Estonian Historical Archives (EHA)

The Estonian History Archives (EHA) in Tartu contain an extensive collection of leprosy related matters in Estonia, mainly from before 1920. There are some exceptions (materials of the University of Tartu and some medical institutions, with records up to 1940).

Estonia (Estland), Livonia (Livland) and Curonia (Kurland) were included in the historic (Protestant, German dominated) Baltic Provinces at the territories of present day Estonia and Latvia. (Estonia refers to the northern part of the present Estonia; Livonia refers to the northern part of Latvia and Southern Estonia, including the island Saaremaa; and Curonia refers to the western part of Latvia.)

Up until1889, most of the local documentation was in German (in cases when indigenous peasants were involved as equal partners – i.e. in business, they were in Estonian or Latvian). From 1889 onwards, the local documentation started to switch into Russian. From 1919 onwards, most of the materials are in Estonian.

The German transcription of Estonian and Latvian place names frequently met in the relevant material, is as follows: Audaku = Audako, Cesis = Wenden, Kuuda = Kuda; Muuli = Muhli, Nina = Nennal, Tarvastu = Tarwast, Tartu = Dorpat, Saaremaa (island) = Ösel,

The material could be divided according to the sources:

• Stocks dedicated entirely to the leprosy matters (ie Stocks nos 628, 1650, 2450);
• Stocks containing items on the matters of leprosy (ie nos 51, 957);
• Items of individuals attached by their profession or activities to leprosy-related issues. (Attention has been paid to leading professors and medical doctors, but also public figures involved in the fight against leprosy.)

There are records referring to the following leprosaria: Muuli, Nina, Tarvastu and Cesis, Kuuda leprosarium, and Audaku ( Saaremaa island = Ösel). These include statutes, building plans, constructions records, annual reports, budgets, accounts, correspondence, case histories, and registration books. (There 25 photos, mainly from the Tarvastu leprosarium).

The records also include correspondence from 1888 with the Ministry of Interior Affairs on the treatment of people with leprosy; a study on leprosy in the Baltic province by Dr Peeter Hellat (1881-1887); records of Dr Hendrik Koppel, the head of the leprosarium in Muuli near Tartu 1883-1917; records of The Livonian Society for the Fight Against Leprosy (Gesellschaft zur Bekämpfung der Lepra). (This society was established in 1891, superseding the Committee for the Fight Against Leprosy. It was dissolved in 1925).

The collection also holds the personal files of Professor Alexander Paldrock, Dr. Paul Parmakson Head of the Audaku leprosarium (1932-33) and Kuuda leprosarium (1933-1938), and Dr. Siegfried Talvik.

Leprosy Related Records at The Estonian History Archives

Entry made September 19, 2005