Forum

Searching for former latvian places

2010-10-11T09:45:27-08:00

Hi all,

after a long preparation, I’m do now the completion of a list of all latvian towns by the end of the 1920s.

This location list is based on topographic maps (1:30,000) of Latvia from 1925 to 1928.
More than 51,000 place names of cities, villages, manors, individual farms (farm names) foresters and railway stations are covered.

If former german place names of these places were assigned, they are also available.

I’m always happy to help in the search.

Greetings
AlAvo

Regina Baško Baltkajis

2013-03-12T21:18:36-08:00

BALTKAJIS, Regina
Passed away in Santa Monica on February 26, 2013, at the age of 98. Regina was born in Petrograd, Russia, on May 8, 1914, and raised in Latvia. She was the daughter of General Jazeps Bashko, a Latvian who became the commander of aviation during the country’s first period of independence between the two World Wars, and Evdokija Kirikova, her adored Russian mother. Regina was a graduate of the University of Latvia where she studied biology. She married journalist Viktors Baltkajis in 1938. They lived in Riga and for short periods in Stockholm and London.
In 1944 Regina and Viktors fled Latvia in order to escape the return of Soviet occupation forces to their homeland. In 1948 they immigrated to the United States and settled in Los Angeles, moving to Santa Monica in 1960. Regina spoke Latvian, Russian, German, English, and French, and initially worked as a language instructor at Berlitz. She went back to school and then worked as a medical technologist at St. Vincent’s Medical Center for 18 years. Viktors passed away in 1973. Regina enjoyed painting and held frequent exhibitions of her artwork. She and her husband were active members of the Southern California Latvian community.
Regina was a kind, gracious, elegant, and beautiful woman who was much beloved by family and friends. She will be greatly missed.
The funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2013, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 220 East Elk Avenue (corner of Louise), Glendale CA 91205, with burial immediately thereafter at Forest Lawn-Glendale.
Published in the Los Angeles Times from March 12 to March 13, 2013

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Šeit aiziet viena no pēdējām Latvietēm, ar kurām man bija tieša saskare brīvajā Latvijā. Starp citu atceros viņas ciemošanos pie mums Rutuļos. Viņas palīdzība manai mātei pēc ieceļošanas Pasadenā nav ar vārdiem aprakstāma, un viņas sarakstīšanās ar manu sievu, līdz manas sievas nāvei, bija liels moralisks pabalsts manai ģimenei.
Viņas teva, Ģenerāļa Jezupa Baško saruna ar manu brāli, viņa krustdēlu, ir iededzināta manā sirdī. Ģenerāļa vārdi, apmēram: Kā krievi, tā vacieši ir mūsu tautas ienaidnieki. Mēs esam situācijā kad mums, lai pastāvētu kā tautai. jācīnās pret abiem, bet mēs esam par mazu, lai to varētu darīt vieniem pašiem. Pašlaik mums ir izdevība atturēt bolševikus ar vācu apbruīņojumu. Pēc vācu vai krievu sabrukuma mums būs vismaz rūdītas vienības pret palikušo naidnieku. Viņa krustdēls kļuva brīvprātīgs Latviešu Leģionārs.
Ar tādu latvisku tēvu, Regina pievienojās latviešu saimei Dieva paspārnē.
Uzvarētāji vai zaudētāji, mēs drīz atjaunosim viņas draudzību īsto latviešu saimē - Debesīs.
Paldies mana brāļa Jezupa sievai Tobinette, par Reginas gādību un aprūpēšanu.
L. L.

Kirsons, Gunta Biruta

2013-01-22T09:49:20-08:00

Looking for:
Gunta Biruta Kirsons daughter of Janis (1902-1968)and Zelma (1912-1972) Kirsons.

Gunta -Biruta ( b. Oct. 28, 1935) could go by either the first or middle name.

After WWII they were in Bavaria , Germany. Janis Kirsons was at Berchtesgaden (Insula) camp while mother and daughter were at Forchheim, Germany.

On 22 April 1948 they all emigrated to Venezuela.

In 1958 the family moved to Chicago, Illinois. Later they moved to Long Beach, California.
Janis Kirsons died on 11-12-1968 and Zelma in March 1972.

I have no information about the daughter if she go married in Venezuela, Chicago or California ?

(Janis Kirsons was quite a photographer and took many photos with his Leica camera. I would like to know what might have happened to his photos and or negatives.)

John

Offering help for family researches

2012-07-14T03:14:45-08:00

Dear Latvians,

I would like to offer my help for those who are interested in their family history in Latvia. I gathered the first experience during the researches for german film directors Rosa von Praunheim (for the documentary “Two Mothers”) and Chris Kraus, small research for american journalist and writer Michelle Goldberg (for her upcomming book on Riga-born Yoga teacher Indra Devi), afterwards done geneological researches for friends and colleagues and now ready to offer my help to broader public!

If you are interested to learn who were and where lived your Latvian ancestors or wish to explore some historical personality in Latvia I would be happy to help you.

I live in Latvia and have access to archives as well as the necessary language knowledge - German, Russian, Latvian and English. Needless to say I also have interest in the history and enjoy exploring the fates of our ancestors!

Agnese Luse
Riga

Zedelgem

2012-10-05T10:50:58-08:00

FROM: Denys Pol
TO: Mr. L. L.
Message flagged
Wednesday, October 3, 2012 11:04 AM

Good evening,
In the annex you will find the invitation for an exhibition
about the Prisoner of War camp and the Latvian and Estonian
presence in Zedelgem (Belgium). Do you have connections in
Belgium who would like to attend this exhibition about the
common history between the Baltic states and Zedelgem,
please send this attachment to your correspondents.
Pol Denys
Hendrik Baekelandlaan 57
8211 Aartrijke
Belgium
pol dot denys at telenet dot be
Attachments
flyer POW.

====================================

As I am not able to post the flyer here, please request
full information from Mr. Pol Denys.
Tell him Mr. L. L. sent you :)
L.

GRASIS FAMILY IN LATVIA

2012-09-26T04:48:31-08:00

IHAVE THE COMPUTER TO TRANSLATE SO I HOPE IT IS READABLE.

Vai kāds man pateikt, ja tas ir iespējams piekļūt Senkrievu? LATVIJĀ MILITĀRO RECORDS.
Mans vectēvs Jānis Grasis WAS augsta ranga lielas vai līdzīgs Krievijas armijas PĒC WW1.

Viņš bija CARPENTER tirdzniecība.
DOI nekādu cerību?

PALDIES Margrieta

GRASIS LATVIA

2012-09-26T04:45:38-08:00

CAN ANYONE TELL ME IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO ACCESS OLD RUSSIAN?LATVIAN MILITARY RECORDS.
MY GRANDFATHER JANIS GRASIS WAS A HIGH RANKING MAJOR OR SIMILAR IN THE RUSSIAN ARMY AFTER WW1.

HE WAS A CARPENTER BY TRADE.
DOI HAVE ANY HOPE?
THANKS MARGRET

Gundega Sproge. Latvian Triple Jump Champion.

2012-08-27T05:37:54-08:00

Does anyone know where Gundega is or how she can be contacted?

Searching for Zanis (Janis) Freimanis and/or his relatives in Australia

2011-04-05T04:59:16-08:00

My family is trying to find Zanis Freimanis, a distant relative, who resides near Adelaide, Australia. We haven’t heard from or of him for a couple of years. Any information would be appreciated.

Looking Marta Miller

2012-07-21T13:14:35-08:00

My mom had a cousin name Marta Miller. She lived in Marion Oregon. I am almost positive she lived in a trailer. She died in 2000. I am desperately trying to find Marta’s maiden name. Any time my mom went to visit her, they always took a trip to California to visit other relatives, but I don’t remember their names.
Marta was Latvian but husband was American. Anyone remember her?