A Folk Costume That Met Eleanor Roosevelt

Nīca folk costume. Made by Anna Krūmkalns (1911–2000) in the late 1940s, in Poland and Germany.

The folk costume was made by Anna Krūmkalns for her daughter Dzintra when they lived in several refugee camps in Poland and Germany. Anna was a seamstress, and her daughter Dzintra also did some of the embroidery. The brooches were made smaller and plainer than the authentic standard because of a shortage of silver. Dzintra wore the Nīca folk costume at Latvian song festivals and various Latvian social events – including one in 1951, when Latvian scouts and girl guides met with the UN representative and human rights advocate Eleanor Roosevelt, the former First Lady of the United States.

Donated by Daina Paupe Henry, from the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre (LP2018.2256).

Musical ensemble in a refugee camp in Meerbeck, Germany, 1948. Donated by Biruta Schultz. From the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre.