Teacher and Photographer Mārtiņš Bērziņš

Mārtiņš Bērziņš (1874 - 1950) for more than 40 years – from 1895 till 1937 worked as a primary school teacher. Since 1921 he worked in Umurga. He also was an organist, was a member of the local municipality, is characterised as an active and responsive man. In the Archives there is a folklore collection by Mārtiņš Bērziņš - No. 556. The material was sent between 1927 and 1947, altogether 14057 items. As a collector M. Bērziņš is unique by his work regularity - until 1940 materials collected by him arrived once a month or even more frequently. Teacher Bērziņš sent legends, folk-tales, anecdotes, riddles, proverbs, songs, beliefs, dream explanations etc. heard in Umurga. Part of the material was recorded from different informants, part is remembered by himself.
M. Bērziņš was also a photographer, there are 7 ethnographic, documenting images in his collection. As customary at that time, the photographs have carefully built composition, the people are posing. But it is no shortcoming, instead it is some additional information about the time the images were taken. The images have been printed as postcards, several also came to LFK this way. On the revers side of them there is explanation of what is visible on the image, as well as some texts. In summer of 2004 Elga Melne, visiting M. Bērziņš relatives, acquired for LFK images previously not known. (His images are also part of collection at Limbaži museum.)
These are the images found in collection No. 556 (please close the pop-up window before opening the next image!):

"A home owner from Umurga Akmeņteiči J(ānis). Eglīte, who still follows the customs of ancestors in all his deeds. 7.X.27."

"This flag was donated by some patrons to the Umurga Society of Singers. It cost 75 roubles. 30.XII.27."

"A view of lake Sārums, rich in islands, in winter dress... 1.I.28."

"Umurga church where a sexton was once flogged for ringing the bell for too short a time (no date)"

"The horn used by Akmeņteiči owner J. Eglīte. 8.III.28."

"The portrait of Pēteris Auziņš, an informant ...5.VIII.28."

"The portrait of Marija Amoliņa"