History-1900+

Our Lithuanian Roots: Lost & Found

By Jeanne Leita Stump Lost & Found A lengthy, exhaustive, and meticulous search for Lithuanian roots on two continents culminates in a joyful meeting with long-lost relatives. It seems impossible that just last August I was sitting at a table filled with savory Lithuanian food and surrounded by Leita cousins! …

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Museums: Prehistoric Lithuania a New Museum Dedicated to the Past

BY JULIE SKURDENIS Prehistoric Lithuania a New Museum Dedicated to the Past IN THE HEART OF VILNIUS, LITHUANIA’S CAPITAL, rises Gediminas Hill. At 158 feet it towers over the city spread out below. Here — so legend says — King Gediminas founded Vilnius in the 14th century, making it his …

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Profiles: ‘The Klaipėda Liberator’

BY TOM GREGG (GRIGONIS) ‘The Klaipėda Liberator’ Although Jew historical works record it, Jonas Budrys was the chief engineer of one of Lithuania’s proudest moments: 1923 suprising in the Klaipėda Territory. History is like as sieve , a great filter of facts. The smaller, less significant data falls through and …

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Profiles: Brenner of Baranauskas?: Unraveling the Mystery of the Name and Origin of the Designer of the Lincoln Penny

By Edward W. Baranauskas BRENNER OR BARANAUSKAS? Unraveling the mystery of the name and origin of the designer of the Lincoln penny Many of us think of the penny as having more nuisance value than any monetary worth, as it clutters up our pockets and purses, and seems to buy …

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Lithuanian Profiles: Science Fiction’s Shining Seer

By Tom Gregg He was again looking out at night-softened Manhattan. “Are you still confident that no one has deduced our -ah- personal dynamic ? ” “Perfectly confident.” Domino was shocked at the suggestion.  “No one knows that you and I run the world. — Algis Budrys, Michaelmas Science Fiction deals …

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Lithuanian Profiles: Among the Great Apes: Birutė Galdikas

BY TOM GREGG AMONG THE GREAT APES Birute Galdikas, born of World War II Lithuanian refugees, has forged an international reputation with extensive research on Borneo’s orangutans. What’s My Line?” was early television’s most popular game show. They awarded no vacation cruises or luxury cars, but the game itself was …

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Folklore: the Musical Heritage of Lithuanian

BY RODERICK TUCK THE MUSICAL HERITAGE OF LITHUANIA Lithuanian music ranges from the most archaic forms of folk music to the more stylistic compositions of today. Throughout the centuries music has accompanied Lithuanians on every sort of occasion. There were songs, called dainos, for the daily tasks of reaping, herding, …

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Lithuanian Language: All in the Family

BY Prof. Casimir Dobilas ALL IN THE FAMILY Most of us are aware o f how old and rich the Lithuanian language is. We also know how strong were the ties which bonded Lithuanian families and kept them together through good and bad times. Nowhere is this more evident than …

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The Lithuanian Experience: in Search of One’s Roots

By Robert Duda Wanting to find his roots—and the land of his grandparents—  the author goes to Lithuania and discovers some pleasant surprises. Growing up in a small western Massachuset ts town in the ’50s and ’60s, I was fortunate enough to live my first fourteen years with a pair …

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Our Immigrant Heritage: …Up, Up, But Not Quite Away! the Saga of a Lithuanian Flying Machine

  The Saga of a Lithuanian Flying Machine Edward V. Gillis (Gylys) is the author of the still unpublished book, Growing Up Lithuanian in Old Lithuanian Town of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The book of over 500 manuscript pages deals with Lithuanian life in Grand Rapids from 1885 to 1940 and …

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