Dzīvesstāsts/dzīvesstāsts


	Sources Acquistion Archive of Humanity Entries of Note Use of Collection Rules of use Sources The lifestory is a source for qualitative research. The most basic component of the NMV collection is the written or recorded document of personal history, a short or lengthy story of a persons life and observations. Oral history, in contrast to traditional written history, is unedited, and is just as true and perceptive as is life. The lifestory is raw material that the researcher may evaluate and put in context. The lifestory that is created in a conversation with an interviewer, is free from standards imposed by quantitative research and questionaires. The interviewer creates an informal environment, in which the conversation partner talks about familiar situations and his/her life in familiar terms. The researcher finds information on several levels. In addition to the geographic and historical chronology, the individuals lifestory includes unique patterns of speech, images, expressions, myths, fables, ideas. The individuals story may be recorded in several media: audio cassettes, written memoirs, photographs, household documents, letters, journals, video tapes, film. Each testimony is characterized by the individuals unique approach, experience, and background, which therefore is hard to categorize according to themes, but rather the entire testimony allows individuals to understand individuals experiences that differ from their own. Trust plays a key role in creating the lifestory and is the primary principal in the formation and creation of the collection. Acquisition Professional researchers and a large part of society - those who have agreed to share their experiences - play key roles in the acquisition of lifestories. Lifestories are acquired through research and field work. The lifestory interview is the product of the authors - the interviewees and interviewers - work together, the result of an interactive process. The author narrates his/her story as he/she desires, but the interviewers may also suggest questions. The selection of interviewees in qualitative study may be based on: The snowball principle - one interviewee may suggest a next candidate Personal contacts, recommendations by others The suggestion of experts in the field Regularly occurring fieldwork: Mid-summer: Multi-project fieldwork project Lifestory-Latvia Year-round project: Lifestory in the Diaspora Specific Research Projects: Qualitative study on poverty in Latvia The Home: Riga, Latvia Multi-generions: 100 x 100 A regional study of experience of ethnic diversity in Latvia Archive of Humanity The central role of the individual in the creation of the collection and research is evident by the name of the collection: Archive of Humanity. This archive contains audio-recorded lifestories of the twentieth century. There are 2990 lifestories in the archive. The author - the individual who records or writes his/her memories - takes part in the creation of the archive, and agrees to include his/her memories, verifying this with his/her signature. NMV Archive has the following individual collections, given in order of date of acquisition: I Testimonies of glasnost and renewal of independance (Third Awakening): 1986-1990 II Latvians in the United States and Canada: 1990 III Latvians in Great Britain: 1990, 1992, 2009, 2011 IV Interviews in Latvia: 1992-1993 V Interviews conducted by Baiba Bela and Ginta Elksne: 1994-1995 VI Dagmaras Vallenas collection (interviews of the USA correspondent of Radio Free Europe): 1975-1992 VII Latvians in Norway: 1993-1996 VIII Interviews in Latvia 1994-1995 IX Field work in Skriveri: 1995 X Home/House in Riga, Latvia: 1995-1996 XI Interviews in Latvia: 1994-1997 XII Field work Lifestory in Latvia - 1996 XIII Latvians in Sweden: 1996 XIV Interviews conducted by the students of Riga school of commerce XV Field work Lifestory in Latvia - Latgale: 1997 XVI Field work in Renda with Jim Staley XVII Field work Lifestory in Latvia - Latgale: 1998 XVIII Project of American Latvian Association (ALA) - Lifestory in the diaspora XIX Field work Lifestory in Latvia - Vidzeme: 1999 XX Field work Lifestory in Latvia - Selonia: 2000 XXI Collection of Inara Kaija Eglite XXII Multigeneration collection: 100 X 100 XXIII Field work Lifestory in Latvia - Lejaskurzeme: 2001 XXIV Collection of Dainis Grinvalds XXV Field work Lifestory in Latvia - Ventspils: 2002 XXVI Collection of Dace Belecka XXVII Interviews in Latvia: 1998-2000 XXIX Interviews conducted by students of University of Latvia XXX Interviews in Latvia: 1997-2003 XXXI Field work Lifestory in Latvia - Alsunga 2003 XXXII Field work Lifestory in Latvia - Višķi 2003 XXXIII Field work Lifestory in Latvia - Vārkava 2004-2005 XXXIV Field work Lifestory in Latvia - Alūksne 2004 XXXV Interviews in Latvia XXXVI Latvians in Muenster: 2005 XXXVII Collection of Martins Vesperis XXXVIII Field work Lifestory in Latvia - Branti 2005 XXXIX Latvians in Brazil: collection of Brigita Tamuza XL Collection of Solveiga Miezite XLI Latvians in Sweden: 2006-2007 XLII Field work Lifestory in Latvia - Turlava 2006 XLIII Interviews in Latvia XLIV Collection of Janis Cakars XLV Field work Lifestory in Latvia - Turlava 2007 XLVI Collection of Anita Timans Kalns XLVII Collection of Egils Ermansons XLVIII Field work in Ziemeļlatgale: 2008 LI Field work in Bauskas district: 2010 XLIX Collection of Vieda Skultans L Latvians un Australia: 2009 LII Field work in Gotland LIII Field work in Dagda: 2011 Entries of note: Authors of the longest lifestories: Juris Klavins, U.S. - 17 hours, 10 audiocassettes Voldemars Ploss, U.S. - 20 hours Miervaldis Jansevics, U.S. - 20 hours Sofija Dravniece, Latvia - 10.5 hours, 9 audiocassettes Biruta Leite, b. 1912, Latvia - 10.5 hours, 7 audiocassettes Margarita sidere, b. 1913. in Vladivostok. Latvia 12 hours, 8 audiocassettes Helena Gerasimova, b. 1911. 12 hours, 8 audiocassetes Oldest authors: Pauls Kundzins, b. 1888. Smiltene Milda Spalvina, b. 1889. Alsviki Emma Joozus, b. 1890. Cesis Marija Petersone, b. 1892. okt. Lidija Kruklande-Liepina,b. 1893, Baiskalna Emma Avots, b. 1893. Jeros Alma Urbane, b. 1894. Mazirbe Sofija Dravniece, b. 1895. Dundaga Marta Germane, b. 1895. Riga Salimona Romanovska, b. 1896. Berzpili Long-silenced Cultural Representatives of Latvia: Janis Sirmanis, writer. Syracuse, U.S. 1990 Uldis Germanis, writer and historian. Riga, Stockholm. 1995 and 1996. Janis Klidzejs, writer. U.S. 1999 Gunars Janovskis, writer. London, 1990. Andrejs Eglitis, poet, Stockholm, 1996. Tadeusz Puisens, writer and historian, Toronto, Canada, 1990. Velta Snikere, poet. London, 1990. Ingrida Viksna, poet, Toronto, Canada, 1990. Elza Ziverte, singer. Toronto, Canada, 1990. Andrejs Jansons, musician. U.S. 1999. The collection holdings include Radio Latvia broadcasts from the 1991 Barricades in Riga. Use of Collection The collection may be used: - for academic research by students for research, baccalauerate, masters, and doctorate theses - by researchers of cultural history, regional identities, and traditions - by educational programs - as a resource for films, books Those who are interested in using the collection may fill out the application for users. Users agree to work with the NMV collection staff and to abide by the rules of use. Researchers who wish to conduct extensive research must come to the NMV in person and arrange for the conditions of use. Applications for use are accepted by mail or telephone. Current users include: - Nikola Nau, a docent at Cologne University, Germany is conducting research on Latvian conversational language - Mara Lazda, a doctoral candidate in history at Indiana University, USA is using the collection in dissertation research. Rules of use: Collection users must abide by the permission to use agreement made between the collection and the lifestory author. Many authors allow their lifestories to be used for academic research or publication. There are authors, however, who wish to remain anonymous. No personal data may be used for internet publication. Researchers, publishers, and others who would like to request more information about the NMV Archive of Humanity should send in an application for use. All publications must cite NMV Archive of Humanity as a source.