Zinātnieku nakts 2025On 28 and 29 November 2024, the tenth Scholarly Readings of Young Historians took place at the Valmiera Museum. In 10 sessions, 34 participants from Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian and French memory institutions, higher education, research and government institutions presented the results of their research. While various aspects of the 20th-century history of the Baltic Sea region, Europe, and Asia were dominant, there was no lack of topics dedicated to prehistory, the Middle Ages, and modern times. On the first day of the international conference, attendees could listen to 11 presentations in English, and on the second day, 23 presentations in Latvian. During the anniversary year, the organizers and past participants reflected on the conference’s progress and statistical data, appreciating the opportunity to present their research and enhance their skills in developing their first scientific publications. Over the past ten years, several former conference participants have earned doctoral degrees, describing Scholarly Readings of Young Historians as a valuable and supportive platform for advancing their careers in academia.
The collection of articles includes a similar number of publications as in previous years, although the volume of initially submitted manuscripts significantly exceeded that of other years. Over 40 professionals from various fields in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania participated in the anonymous peer review process, generously offering valuable recommendations to enhance the quality of research. As a result, 18 publications by young researchers are now available to the readers. Considering the topics presented at the conference, most authors address various issues of 20th-century history.
Mg. hist. Edvards Seliška focuses on the beginnings of the activities of the Plater family in the service of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the field of foreign policy. Using materials from Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish archives, the author establishes that a significant role in the actions of the Platers was played by the belief that the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth should regain the entire territory of Livonia. The Platers’ ability to maintain successful patron-client relationships contributed to the family’s continued successful foreign policy activities.
Mg. hist. Kristiāna Beļska examines the relations between Latvia and Soviet Russia from 1920 to 1922. Considering the political interests of Soviet Russia, the author highlights various complications and recurring crises in the relations between the two countries. Additionally, Soviet Russia exploited the mutual disagreements among other countries in the region to strengthen its influence.
Mg. hist. Nadīna Rode analyses the coverage of the Boxer Rebellion in China in the issues of the newspaper Dienas Lapa published in 1900. The publications contained information extracted from foreign telegraph agencies and newspapers, as well as original content by local authors. The author argues that the analysed example, on the one hand, demonstrates the ability of Latvian press to consistently inform the public about global developments, whilst on the other hand showing the audience’s
interest in international news.
PhD Rachid Touaoula evaluates the activities of Jules Brévié, Governor-General of Indochina between 1936 and 1939. Using materials from French archives, the author identifies the Governor-General’s efforts to improve the economic situation of the peasantry, as well as internal security in Indochina. Brévié saw the Japanese Empire as the main security threat in the region.
Mg. hist. Gabrielius Sužiedėlis studies the ideological representation of the Republicans in the periodicals of left-wing political parties of the Republic of Lithuania during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). In analysing the published information, the author applies the cleavage theory of Seymour Martin Lipset and Stein Rokkan. He concludes that Lithuanian parties were comparatively cautious and relatively moderate in ideological aspects.
Irma Žąsytienė, a doctoral student at the Klaipeda University, has focused on the Shrove Tuesday carnival in Samogitia (Lithuania) during the final years of the Soviet occupation. Through interviews and analysis of photographs, the author concludes that, while considering the influence of Soviet ideology, the elements of the carnival aligned with European practices. Locals were able to adapt the tradition to ideological demands in order to ensure its continuity.
Lembi Anepaio, a doctoral student at the Tallinn University, examines the midwifery training at the Dorpat University from 1802 to 1918. The author emphasizes the popularity of this profession among women, expanding perceptions of women’s employment in the 19th century. Women from the Baltic provinces, as well as from other regions of the Russian Empire participated in the training.
Mg. hist. Enija Zaķe presents the development of settlement landscapes in the Lubāna Plain during the Bronze Age. The author points out the varying duration of settlement, which was influenced by climatic conditions and the people’s ability to sustain themselves through hunting, fishing, and animal husbandry. There is no compelling evidence of agricultural development in the Lubāna Plain during the relevant period.
UL master’s student Sofija Gasjuļa offers an insight into the characteristics of the Russification policy in the 19th-century research of archaeological monuments from the late Iron Age and early Middle Ages. Starting in the 1870s, there was an exaggeration of the role of Orthodoxy in the region, which was reflected in the characterization of archaeological monuments. Additionally, the Russification policy hindered collaboration between Baltic German and Russian archaeologists.
UL doctoral student Helēna Emerberga characterises the efforts of the Central Union of State and Municipal Employees (CUSME) to defend the interests of state employees from 1926 to 1934. The author focuses on financial and social issues, specifically – wages and pensions. The activities of CUSME in developing the pension laws were viewed as the most successful initiatives.
Mg. hist. Samanta Fiļimonova assesses the development and challenges of the Latvian Prosecutor’s Office during the interwar period. Considering the influence of the Russian Empire’s legal system and the incomplete nature of regulatory acts, the author designates the development of the Prosecutor’s Office as stagnant. Its direct subordination to the Minister of Justice, and consequently – its lack of independence, has also been critically
assessed.
UL master’s student Ilana Pārstrauta examines the activities of the Art Museum of the UL from its establishment in 1937 to the completion of its reorganization in 1955. The author highlights the museum’s unique status and operational principles, indicating that it was a platform accessible to students. Its collection of rare and valuable objects was transferred to the State Museum of Fine Arts of the Latvian SSR, helping to preserve it.
At the centre of Bc. art. Katrīna Šeikina’s study is the work of art historian Aleksandra Ilgaža in the 1930s and 1940s. Ilgaža focused on systematizing art history materials and was involved in the study processes at the State Academy of Art. The author noted that Ilgaža did not make any major new discoveries, but the information and materials she gathered were valuable to other university professors.
Laima Grišule, a master’s student at the Daugavpils University, evaluates the Sovietisation of general education in Rēzekne District between 1944 and 1949. At the end of World War II, the schools in question were lacking resources, which made it difficult to implement ideological education, a crucial aspect for the Soviet regime. The author also notes students’ resistance to ideological subjugation.
UL master’s student Daniela Rihtere has explored the interrogation protocols of Red Army deserters who ended up in the Vidzeme–Latgale prisoner-of-war camp (1919–1921). The focus of the study is on the information these sources provide regarding the reasons for desertion, which present a multifaceted picture, with difficult living conditions and the desire to return home being among the most common factors. At the same time, the author emphasizes the need for a more thorough analysis of the source group used, considering the circumstances of the interrogation.
At the centre of Mg. sc. comm. Kaspars Līcītis’ research is the dissolution of Latvia’s Aizsargi Organisation in 1940 following Soviet occupation, with a particular focus on its disarmament. The campaign to disarm the organization was crucial for the occupation authorities in reducing the potential for armed resistance. The author found that overall the disarmament proceeded expeditiously, avoiding significant incidents.
Mg. hist. Haralds Bruņinieks evaluates the fighting methods of Jāzeps Fričs’ Latvian-Lithuanian joint national partisan group. The author concludes that, using the experience gained during World War II, the relevant national partisan group was able to successfully identify spies sent by the Ministry of State Security and carry out armed counterattacks against Soviet institutions. According to the author, the warning left by the group for the Ministry of State Security was an innovative fighting method that psychologically impacted the occupying power.
Bc. hist. Madara Pakalnīte, using a photograph taken in Viesīte in the 1950s, analyses the memories and associations of local residents, which were prompted by the photograph and gathered through interviews. Although it was not possible to interview eyewitnesses to the event depicted in the photograph, the image prompted respondents to recall other events and developments from that era. Thus, the study offers a broader context and new insights into the manifestations of Stalin’s rule in Viesīte.
The collection of articles reaches readers through the efforts of many individuals. We extend our deepest gratitude to all the reviewers for their dedicated contribution to the creation of this collection. In the anniversary year of the conference, the State Research Programme project “Navigating the Latvian History of the 20th–21st Century: Social Morphogenesis, Legacy and Challenges” (project No. VPP-IZM-Vēsture-2023/1-0003) and its participants play a crucial role in ensuring the continuity of the conference, the compilation of its papers, and the enhancement of their scientific quality. We greatly appreciate Elita Egle’s long-standing assistance in technical organization of the article collection. The editorial board is also grateful to the University of Latvia Press for the support provided in publishing the articles. The new edition is freely available to the readers both in print and electronic form through the open-access repository of the University of Latvia.
PhD Ginta Ieva Bikše
Institute of Latvian History, Faculty of Humanities, University of Latvia