Aiga Berzina-Kite (National Archives of Latvia / Institute of Latvian History at the University of Latvia)
One of the most important tasks of archives is not only to preserve documentary heritage but also to present it to the public. Since the establishment of the Republic of Latvia and its archival system, one way how to popularize documentary heritage and at the same time explain historical events has been through document publications. Scientifically prepared document publications by state archives in Latvia started as early as 1924, when State Archives launched a research series “Articles of the State Archives“. The first issue featured A. Kāpostiņš research about the 1802 Kauguri rebellion, which included almost fifty documents from the Archive related to the theme. These documents provided insights into the attitude and actions of the Baltic Governor General, the Governor of Vidzeme, and the provincial board in the quelling peasant unrest, as well as the involvement of military forces and repressive organs in suppressing the rebellion.
The work of document publications continued also during the Soviet occupation, and in 1954, a Department of Scientific Publications was founded. This work not only represents an important part of archival history but also show how documentary heritage was used to create a “politically correct” narrative, at the same time raising questions about how to use these publications nowadays.
Today, the work of document publications in National Archives of Latvia continues. In the presentation, the author will discuss historical perspective of document publications in Latvia, highlighting different examples and examining changes in this field over the time, at the same time stressing importance of popularizing different cultural heritage and its impact on state politics.