In the Latvian military record of Žanis (John) Zekants, it states that he graduated from the Rīgas Amatnieku skolas, known in English as the Riga Craftsmen School. He studied in the Electrical Engineering Department probably between the years of 1930 and 1937. To find the school that an ancestor attended is a rare and interesting clue to their early life, so of course I needed to research this school.
The Early Years: 1872-1915
By the 19th century, the guild system of master & apprentice had all but collapsed and there were few places in the Baltics for someone to get an education in any kind of art or craft skill. In the 1870s, several craft schools opened with the biggest opening in 1872 with 155 students.
The building that housed it is located at what is now Aspazijas Blvd. 34, designed by famous architect, Johan Felsko (also architect of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church). It was created specifically for the Craftsmen School in the 1870s.
The school was known by the German name “Gewerbeschule des Rigaer Gewerbe-Vereins” or Riga Trade School of Craftsmen’s Society. Classes were conducted in German and were held in the evenings and Sunday mornings.
The school had become so popular by 1880 that the Craftsmen Society could no longer run it alone. The City of Riga, the Stock Exchange and private individuals made financial donations to the Society to keep it running and by 1913 the City of Riga petitioned to take over running the school and it became The Riga Craftsmen’s Association’s Craft School.
Prior to the city takeover, a student would receive a general education which lasted a total of 8 years and included a basic elementary education in addition to instruction in various arts and crafts like painting, drawing and perspective. Eventually specialty classes were introduced such as algebra, trigonometry, mechanics, and electrical engineering.
After the city takeover in 1913, the school offered 4 preparatory courses and 3 speciality courses. By the 1914/1915 school year there were over 1500 students studying for specialty careers such as: locksmith, gold, silver & copper working, turner, engraver, painter, upholsterer, glazier, construction technician, sculptor, bookbinder, typographer, lithographer, photographer, clerk, shoemaker. These courses were taught by a teaching staff of 60.
The City of Riga had to keep providing larger and larger premises for the school throughout the early 20th century including purpose-built facilities on Gaiziņa Street and Dārtas Street. Already existing buildings on Bruņinieku Street and Kalpaka Boulevard were also donated for the school’s use.
World War I: 1915-1920
As with almost every other industry in Riga, World War I, completely disrupted study and activity at The Riga Craftsmen’s Association’s Craft School. Many of the young men who were studying there had to suspend their studies as they were drafted into the fighting. The entire school was forced to evacuate to Moscow in 1915. By 1916, it was set up in its new home ready to admit students. Of the new cohort of 80, about half were students from Riga who had managed to evacuate with the school. Throughout the war years the school struggled to find teachers and operated with less than a dozen.
By 1918/1919, Moscow was under Soviet control and they did not look favourably upon such an institution. The staff was fired and school disbanded, the students scattering, some becoming refugees trying to make their way back home. Thanks to the efforts of the head of the school at that time, Mikelis Jankevičs (1862-1941), the school’s inventory and archives were saved.
Interwar Years: 1920-1940
In February 1920, the school re-opened its doors in a now free and independent Riga, under the auspices of A. Liepiņš. Conditions were tough, as Riga had been devastated. The school had to make do with very limited space and very few surviving teaching aids and supplies. It restarted with just over 100 students and 10 teachers. Little by little, year by year, conditions improved and more students enrolled.
By the mid-1920s, special courses such as construction, electrical engineering, chemistry, mechanics and trade were able to be offered. These offerings were divided into a 6-year program. There were about 500 students and 40 teachers. Soon even more courses were possible including: women’s clothing sewing, men’s clothing sewing, weaving, carpet making, and carpentry. In the late 1920s, there started to be a glut of skilled graduates who could not find work. The City of Riga tried to provide additional jobs by opening a large carpentry workshop.
In 1926, the name of the school changed to the Riga City Craftsmen’s School-Technical School. During the rest of the 1920s and the 1930s, the school played a significant role in preparing skilled artists, technicians, craftsmen and engineers to help Riga get back on its feet post-war. By the mid-1930s, other subjects on offer included higher mathematics, analytical geometry, drawing, resistance studies, statics, electrical engineering, building ventilation and heating, water pipes and sewage.
We don’t know exactly when Žanis attended the school. Did he attend for part of his elementary education in addition to electrical engineering? By 1937, he was signed up for his mandatory military service and had already graduated. He would continue to utilize the skills he gained at the Craftsmen School in the Latvian military in communications as a radiographer and in the Latvian Legion in a signals battalion.
The school at the time of Žanis’s study was located at the Gaiziņa Street 3 building that had been built back in 1912. This building was designed by architects Nikolajs Nords and Reinholds Georgs Schmelings.
The Soviet Era: 1944-1991
In 1957, Soviet-founded Riga Construction Technical School moved in to the Gaiziņa Street location and in 1995 it was renamed the Riga Construction College, which is still in operation today: https://www.rck.lv/koledza/par-mums/
The original building on Aspazijas Blvd. 34 housed various schools throughout the decades and in 1992 the Riga Center Arts and Crafts Elementary School was established there, where is resides today with over 350 students and 30 teachers: https://www.facebook.com/RCDP.lv/
Both of these modern schools trace their origins back to 1872 with the establishment of the first Craftsmen School in Riga.
Notable Students
Over the decades many notable figures in Latvian history, across many fields, have studied at some version of the Craftsmen School including:
Janis Rozentāls (artist) 1866-1916
Janis Rozentāls is one of the most famous artists from Latvia. Originally from the Saldus area, Rozentāls was mainly a painter of nature and portraits. He also made significant contributions to graphic design by designing books, magazines and posters. He was a huge advocate and supporter of native Latvian art and artists. He died in Helsinki in 1916. Janis Rozentāls was one of the first famous Latvians I came across many years ago when I started out in Latvian history since he carried the name ‘Rozentals’ and he died in Helsinki around the same time Žanis Zekants was born there. He was my gateway to Latvian culture!
Eduards Smiļģis (actor, director) 1886-1966
Eduards Smiļģis was the founder of the well-known Dailes teātris in 1920. This theatre produced classic productions such as Shakespeare as well as plays by native-born playwrights such as Aspazija and Rainis. Smiļģis performed in many of his productions and the theatre was characterized by heightened emotions and vivid characters. Smiļģis was director of the Dailes teātris until 1964. His house is today a museum to the director and his work: https://www.teatramuzejs.lv/
Jānis Apals (archaeologist) 1930-2011
Jānis Apals was a well-respected figure in the field of experimental archaeology around the world. He wanted to know how accurate Latvian legends were to history. He excavated ancient lake and hilltop sites including the Āraiši Lake Fortress and the Cēsis Medieval Castle. He was a pioneer in creating open-air museums and opening archaeological sites to the public. He helped to create an excitement in the population for Latvia’s own ancient history.
Other notable students from past decades are:
Kārlis Brīvnieks (actor, director)
Andrejs Eglītis (poet)
Roberts Ginters (builder)
Jāzeps Ločmelis (Doctor of Engineering)
Hermanis Liepiņš (construction contractor)
Cezars Ozers (athlete, educator)
Gunārs Priede (playwright, educator)
Voldemārs Aleksandrs Šmulders (shipbuilder, educator)
Legacy
It is amazing to think of the legacy of famous and influential Latvians that the Craftsmen School played a part in nurturing. And this same institution played a role in the life of Žanis (John) Zekants, allowing him to follow the path that eventually led to his survival of WWII and his emigration to Australia which allowed my husband and our children to be born. It is always well worthwhile to research every detail that can be found in records and documents: places, names, schools, jobs, anything that can shed more light into the life and times of the ones that came before.
Again, thank you, Ana, for your most interesting post and your research behind it! Is there an accessible database where one can search if a family member was a student there? My father in law was an electrical engineer trained probably mid to late 20’s/early 30’s and I know from address records from his passports that he lived in Riga at various times during that period. We don’t know what educational facility he attended (we assumed a higher education facility or university) but it would be interesting to know for sure. After his studies he was employed by Liepaja Metalurgs as electrical engineer.
Thanks for reading it! Years ago, when I came across this detail, the hired researcher I was using to look at things in the archives said that there might be school records available but I never followed up on that. I will have to search around online or email the archives and see if possibly anything exists. I would guess there is a good chance your father-in-law was a student there.
Very cool stories. I really like the photo of Žani. It’s almost like you can imagine how he would sound. Strong eyebrows in the three Zekants family tree. I also liked learning about the tradeschool. Nice photo of the group playing outside. They are all spaced out. I wonder what sport or activity they were doing.
I have always like to associate myself with institutions of higher learning – whether as a student, an employee or parent of a student.