Dagmara Lejnieks collection, 1962-2012

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Summary

Creators:
Lejnieks, Dagmara
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 RÄ«ga 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.
Extent:
5 manuscript boxes, 1 card file box (2.0 Linear Feet)
Language:
Latvian
Preferred citation:

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

Background

Scope and content:

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 RÄ«ga 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.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1933
Born, RÄ«ga, 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 DinkelsbĆ¼hl, 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
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 2012.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

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.

Terms of access:

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

Preferred citation:

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

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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