Lithuanian Research and Studies Center

Resources (3)

• Freedom Museum

  The museum was opened on the 40th anniversary of the restoration of the Lithuanian military. On November 23, 1958, a grand opening occurred in the large auditorium of the Youth Center in which mass was held, and Rev. Kubilius, S.J., Gen. Consul Daužvardis, General Reklaitis, Dirkis, Šimutis, and other Chicago Lithuanian community and cultural activists spoke. By the resolution of the Chicago chapter of the Lithuanian Veterans‘ Union Ramovė (December 27, 2001), the Ramovėnai Military Museum and its collections were transferred to the LRSC for management and housing. The purpose of the organization was to uphold tradition, provide aid to those in Lithuania rendered invalids during the struggle for independence, and to participate in all efforts to regain Lithuanian independence from Soviet occupation.

• World Lithuanian Archives

  This archive, one of the largest repositories of Lithuanian materials in the United States, maintains over 78 ft. of materials from after World War II to the present. Its holdings, which pertain to life both in and outside Lithuania, can be divided into 3 categories:

  Records of Lithuanian organizations. Materials pertaining to Lithuanian organizations all over the world. These include the Lithuanian Community, the Lithuanian Catholic Youth Association, the Lithuanian scouts, and the Lithuanian charitable organization BALF.

  Papers on and by prominent Lithuanians. Letters, memoirs, literary manuscripts, and other unpublished materials pertaining to Lithuanian writers, statesmen, artists. These include Vincas Kreve, Balys, Sruoza, Juozas Brazaitis, and many others.

  Photographs. 8 file drawers of uncataloged photos on Lithuanian community activities throughout the world.

  The World Archives also maintains 12,000 books pertaining to Lithuania, and large amounts of newspapers, magazines, and postcards. No restrictions, but it is advised that researchers make appointments with the director of the archive, Mr. Ceslovas Grincevicius. The archives are open to the public on Saturdays from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M.

• Žilevičius-Kreivėnas Musicology Archive

  This unique repository of Lithuanian musicology consists of over 400,000 published and unpublished items, most of which were donated by Professor Juozas Zilevicius, a scholar and composer who emigrated to the United States in 1929. Among the unpublished materials in the collection are manuscripts of the operas "Dana" by Julius Gaidelis, "Du Kalavijai" and "Vaiva" by Vytautas Klova, "Dangute" by Zigmas Aleksandravicius, "Dalia" by Balys Dvarionas, "Gazina" by J. Karnavicius, and "Jurate ir Kastytis" by Kazys Viktoras Banaitis; and the cantata "Vilniaus Varpai" by Bruno Markaitis, S.J. One-act operas in the collection include "Juodasis Laivas" by Kacinskas, "Gintaro Krastas" by J. Gaidelis, and "Priesaika" by V. Marijosius. There are also manuscripts of Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis, including the symphonic poems "Miske" and "Jura" "Mes padainuosim"; the opera "Pagirenai" and the symphonic poem "Nemunas" by Stasys Simkus; manuscripts of Leonas Ereminas; the Albinas Strimaitis songs for chorus and the wedding dances as they were performed in the province of Suvalkija during the middle of the 19th c; manuscripts of Juozas Jurcikonis, Vladas Jakubenas, Darius Lapinskas, Kazys Viktoras Banaitis, Vytautas Bacevicius, Juozas Groudis, Bruno Markaitis, S.J., Petras Sarpalius, Mikas Petrauskas, Julius Sinius, Antanas Pocius, Bronius Brudriunas, Vladas Adomavicius Adonis, Domas Andrulis, Dr. Leonardas J, Simutis, Juozas Stankunas, Aleksandras Aleksis, Adomas Gediminas Grigaliunas Glovarckis, Juozas Strolia, Jeronimas Kacinskas, Augustus Jankauskas, Rev. Juozas Zidanavicius (Seriju Juozas), Vladas Motekaitis, Aleksandras Mrozinskas, Antanas Vanagaitis, Povilas Ciurlionis, Rev. Vladas Budreckas, M.M., Sister M. Bernarda, M.M., Giedra Gudauskiene and many others. Also included are early compositional attempts of Lithuanian church organists in the United States, as well as numerous manuscripts written by Juozas Zilevicius himself.
  
  Other unpublished materials include the Florijonas Valeika collection, ca. 100 manuscripts of waltzes, marches, etc. for military bands, and numerous volumes of manuscripts by Juozas Bertulis.
  
  This entry is based on the valuable finding aid by Professor Juozas Zilevicius (translated by Professor Leonardas J. Simutis), The Juozas Zilevicius Library of Lithuanian Musicology (Chicago, 1973). http://www.lithuanianresearch.org/?page_id=457