Inventory of the Dagmara Lejnieks collection, 1962-2012

Finding aid prepared by Hoover Institution Library and Archives Staff
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2012
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Stanford University
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Title: Dagmara Lejnieks collection
Date (inclusive): 1962-2012
Collection Number: 2012C53
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: Latvian
Physical Description: 5 manuscript boxes, 1 card file box (2.0 Linear Feet)
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.
source: Lejnieks, Dagmara
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Access

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Use

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Acquisition Information

Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2012.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Dagmara Lejnieks collection, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Biographical/Historical Note

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.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Latvians -- United States
Video tapes
Latvia -- Politics and government
Lejnieks, Dagmara

box 1, folder 1

Personal file 1991

Scope and Contents note

Contains autobiographical writing, letters to Dagmara Lejnieks, and clippings
 

Serial issues and other printed matter 1962-2012

Scope and Contents note

Contains newspapers, magazines, monographs, and a poster/flyer
 

Laiks 1990-1991

 

1990

box 1, folder 2

February-April

box 1, folder 3

May

box 1, folder 4

June-August

 

1991

box 1, folder 5

January

box 1, folder 6

February

box 2, folder 1

March

box 2, folder 2

April

box 2, folder 3

May

box 2, folder 4

June

box 2, folder 5

July

box 3, folder 1

August

box 3, folder 2

September

box 3, folder 3

October

box 3, folder 4

November

box 3, folder 5

December

box 3, folder 6

The Latvians: Their Culture and Art, poster/flyer published by the American Latvian Association 1962

box 3, folder 7

Latvia, published by the American Latvian Association 1968

box 3, folder 8

Dziesmu svētku gara gaita, 1990

box 3, folder 9

Latvija sodien 1991

box 3, folder 10

Latvija Baltijas valsts 1991/1992

box 4, folder 1-32

Akadēmiskā dzīve, nos. 17-48 1975-2011/2012

 

Video recordings 1990-1993.

Scope and Contents note

Contains 5 VHS video cassettes
box 5, folder 1

"Mājās: Dziesmu svētki Rīga 1990," Latvijas Informācijas Televīzija 1990

box 5, folder 2

Clips of American television news broadcasts relating to the Soviet Union and the Latvian independence movement 1990-1991

box 5, folder 3

"18. Novembra koncerts," 1991 November 18

box 5, folder 4

"Ārpus Latvijas komponēta Latviešu vokāli instrumentālām ūzika," 1993 January 25.

Scope and Contents note

Includes booklet with texts
box 5, folder 5

"Labdarības koncerts Opera," 1993

box 6

Material not yet described