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The Estonian Archives in Sweden - A Brief Overview

In November 1970, the Estonian Cultural Archives were founded by the Estonian National Congress in Sweden (Rootsi Eestlaste Esindus or REE, from 1994 Rootsi Eestlaste Liit, REL). The aim of the Estonian Cultural Archives was to collect and help preserve material concerning the lives of Estonians in Sweden.

The actual work was carried out by the archival committee of the REE. The committee was headed by Ahti Pae (Stockholm), with the help of Arvi Moor (Gothenburg) and Johannes Äro (Norrköping). The members were Johannes Kant, Meeri Nõmm, Mart Kiiver, Ilmar Vooremaa, Osvald Viirsoo, Boris Görman, Mihkel Jüris, Kristjan Meikop, Arbo Nael and Richard Norvell. A Scientific Council also took part of the archival committee’s work. This council was led by Professor Evald Blumfeldt. Members were Assistant Professor Elmar Nyman, Leo Moks, Bernhard Tuiskvere, Alur Reinans, Eugen Kiiman and Ahti Pae, Arvi Moor and Johannes Äro of the archival committee.

 

One of the tasks was the collecting of documents regarding the escape from the occupied home country, the arrival in Sweden and the life of the Estonian refugees. The archival records were stored in  rooms of the REE at Sandhamnsgatan 1 in Stockholm until 1989.

 

The organising of archival records came to a halt in the 1980s due to the death of Ahti Pae, but the gathering of archival records continued on the initiative of REE. Among the material submitted was newspapers, periodicals, books, films and archives of organisations.  

 

The REE archival committee was revived in March 2007, with the aim of preserving the cultural heritage of the Estonians in Sweden; this heritage is to be found in the archives of individuals and organisations, but is today threatened by destruction and oblivion.

 

On the 23d of April 2007, an archival group was established. This group consisted of volunteers who were guided into the work with the help of archivists Jaan Pannel and Tiit Baugus. The group has mainly worked with the archives of Estonian organisations in Sweden. The aim is to transfer these collections to suitable archival institutions, since the current storage space never was meant to house archival records.

The group continues its work, now under a new name: The Estonian Archives in Sweden.