Baltic Lives:
An Exploration of Latvian History
Come on a unique journey through Latvian history. Walk the streets of Riga and witness the rise of urban industry. Experience the glory of Empire and witness sail turn to steam. Feel the devastation of war and the thrill of freedom. The journey is just beginning…
Skyline of Iļģuciems c. 1910 (photo held by the Latvian National Library)
The neighbourhood of Iļģuciems on the west bank of the Daugava River in Riga...
Aspazija c. 1912 (Wikimedia Commons)
Aspazija is the pen name of writer, poet and playwright, Elza Rozenberga. Aspazija is one of the most famous Latvians...
Žanis (John) Zekants in Germany in 1946 (photo in private family collection)
Žanis (John) Zekants is the link between all the family lines in this story....
Lavize Rozentals c. late 1870s (photo in private family collection)
Lavīze Rozenbergs/Rozentals was the only sibling of Kristaps Rozentals/Rozenvalds,...
Anna Rozentals/Rozenvalds Bermanis c. 1926 (photo held in the Latvian Historical Archives – Riga)
Anna Zelma was the youngest daughter of Kristap Rozenvalds...
Willi Droune, 1948. (photo in private family collection)
Willi was the second husband of Olga Rozentals/Rozenvalds. He was a Baltic German from the town...
Anna Rozenvalds c. 1907 (photo in private family collection)
Anna Rozenvalds (or Rozenbergs) is my husband’s great-great-great grandmother. She...
Talsi church (c. 1920s), where Jekob and Magreete were married in 1875. (photo held by the Latvian National Library)
Jekob Zekants and Magreete Latīnis are...
1837 document about ‘Indrika Seekanta’, the first known example of the Zekants name (photo from Periodika)
Indriks Zekants (or Seekant as...
This is most likely a photo of Angrieta c. 1929 (photo in private family collection)
Angrieta Latīnis was born in 1863 to Indriks Latīnis and Dore Abolins....