Estonian State Archives (ESA / ERA)

The materials in the Estonian National Archives (Eesti Rahvusarhiiv) are in two parts, divided according to the period. In the Tallinn branch (also known as the Estonian State Archives / Eesti Riigiarhiiv, ESA / ERA), there is documentation predominantly from the years after 1918-1920, dating from the birth of the Republic of Estonia. This is mainly in Estonian).

In Tartu, the Estonian History Archives (Eesti Ajalooarhiiv, EAA / EHA) of the Estonian National Archives, contains materials mainly from the years before 1918-1920 (an exception being the University of Tartu but also some medical facilities, including leprosaria). During the existence of the pre-war Estonian Republic (1918-1940), there were four leprosaria in Estonia: Kuuda, Audaku, Tarvastu and Muuli.

In the Tallinn branch (the Estonian State Archives / Eesti Riigiarhiiv, ESA / ERA), this collection includes documentation created by the following institutions:

• Ministry of Interior Affairs
• The Main Board of the Constituent Assembly (a founding institution of the Republic of Estonia)
• Chancery of State
• Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs (years 1929-1940).
• Ministry of Education
• Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Riigi Statistika Keskbüroo
• Estonian Ministry of Employment- and Social Welfare (1918-1929).
• Board of Agricultural Statistics
• Viljandi District Court

These records related to activities such as reports, accounts, records of movements, case histories, admission records, complaints, staff lists, and accounts for agricultural activities for the leprosaria of Kuuda, Audaku, and Tarvastu. They also include

• Documents created during the closing of the Nina leprosarium (1919-29)
• Documentation on the land properties of the Audaku Leprosarium
• Lists of the personnel at the Muuli leprosarium
• Correspondence on the position of leprosaria in the newly independent state, matters on the appointment of the doctor responsible for leprosy … (1920)

This collection also includes local records for counties where the various leprosaria were located:

• Viljandi County (Viljandimaa), county government. (1918 – 1922) (The leprosarium of Tarvastu was located in this county.)
• Town Council of Mustla (a small community in the same parish with the Leprosarium of Tarvastu) (1927-1940)
• Läänemaa County (1920-28) (Lääne maakond), county government. (The leprosarium if Kuuda was located in this county.)
• Saare County (Saare maakond), county government. (1920-1940) (The leprosarium of Audaku was located in this county.)

Leprosy Related Records at the Estonian State Archives

Entry made September 20, 2005