Library and Research Center
Since the Museum’s founding in 1966, the Library and Research Center (LRC) has
supported the education and research programs of the Museum. The Library includes a
manuscript library, the Irene Balzekas Map Memorial Collection, the Museum’s
institutional archives, the music collection, the periodicals library, the rare book library,
and a reference library.
Originally catalogued following the Dewey Decimal Classification System, in 2010 the
Library catalogue would be digitized, and the library is now being re-catalogued to
research library cataloguing standards making it accessible to more researchers
globally.
While researchers may schedule a visit to view the Library’s collections, drop-in visits
are unavailable at this time. Interested visitors may request an appointment via email at:
info@balzekasmuseum.org
Library and Research Center Collections
Initially assembled and organized by Stanley Balzekas, Jr., the Library has grown to a
collection of thousands of physical volumes and now digital objects too.
During its nearly 60-year history, the Library has been led by multiple librarians,
including Jurgis Kasakaitis (1966-1985), David Fainhaus (1986-1995), Danutė
Viktorienė (1996-c.2002), Irena Pumputiene (c.2003-c.2013), Amy Sherwood (2018-
2020), and our current librarian Jolanta (2020-).
The library has also been supported by many dedicated staff, donors, and volunteers.
Manuscript Library |\
The Manuscript Library holdings include many prominent people of Lithuanian
backgrounds as well as Lithuanian cultural organizations. Some collection strengths
include Lithuanian immigration to the United States, displaced person’s camps in
Europe, and Lithuanian organizations (churches, cultural associations, fraternal
societies, political organizations, and the performing arts).
Some manuscript collections include:
- Adomas Adomaitis Papers
- Augustinas Idzelis Papers
- Baltic University Records
- Chicago Lithuanian Women’s Club Records
- Dainava Records, 1977-1991
- Darius and Girenas Research Collection
- Domas Adomaitis Papers
- Emillia Abraityte and Wanda Abraityte Papers
- Leonardas Simutis Papers, 1917-1967
- Lithuanian American Council, Inc. Records
- Lithuanian Chamber of Commerce of Illinois Records
- Lithuanian Diplomatic Service Records, 1919-1941
- Petras Mikolainis Papers
- Rev. Juzoas Prunskis Papers
- Vaclovas Kasakaitis Papers
- Vyriausiasis Lietuvos Išlaisvinimo Komitetas Records
Irene Balzekas Memorial Map Collection |\
Since at least 1967, historical maps have been donated to the Library. This collection of
antiquarian and modern maps documents the cartographical record of Lithuania’s
history as much as it is a rich visual resource of notions of Lithuanian communities and
identities.
For the next fifty years, the collection would continue to develop. By 1972, with the
support of the Women’s Guild, the maps had been rehoused and renamed as the Map
Collection. In 1977, following multiple generous donations, the Map Collection would be
formally named the Irene Balzekas Memorial Map Collection. By this time, the collection
included over 400 rare and modern maps from the 16 th through 20 th centuries. In 1981,
the Collection would be re-cataloged. In 1986, compiled by curator Patricia Bakunas,
the Irene Balzekas Memorial Map Collection: Catalogue of Holdings would be
published. By 1987, there were over 500 maps. In 1995, there were over 750 maps(?)
By 1998, there were over 900 maps.
Some maps include:
- Grandy Duchy of Lithuania, by Gerard Mercator, 1619
- Magni Ducatus Lithuaniae, by Willem Janszoon Blaeu, 1613
- Radvilas, by Giovanni Antonio Bartolomeo Rizzi Zannoni, c.1613
- Series on Lithuania, by Nicolas Sanson d’Abbeville, c.1665
Museum Archives |\
The Museum Archives are being processed and unavailable for research at this time.
Music Collection |\
In 1990, the Museum Review announced the first call for a music archives volunteer. In
1991, Juozas Sodaitis founded the Music Archives with a collection of music sheets and
piano rolls. Music recording donations would continue and funds would be raised to
modernize its storage. By 2018, the Women’s Guild raised funds to digitized both the
music recordings and the periodical library. That same year, supported by a Baltic-
American Freedom Foundation research fellowship, in addition to his own research,
Professor Darius Kučinskas, PhD, would help catalogue the collection even further.
Finding aids will be available online at a future date.
Periodicals Library |\
By 1975, there were over 700 publications in the periodicals collection. By 1980, there
were over 800 items. By 1985, there were 1500 items. By 1991, there were 1800 items.
In 2018, the Women’s Guild raised funds to digitized both the music recordings and the
periodical library.
Some early Periodicals Library curators have included Edward Pocius and Aušra
Zarins.
The Periodicals Library is being catalogued and will be available online at a future date.
Photograph Collection |\
Now documenting over 150 years of history, the Museum’s photograph collection was
an early Museum initiative that started in 1976. Many photographs and negatives have
featured historical sites or locations in both Lithuania, the United States, and even
around the world. Genealogists, historians, writers, and other researchers have found
this useful for its breadth of subjects including early photographs of Lithuanian towns
and villages.
Within just two years, in 1978, the collection would be renamed the Photo Archive to
reflect its original purpose as a central research repository of Lithuanian images. By
1981, the collection had passed 15,000 items. By 1985, there were 30,000 images. By
1993, the collection surpassed 50,000 items and now included postcards too. Today’s
Photo Archives continues to accept donations although pre-approval is required.
Some early Photograph Collection curators have included Konstantinas Petrauskas
(c,1968-c.1978) and Irena Šerelis.
The Photo Archives are being processed and unavailable for research at this time.
Rare Book Library |\
This collection of books from the early Modern period through the present, include
publications in Czech, English, French, German, Latin, Lithuanian, Polish and Russian.
Some collection strengths include publications documenting the uprisings of 1831 and
1863, Tsarist Russian language policy in Lithuania, and the Lithuanian nationalist
movement.
In 1973, as one of the first rare book library champions, Leon Kibort (1899-1983) would
generously donate 174 titles to significantly expand the collection. The Kibort Collection
would form the core of the Rare Book Library’s holdings for many years. By 1980, there
were 370 volumes (174 were from the Leon Kibort donation). By 1995, there were 700
volumes. By 1996, there were 1000 volumes.
More titles continue to arrive and the Library is seeking help founding an endowed library preservation and conservation budget.
Reference Library |\
As the core of the Library’s collections, the main library features the largest collection of
books about Lithuanian or Lithuanians from around the world.
For most of its history, the Reference Library has grown by an average of 10,000
volumes per year. By 1980, there were over 10,000 volumes. By 1991, there were
30,000 volumes. By 1993, there were 40,000 volumes. By 2008, there were 50,000
volumes.
More titles continue to arrive and the Library is seeking help founding an endowed library acquisition budget.
*** Library Policies ***
Reading Room Guidelines
Reading privileges are granted to registered visitors to use Library materials. Please
contact the Library, for the most recent reading room guidelines. Please email:
info@balzekasmuseum.org Please title your email “Reading Room Guidelines
Request”.
Library Registration and Circulation
All Library users must submit a Library Use Form. Library use registration must be
approved by the Librarian, before the user may access the Library’s collections.
For a current Library Use Form and to schedule a Library appointment, please email:
info@balzekasmuseum.org. Please title your email “Library Visit Request”.
Donation and Gift Policy
Donations are welcomed; however, the Museum and Library require a list of titles and a
scheduled appointment to deliver the books or other items of interest.
To schedule a donation assessment and delivery, please email:
info@balzekasmuseum.org. Please title your email “Library Donation Request”.
If you are interested in accessing any of these collections, please reach out to info@balzekasmuseum.org and state who you are, what organization you are a part of, and why you are interested in accessing these collections.