Browse our unique collection to learn more about Latvia's history and culture—and get to know Latvia and the Latvians through our pictures and travelogues.

Books, albums, and more!

• The quintessential view of the Riga skyline, circa 1550, and still recognizeable today, from Sebastian Munster's "Cosmographia Universalis", and part of the Lord's Prayer in Latvian
• "Foreign Corn Ports-Riga", The Illustrated London News, news article with engraved illustrations, full reprint; pub. 1847
• "Livlandische Schweiz" (The Livonian Switzerland), a scenic Latvian photo album (20 pictures) by Carl Anton Schulz, circa 1880—original scans republished and family background added @LOBH.ORG.
• "RIGA", The National Encyclopedia, the full entry for Riga, accompanied with engraved illustration; full reprint; pub. circa 1897
• Album "Riga" ca. 1910, a large-format photo album (3 dozen pictures) of Riga at the start of the 20th century
• "In Memory of the First President of Latvia, Jānis Čakste", a memorial photo album dedicated to the first President of Latvia; pub. 1927
• "Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland", The New Human Interest Library, illustrated encyclopedia articles on the Baltic countries, published 1928
• "The Freedom Monument" (Brīvības Piemineklis), art critic Jānis Siliņš' discussion of the Freedom Monument (complete, partially translated), 1935
• The First Latvian Arts and Crafts Exhibition (I Latvijas Daiļamatniecības Izstāde), complete catalog, 1937
• Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, full text of the secret protocol carving up Eastern Europe between Stalin and Hitler, 1939
• "Where now is the sovietisation?", Latvian Economic Review, Foreign Minister V. Munter's address at the Latvian University delivered February, 1940; as published April 1940
• "These Names Accuse—Nominal List of Latvians Deported to Soviet Russia", the circumstances leading up to and including the Soviet occupation and deportations of 1940-1941 during the "Year of Terror" ("Baigais Gads" in Latvian), and list of those deported; second edition, pub. Stockholm, 1982
• "The Soviet Union, Finland, and the Baltic States", in a monograph published after the Winter War and toward the end of its first occupation of the Baltic states, the Soviet Union blames the Finns and Balts for their troubles, only the Soviets have consistently engaged in "neighbourly relations," rebuffed by its neighbors at every turn. A classic study in Stalinist propaganda and a version of history still familiar in official Russian rhetoric. 1941
• "Latvia Under German Occupation in 1943", published by the Latvian Legation, 1944, recounting a year of occupation under the Nazis
• "Primary Sources in European Diplomacy, 1914-1945 A Bibliography of Published Memoirs and Diaries", by Frederic M. Messick, a compilation listing all published first-hand accounts of the major diplomatic events and personal experiences of the WWI to WWII period, reference excerpt
• "Latviesu Trimdinieka Kalendars 1947" (The Latvian Exile's Calendar 1947), complete facsimile [Latvian] and poetry translations; published in the D.P. camps, 1947
• "Kopoti Raksti" (Karlis Skalbe's Collected Works), excerpted and translated poetry, ca. 1947
• Folk Costumes (Anna Darzina postcards), pictures and details; published in the D.P. camps, ca. 1948
• "Latviska un Moderna Virtuve" (The Latvian and Modern Kitchen), traditional Latvian recipes, excerpts and translations; pub. Fischbach D.P. Camp, Germany, 1949
• "The Story of Latvia—A Historical Survey", Arved Švābe's concise history of Latvia, from the Balts inhabiting now western Russia through the Soviet occupation (complete book, also in PDF), 1949
• "Latvia—Our Dream is Coming True", quintessential Soviet propaganda by Vilis Lacis—a lesson for today; complete book; published 1959
• "Pa Latvijas Celiem" (Along Latvia's Roads), inscribed Soviet-era postcard set, ca. 1960
• "Attitudes of the Major Soviet Nationalities, Latvia and the Latvians", a project of M.I.T.'s Center for International Studies; complete book, also in PDF format; pub. 1973
• "Soviet Aggression Against the Baltic States", Supreme Court Senator August Rumpēters superbly detailed and annotated treatise examining the Soviet-Baltic relationship and its basis in treaties and international law, published 1974

[more]

Russia's press and Russian politicians continue to be up in arms over the film about the Soviet-Nazi conspiracy in launching the subjugation of the Baltic states. Visit Soviet Story to find out more about the film, now available to order on DVD.

• Alberta Iela, One of the finest surviving examples of the German Art Nouveau movement of a century ago.
• Pilgrimage to the Past, Peters seeks his family's roots in Kurzeme and Vidzeme—where his mother returns to the scene of her own childhood after more than half a century.
• The Riga Zoo, Exploring Riga's 40 acre (16 hectare) zoo. An easy ride on the No. 11 tram from the center of town.
• The Organ of Liepaja's Church of the Holy Trinity, The most intact surviving handiwork of J.S. Bach's favorite master organ builder.

• Photo album "Riga/Рига" circa 1910
• The First Latvian Arts and Crafts Exhibition, 1937 (I Latvijas Daiļamatniecības Izstāde), full catalog!
• Memorial photo album dedicated to Latvia's first President, Jānis Čakste
• Speķa rauši (pīrāgi), traditional and Silvija's own über-meaty variety
• The First Latvian Song Festival in America, choir participant's music book

• Latvia and Greece—Baltic thaw, Aegean freeze, Journalist and Baltic/Eastern Europe expert Edward Lucas discusses the competing EU economic crises. Lucas writes for the Economist and is author of "The New Cold War." [February 25 2010]
• You Think Greece Has Problems—Latvia's Road to Serfdom, Insight into the scale of Latvia's current economic crisis., by Michael Hudson and Jeff Sommers. Michael Hudson is a former Wall Street economist and now a Distinguished Research Professor at University of Missouri, Kansas City (UMKC), and president of the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends (ISLET). Jeffrey Sommers is co-director of the Baltic Research Group at ISLET, and visiting faculty at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga. [February 15 2010]
• Estonia Counts her Blessings, Reflections on the survival of Estonia, an essay by Jüri Estam. Juri Estam is a journalist, author, and commentator, member of the Estonia Institute for Human Rights, recipient of several national Estonian awards, and a political independent. [February 23 2008]

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