The board of the Baltic Heritage Network in Riga, October 8th 2009

In the first week of October, the board of the Baltic Heritage Network , composed of Gatis Karlsons (The General Management of the Latvian National Archives), Linas Saldukas (The Lithuanian Emigration Institute), Piret Noorhani (The Estonian National Museum), Birgit Kibal (The Estonian National Archives) and Karin Kiisk, met in Riga. The board visited the Lativan National Archives and were introduced to Daina Klavina and her colleagues Vera Guzanova, Inese Kalniņa, Aija Gutmane ja Guntis Kraulis.

The collegaues from the Latvian National Archives gave an introduction to their work with the Latvian émigré archives, a large part of which have been sent to Latvian memory institutions for preservation. A new, updated edition of the catalogue of Latvian émigré archives was also introduced.

Piret Noorhani presented the aims and activities of the Baltic Heritage Network. Possible future co-operation was discussed. One of the most important objectives is the development of the Baltic Heritage Network webportal (the newly printed Latvian archives catalogue could also be published online), and the involvement of young researchers. The Baltic Heritage Network has plans to arrange an event for young researchers of the Baltic diaspora in the autumn of 2010, with Riga as a possible venue.

The Riga meeting concluded with an excursion to the Latvian National Archives’ repository, where the board was shown some of the Latvian émigré archives being preserved there.

Karin Kiisk

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