Nepriklausomų valstybių - Lietuvos ir Latvijos - kūrėjai Mintaujos gimnazijoje

ENThe present article introduces the exhibition and exhibition book “The Creators of Independent States – Lithuania and Latvia – in Mitau Gymnasium.” The centennial anniversaries of Independence of two neighbouring countries – Lithuania and Latvia, commemorated in 2018, have given impetus to pay attention to an exceptional educational institution Mitau (now Jelgava, Latvia) gymnasium, where the following outstanding personalities were studying: the future Presidents of the Republic of Latvia Jānis Čakste and Alberts Kviesis, the President of the Republic of Lithuania Antanas Smetona, Prime Ministers Mykolas Sleževičius, Vytautas Petrulis, Juozas Tūbelis, Vladas Mironas as well as a large number of representatives of politics, economics, science, culture and arts from both countries, who contributed to the prosperity of two countries by their work and creation, such as Krišjanis Baronas, Adolfas Alunanas, Frydrichas Viesmanis, Francis Trasunas, Gedertas Eliasas, Jonas Šliūpas, Jonas Smilgevičius, Kazimieras Bizauskas, Vladimiras Šilkarskis, Steponas Kolupaila, Kazimieras Jasėnas, Petras Kalpokas, etc. The exhibition was initiated by “Aušros” museum, in collaboration with Ģederts Eliass History and Art Museum of Jelgava, which is located in the building of former Mitau gymnasium. The exhibition tells the history of the museum as well as introduces the activities and fates of representatives of both nations who were studying in this gymnasium.The attention is paid to one of the gymnasium teachers Jonas Jablonskis who disseminated the Lithuanian spirit, made a huge influence on gymnasium students’ attitudes and shaped their future lives, “Kūdikio” society of Lithuanian gymnasium students, the centre of Lithuanian culture – a boarding school established by a writer Liudvika Didžiulienė-Žmona, the road to Independence of Lithuania and Latvia is revealed as well. The exhibition and exhibition book are bilingual, prepared in the Lithuanian and Latvian languages. The material has been collected from 29 memory institutions of Lithuania and Latvia and six private archives in both countries. The exhibition and exhibition book “The Creators of Independent States – Lithuania and Latvia – in Mitau Gymnasium” give meaning to the 100th anniversaries of Independence of both countries – Lithuania and Latvia, join the events of both countries dedicated to the anniversaries and contribute to the shaping of historical memory of both nations.