The Dzerins Family:
Originally born in Latvia, Rita Dunders and Viktor Dzerins travelled to Bradford from a displaced persons camp in Germany after World War Two.
The travel documents show Rita and Viktor’s migration journey, including temporary Latvian passports and the ‘Aliens Order’ Certificates of Registration issued on arrival in the UK.
Also on display are personal items that reflect the family’s efforts to preserve their Latvian heritage, including amber jewellery, Latvian-language books, and traditional textiles such as embroidered collars, belts and dolls. Continuing these crafts was an important way of maintaining cultural identity in a new country.
1. Latvian Travel Document.
2. Rita Dzerins (nee Dundurs) ‘Aliens Order Certificate of Registration’, an identity document issued to Latvian migrants on arrival in the UK, 1947.
3. Viktors Dzerins ‘Aliens Order Certificate of Registration’, issued in 1948.
4. Latvian passport.
5. Latvian provisional passport issued in Germany in 1948.
6. Wedding photograph, Rita and Vicktor Dzerins, Bradford, 1949.
7. Wedding certificate, Rita and Vicktor Dzerins, 1949.
8. Latvian tea tray cloth Cloth and traditional Latvian amber necklace.
9. Doll in traditional Latvian costume reflecting roots in folk art heritage.
10. Brooches made from Latvian republic coins.
11. Latvian books used to teach second generation children about Latvian Culture.
12. Cushion embroidered with traditional Latvian pattern.
13. Belt and bookmark woven in traditional Latvian pattern.