Collection of the Scienctific Committee of the Riga Latvian Society

The Riga Latvian Society Knowledge Commission materials are the oldest and most extensive collection in the Archives of Latvian Folklore. Recorded here are numerous unique manuscripts, various genres, and a great deal of other ethnographic information that is of assistance in our understanding of sings, and for research and publication.

The best collectors, such as A. Lerhis-Puškaitis, V. Vankins, and others, have provided comments on the time and location the songs, a much more articulating word, marked local names. The RLB KC was Latvia’s largest folklore collection centre in the last century. With the help of the press, it generated interest among the people about their spiritual heritage, raised their self-esteem, and their Latvian-ness.

Ārons Matīss’ volume of 2188 songs from Bērzone written down in 1877 (published under the name “Parish Folklore” in 2002 as a part of the LU LFMI series) can be found in the collection. Item 2 is G. Freibergs’ essay “About the Latvian participles ‘uz’, ‘ot’ and ‘dams’.” Items 3 and 17 are the songs and riddles sent by Jānis Reiznieks from Suntaži in 1880 and 1881. Ansis Lerhis-Puškaitis’ five submissions from 1883 to 1888. Item 28 is the Druviena ‘non-book Vocabulary’ sent by Tarzieru Kārlis on 19 May 1878. Item 78 provides the beginning of Jānis Ilsters’ list of botanical names, with a number of additions from other senders, etc.