Reading and interpreting the records of Riga's church books can be more complicated than those of rural congregations. This is due to the...

This week, at the Local Family Researchers Club, we discussed the use of DNA tests in genealogy, and I will also share some insights in...

I have always been more interested in how my ancestors lived or what they were like than the number of them I can add to my family tree....

Last time, I wrote about the 1941 census, and for the sake of completeness, I'll also share information about the 1935 population census....

When people inquire about where to begin researching their family history, I recommend starting with documenting known information. Do...

In 1874, universal conscription was introduced in the Russian Empire. Prior to this, recruits were either conscripted forcibly or chosen ...

Latvians were not only peasants but also townspeople. A significant number of future residents of Riga moved to the city in the late 19th...

This week, I had the chance to delve into the records of Mazsalaca Lutheran Church, and twice was not able to find the baptismal record I...

This week, I took a research detour into the history of the Līgatne paper mill village. Typically focused on family histories, I agreed...

I want to tell you more about Arvīds Pūrs, about whom I have already written here and here. He was conscripted in the German Army in 1944...

Last time I wrote about the Kurzeme and Vidzeme address books, but what about Latgale? Latgale was part of the Vitebsk Governorate, had a different administration, laws and did not use the German language. There is no analogue edition for Vitebsk for the Kurzeme and Vidzeme address books of 1892. However, a list of settlements in Vitebsk province (Список населенных мест Витебской губернии) will be useful for researching family records. Latgale was part of the Vitebsk Governo

Did my ancestors have an estate? No, of course not. But life in the countryside in the 19th century was closely linked to the estate....