Latvian Genealogy Blog

Interwar Records Have Moved Offline Anyone actively researching Latvian family history has probably noticed that interwar-period documents are no longer available online (on the FamilySearch website). From now on, passports, passport books, and the 1935 and 1941 census records can only be viewed at the Latvian State Historical Archives. But time and again, I’m reminded — without archival documents, it’s often impossible to move forward. A Research Trail That Almost Went the W

Where State Pension Files Are Kept Train Driver. Edited photo from the book Latvian Railways 1918–1938. Railway employees, like other state workers, were entitled to state pensions. These pension files can reveal significant facts for family history research. Where can they be found, and what information is contained within these files? If your ancestor worked in the railway service, it is worth checking whether their pension file is preserved in the archives. In this context

This week I researched a family that emigrated to Canada in 1899. Having left when Latvia was still part of the Russian Empire, family members visited Latvia during its period of independence in the 1920s. What information can be found in immigration files? Creadted by DALL-E Why Emigration Records Are Hard to Find in Latvia Finding information about emigration in Latvian archives can be challenging. Our archives don't hold ship passenger lists. While some emigration document

More Than Family History If you are interested in exploring not just family genealogy but also the broader history of your family and the local area, it is worth examining parish court records. Created by DALL-E Where to Find Parish Court Records? These documents are primarily stored in the Latvian State Historical Archives in dedicated parish court collections, though some may also be kept in regional museums. While parish courts existed earlier, the period most relevant for

Beyond the Archive For genealogists, invaluable resources can be found not only in archives but also in museums and libraries. This time, I will focus on my experience with the collection at the Cēsis Museum, leaving libraries for another discussion. Created by Dall-E A few years ago, I was preparing lectures for the online course organized by the Cēsis Museum for family history enthusiasts. During one session, museum staff introduced us to materials held in the museum's arch

Recently, I received a question: how does one transition from church records to revision lists? How can you determine which revision list...

If someone in your family served in the German military formations during World War II and remained in Latvia after the war, it is very...

Many state officials have personal files stored in archives, including teachers. What kind of information can be found in teacher files?...

Did anyone in your family work in public service? If they retired during the interwar period, you have the chance to find their pension...