and early Soviet-era material — student files, pension records, citizenship applications, even deportation indexes.
These are goldmines of basic data that point the way to full archival records.
05
The National Archives — without panic.
We’ll untangle the mysterious system of fonds, inventories, and file numbers that everyone pretends to understand.
You’ll learn what those words actually mean and which fonds are worth exploring once you’re in the archives. (Spoiler: not all are created equal.)
What You’ll Receive
By the end of the workshop, you will:
You'll go from "I don't know where to look or what to ask for" to a confident and methodical researcher who:
-
Knows the exact civil parish to search for and what other names this parish had over time.
-
Understands the main Latvian online databases and what type of information you can find in each.
-
Knows how to order files in the Latvian Historical archives and which fonds are worth exploring.
-
Can locate your ancestral farm on historical or modern maps.
All participants get:
-
Access to 5 recorded lectures (Thursdays) and all live sessions
-
Research templates and step-by-step notes
-
A curated list of key public databases with English explanations and direct links
-
Access to recordings of all sessions (available for one full year)
-
Access to our Facebook discussion group — where you can swap findings, theories, and mild existential crises
Premium participants also receive:
-
Copies of up to 3 households from both the 1935 and 1941 censuses
-
5 passport copies from the Interwar passport database
-
1 record copy from other Historical Archives databases (student, pension, or citizenship files — but not deportation or criminal cases because these have limited access )
-
Copies of 3 parish record group (fond) descriptions relevant to your research — perfect prep for a real archive visit
Who This Course Is For
This workshop is for anyone curious (and a little determined) to uncover their Latvian family history — especially those ready to go beyond the big genealogy websites and dive into the real records.
It’s perfect if you:
-
Have Latvian ancestors who emigrated during or after WWII
-
Want to understand how and where your ancestors lived between 1918–1940
-
Have found names or places online but don’t know the next step
-
Plan to visit Latvia and want to locate ancestral homes or archives before you go
-
Have old family papers (passports, certificates, letters) you’d like to decode
-
Enjoy small, practical learning settings with real-time feedback.
No Latvian required. No prior experience needed.
Just curiosity, patience, and a willingness to follow the paper trail — one bureaucratic stamp at a time.
What Students Said About the Free 4-Week Course
Note: The free 4-week course covered a wider time span, including the 19th century. This new Interwar Period Workshop focuses only on 1918–1940 — but in much greater depth.
Some of the documents mentioned above were available online at the time of the free course, but are no longer accessible today.low were available online at the time of the free course, but are no longer accessible today.