Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture

Resources (1)

• Located next to Balzekas Chrysler-Plymouth, the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture is devoted to collecting and preserving Lithuanian cultural treasures. It opened on 22 June 1966, and consists of a library, archive, and art gallery. The archive of the museum contains valuable material, much of which is unpublished, including 25 file drawers on general subjects pertaining to Lithuania; ca. 5 file drawers on notable Lithuanians; 3 file drawers on Lithuanian clergymen and religious life; 8 file drawers, ca. 10,000 items, on Lithuanian artists and reproductions of their works; over 12,000 photos, presently being catalogued, relating to Lithuania; 50 manuscripts by Lithuanian playwrights; 3 file drawers on fighters for Lithuania's independence; 3 file drawers on Lithuanian doctors; a genealogy file containing 10,000 names; 4 ft. of bibliographical materials; and vast amounts of bibliographical materials on Lithuania.

  On exhibit in glass cases on the first floor of the museum are letters from Dean Rusk and William Rogers to the charge d'affaires of Lithuania commemorating anniversaries of Lithuania's independence, a photocopy of Lithuania's declaration of independence, 1918, and pictures (from published sources) of the signers of the declaration.

  On the second floor of the museum, in the "Eminent Lithuanians Room," there are photos and/or drawings of Juozas Bachunas (1893–1969), Anthony O. Olis (1898–1958), Dr. A. M. Rackus (1893–1965), Juozas Zilevicius (b. 1891), Dr. Pijus Grigaitis (1883–1947), Dr. Petras P. Dauzvardis (1895–1971), consul general of Lithuania, Antanas Rukuiza (1887–1973), Leonardas Simutis (1892–1975), Right Rev. Msgr. F. M. Juras (b. 1891) (founder of the ALKA Museum in Putnam, Connecticut), Msgr. Dr. Joseph B. Koncius (1891–1975), Dr. Jonas Basanavicius (1851–1927), and Stanley P. Balzekas (b. 1893).

  Also on the second floor on exhibit are photos of restaurant interiors in Lithuania; photos by Jonas Varnas of Vilnius metalwork; photos from published sources of outstanding Lithuanian women; and photos of prominent Lithuanian military leaders and Lithuanian troops.