Langins Family papers, 1905-2004

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Langins family
Title
Langins Family papers
Dates
1905-2004 (inclusive)
Quantity
.43 cubic feet (1 box)
Collection Number
5976 (Accession No. 5976-001)
Summary
Papers of a Latvian family who survived World War II and immigrated to Seattle in 1959.
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

The Langins family was comprised of Arnolds Langins, his wife Zigrida Langins (formerly Zirgelis), their son Girts Langins. Arnolds Langins was born in Valmiera County, Latvia on February 20th, 1905. Langins completed high school in Lativa and obtained both a Bachelors degree in Mathematics (1924) and an Engineering degree (1929) in France. While studying Law in Paris, Langins was recalled to Latvia for compulsory military duty in 1930. Between 1932-1940, Langins remained in Latvia and worked in various public service offices, including the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Latvian Legation in Warsaw, Poland. In 1940-1941, during Soviet occupation of Lativia, Langins primarily did clerical work at a tobacco company. He had difficultly finding more lucrative employment due to his previous employment history in independent Latvia. From 1941-1944, when Lativa was occupied by German troops, Langins was employed in the Latvian Board of Trade and Industry (supply of lubricants and fuel). In 1944, Langins was evacuated to Germany and worked as a Gardner until the arrival of US troops. Langins also worked as a technical interpreter with the US Air Force. He did administrative work for United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), International Refugee Organization (IRO), and Lutheran World Federation.

In 1939, during his time in Latvia, Langins met and married Zigrida-Elsa Zirgelis. From 1944 to 1949, they resided in the IRO CP Camp Esslingen/N. Zigrida was born on November 26th, 1909 in Riga, Latvia. She received a Master degree in Law from the University of Latvia, Riga. Until the outbreak of World War II, Zigrida worked as a lawyer and athletic instructor.

In 1943, Zigrida gave birth to her son, Girts Langins.

In 1950, the Langins immigrated to the US. In 1952, Zigrida began attending the University of Minnesota Law School. From 1955-1959, she worked at the Hennepin County Law Library and took classes in library science. Arnolds worked as an engineer at the Cornelius Company.

The family relocated to Seattle in 1959. Zigrida worked as a book buyer for Gov-Mart and Riches & Adams, Inc from 1959-1963. Arnolds worked as an Engineering Designer at Boeing. Arnolds died in 1993 followed by Zigrida in 2008.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Documents related to members of the Langins family including, Arnolds Langins, Zigrida Langins (formerly Zirgelis), Girts Langins, and Marta Zirgelis. Documents include educational documents (grade reports, degree certificates, recommendation letters), employment records (resumes, cover letters, confirmations of employment, applications), identification documents (passports, driver licenses, birth certificates, marriage certificates, immigration and citizenship records), German identification documents, real estate records (mortgage, deed), correspondence, photographs, newsclippings, obituary and memorial service, and copy of "History of Life" by Arnold Langins.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Inta Gotelli (Trustee of Zigida Langins Adm. Trust) via Guntis Smichens (Scananavian Dept.), 2016-02-16

Separated Materials

Material Described Separately:

Langins Family Photograph Collection (PH2016-089)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1 Documents regarding Marta Zirgelis 1913-1950
1/2 German Documents 1905-1969
1/3 Legal Documents & Identification (Arnolds Langins) 1947-1993
1/4 Legal Documents & Identification (Zigrida Zirgelis/Langins) 1943-2004
1/5 Legal Documents & Identification (Girts Langins) 1943-2003
1/6 Health Records (Arnolds Langins) 1950-1970
1/7 Camp Records 1950
1/8 Education Records (Arnolds Langins) 1932-1954
1/9 Education Records (Zirgida Zirgelis/Langins) 1940-1991
1/10 Education Records (Girts Langins) 1950-1958
1/11 Employment Records - Latvia (Arnolds Langins) 1934-1945
1/12 Employment Records - Germany (Arnolds Langins) 1947-1950
1/13 Employment Records - Germany (Zigrida Zirgelis/Langins) 1949
1/14 Employment Records - Minneapolis, MN (Arnolds Langins) 1958
1/15 Employment Records - Minneapolis, MN (Zigrida Zirgelis/Langins) 1956
1/16 Employment Records - Seattle, WA (Arnolds Langins) 1958-1969
1/17 Employment Records - Seattle, WA (Zigrida Zirgelis/Langins) 1966
1/18 Employment Records - Resumes/Curriculum Vitaes (Arnolds Langins) Undated
1/19 Real Estate records 1943-1964
1/20 Correspondence 1995
1/21 Newclipping/Book mention (Arnolds Langins) 1992
1/22 "History of Life" by Arnold Langins 1949
1/23 Obituaries/Memorial Service 1993
1/24 Documents related to Latvian Culture Undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)