Invitation to the seminar “Why were folklore publications produced in exile?”

We invite you to the seminar “Why were folklore publications produced in exile?”, which will take place on January 29 at 6:00 p.m. at the “Latvians Abroad” Museum (84 Dzirnavu Street, Riga).

This will be the third seminar in the “Latvian Folklore Studies in Exile” series. The evening will begin with a lecture by Viesturs Zanders, a researcher of the history of Latvian publishing, followed by conversations in a convivial atmosphere.

Just as before the establishment of the Latvian state, after the Second World War Latvian folklore texts, essays and studies dedicated to folklore were also published outside Latvia. As in earlier periods of Latvian publishing, private initiative also dominated this field in exile. The lecture will introduce the circle of authors (editors) and publishers of folklore publications, the motivations behind the creation of individual publications, as well as their potential audiences of buyers and readers. Of particular note is an edition of Latvian folksongs, produced with the participation of several outstanding Latvian researchers in the humanities and published in 12 volumes by the “Imanta” publishing house in Copenhagen (1952–1956).

We will assess the proportion of reprints and newly prepared publications among the range of folklore publications produced in exile. We will also explore whether there was a connection between folklore publications produced in Latvia and those published outside Latvia.

Everyone is warmly welcome!

The event is organised by the Latvian folklore research group of the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia within the Latvian Council of Science funded project No. lzp-2024/1-0522, “Latvian Folklore Studies in Exile”, in cooperation with the Museum “Latvians Abroad”.