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ARCHIVAL RESOURCES

Latvian State Historical Archives

The Latvian State Historical Archives holds vital records (birth, marriage, death) from 1854 the year they started to be held officially, up to 1905. There are some years beyond these dates. Among other records held are the first All-Russian Census of 1897.

For a complete inventory of Jewish holdings in the Latvian State Historical Archives, see the Shtetlinks Riga website

This is a listing and not a searchable database.

The archivists have become very efficient, turning around requests quickly. There may be a delay of up to 6 months in some cases especially where they receive insufficient information.

No deposit is required with your initial request. If the Archivists feel that your family did not originate in Latvia they will notify you immediately. If however they can do some research for you they will send you details as regards payment. Payment may be made by money order or by cheque. When paying by cheque please add $7 for Bank charges.

A translation of the account you will receive from the Archives when your research is completed can be viewed in the Archive Accounts

E-mail requests are now possible irinwein@latnet.lv

If requesting by E-mail you will be notified of what money you need to send. Please note that it is the Historical Archive and not the State Archive. Send to:

Latvian State Historical Archives
(Latvijas valsts vestures arhivs)
Slokas iela 16
Riga LV-1048
Latvia

Archives of Registry Offices

To date, we do not have any experience with Archives of Registry Offices but will let you know what, if any, results we get. Members are also invited to submit their experiences in dealing with these and other resources, preferably via e-mail to: Arlene Beare or to our mailing address.

Vital records from 1906

Vital records from 1906 are held in the Latvian Archives of the Registry Department of the Ministry of Justice in Riga. Although the State Historical Archives indicates that the holdings of the Registry Department range only through 1921, documents from as late as 1927 have been obtained. Based on searches performed by this archives, it appears that death records exist through 1944. This archive apparently does not have the facilities to accept foreign currency, so it bills through the Latvian Embassy. The embassy will send a notification that documents have been received, and will request payment by money order. The embassy will then mail the documents, which are actually certified abstracts. The abstracts are entirely in Latvian, and are not translated. The fee appears to be $20 U.S. per name search, regardless of whether any documents were found. If documents are not found, a certificate to that effect will be issued, along with a statement of which records were searched in vain.

Latvian Archives of the Registry Department
(Latvijas Republikas Tieslietu Ministrija Dzimtsarakstu Departaments)
Kalku Street 24
Riga, LV-1623
Latvia

Vital records after 1921

Vital records after 1921 are in the Archives of the Registry Offices in Riga, Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Ventspils and Rezekne. The Rezekne address is given below and the Riga address is above.

Rezekne Registry Office
Darza Street 37
Rezekne, Latvia

RESEARCHER

Aleksandrs Feigmanis
Grestes 2-12
Riga, LV-1021
Latvia
e-mail: aleksgen@balticgen.com
Mobile 371 6416972

Aleks is a Latvian Jewish genealogical researcher and Historian who is also a contributing editor to Avotaynu. Available for research services, photographing of towns and cemeteries, and as a tour guide. He is now offering a new service, a 30-minute video of any town in Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia. Please contact for pricing.

These videos are also available through the JewishGen Mall.

Note: Inclusion on this page does not constitute an endorsement by the Latvia SIG. Members should contact researchers in advance regarding fees and services offered.

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This site was last updated on Jan 1, 2008
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