The collection includes the diaries of Ligita Vucena (1934-2019), written from 1953 until 2018.

This is a unique collection because it gives a glimpse into the life of a young Soviet woman throughout her entire life - it vividly traces the paradigm shifts and everyday realities of more than 60 years. There are few surviving diaries in which someone records the course of her life so long, so meticulously and without interruption, and Ligita's diary entries are detailed and extensive, allowing diary readers to explore different psychological, historical and cultural aspects.

Ligita started keeping a diary when she was in the 11th grade at Lubāna Secondary School:

"I thought of starting my diary today. Two weeks have passed, but there is still no heat or electricity.

I sit. Coat on back, scarf around my head. You can see the cloud of steam blowing in my breath."

The first diaries mark the Soviet education system of the 1950s: she reflects at length on both the content and the formality of schooling, her relations with her schoolmates, and the hierarchy of the Soviet system. In her first diaries, Ligita shows herself to be an enthusiastic, hard-working Soviet citizen who wants to emulate the heroes of the most famous novels and films of socialist realism. She also reads a lot, quoting the most vivid passages in her diary and commenting on what she has read/seen.

The second group of diaries consists of Ligita's studies in Michurinsk, where she learns fruit-growing. In her diaries she describes her fellow students from all over the USSR and their cultural peculiarities, as well as the learning process and the life of a Soviet student in its various cross-sections. After graduation, she wants to do postgraduate studies: the diaries trace the Soviet academic world and science, the difficulties and dilemmas faced by young scientists.

The following diaries show Ligita's working life as a fruit tree breeder and grower on various Latvian farms and companies, but alongside her work she keeps detailed records of her life: her relationships, hobbies and pastimes, cultural events, etc.

Of course, Ligita is also a witness and participant of the events of the Awakening, showing a paradigm shift in thinking. The diaries also record various events in Latvia's past and recent history. The author of the diary was a great observer and thinker until the end of her life.

Overall, the collection is large, but also informative and rich in facts.

The collection was created with the support of the State Culture Capital Foundation's target programme "KultūrELPA" project "Providing Diverse Traditional Cultural Content in the Digital Environment".