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Inventory of the Dagmara Lejnieks collection, 1962-2012
2012C53
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Title: Dagmara Lejnieks collection
Dates: 1962-2012
Collection Number: 2012C53
Collection Size:
Number of Containers: 5 manuscript boxes
(2 linear feet)
Repository:
Hoover Institution Archives
Stanford, California 94305-6010
Abstract: The collection contains significant materials relating to the movement for Latvian (and Baltic) independence in the late perestroika
era of the Soviet Union, as well as documents pertaining to the first year of the renewed Latvian state that emerged in 1991.
These materials were selected by Lejnieks as her personal record of a time that is often referred to by Latvians as simply
"The Barricades," a turbulent period that saw barricades erected in the Latvian capital Rīga and the killing of demonstrators
by Soviet security forces (OMON troops). The materials in the Lejnieks collection include clippings, correspondence, serial
issues, monographs, and video recordings. Most prominent among the serial issues are copies of the American Latvian newspaper
Laiks, which provided extensive coverage of events in Latvia during this period. The articles in
Laiks illustrate how the Latvian independence movement was perceived, encouraged, and criticized by the Latvian diaspora in North
America, and other materials in the collection also show how the movement was depicted in the mainstream media of the United
States.
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Archives
Languages: In
Latvian with some material in English.
Collection is open for research.
The Hoover Institution Archives only allows access to
copies of audiovisual items. To listen to sound recordings or to view videos or films during your visit, please contact the Archives
at least two working days before your arrival. We will then advise you of the accessibility of the material you wish to see
or hear. Please note that not all audiovisual material is immediately accessible.
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Archives.
[Identification of item], Dagmara Lejnieks collection, [Box number], Hoover Institution Archives.
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Archives in 2012.
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. To determine if this has occurred, find
the collection in Stanford University's online catalog at
http://searchworks.stanford.edu/ . Materials have been added to the collection if the number of boxes listed in the online catalog is larger than the number
of boxes listed in this finding aid.
| 1933 | Born, Rīga, Latvia |
| 1944-1945 | As refugees, Lejnieks family leaves Latvia for Germany, where they live in Zwickau, near Dresden. They witness the Allied firebombing of Dresden in February, 1945 and their own house in Zwickau is bombed in March, 1945 |
| 1945-1948 | Lives with family in a Displaced Persons camp in Dinkelsbühl, West Germany |
| 1949-1950 | Attends high school in Sillenbuch and Esslingen, West Germany |
| 1950 | Emigrates with family to the United States, settling in Southern California |
| 1951 | Graduates from Santa Ynez High School |
| 1955 | Graduates from San Jose State College with a bachelor?s degree in medical technology |
| 1956-1995 | Works as a medical technologist at Palo Alto Medical Clinic |
Scope and Content of Collection
The Dagmara Lejnieks collection contains significant materials relating to the movement for Latvian (and Baltic) independence
in the late perestroika era of the Soviet Union, as well as documents pertaining to the first year of the renewed Latvian
state that emerged in 1991. These materials were selected by Lejnieks as her personal record of a time that is often referred
to by Latvians as simply "The Barricades," a turbulent period that saw barricades erected in the Latvian capital Rīga and
the killing of demonstrators by Soviet security forces (OMON troops). The materials in the Lejnieks collection include clippings,
correspondence, serial issues, monographs, and video recordings. Most prominent among the serial issues are copies of the
American Latvian newspaper
Laiks, which provided extensive coverage of events in Latvia during this period. The articles in
Laiks illustrate how the Latvian independence movement was perceived, encouraged, and criticized by the Latvian diaspora in North
America, and other materials in the collection also show how the movement was depicted in the mainstream media of the United
States.
In addition, the collection has copies of
Akadēmiskā dzīve, an important journal published by the Latvian community in the United States and in which both political topics and more
general cultural issues are discussed. There are also some texts and a flyer published by the American Latvian Association
that exemplify the kind of activity undertaken by this organization as part of its campaign for Latvian independence during
the Cold War. The video recordings in the collection include some broadcasts relating to the official celebration of Latvian
independence day in 1991, as well as some television broadcasts of concerts of Latvian music.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Latvians--United States.
Latvia--Politics and government.
Videotapes