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Photography Collection

Photography Collection (ERM Fk)

115 years of the Estonian National Museum Photo Collection – 175 years of Estonian photographic history
The Photo Collection in MuIS

The Estonian National Museum Photo Collection (ERM Fk) is one of the most important sources for Estonian photography and culture. It contains more than 400,000 images that open a unique visual window onto Estonian history, folk heritage, rural life, urban centres, and their changes from the mid-19th century to the present day. The collection is an invaluable source for researchers, history enthusiasts, and everyone who wishes to understand Estonia’s past and appreciate its visual cultural heritage. The photo collection has been built up over more than a century through the contributions of researchers, professional photographers, and amateur photographers.

History and the beginning of collecting The photo collection was established in 1910, inspired by the Learned Estonian Society’s collecting trips of 1894–1895, in which ERM’s first director Oskar Kallas and Evald Allas took part. In the field of ethnographic photography, inspiration came from professional photographers such as H. Tiidermann, C. O. Bulla, O. E. Buhgan, and others, whose photographs reflect the life and cultural diversity of the Estonian people more than 100 years ago. Models were also provided by Finnish and Hungarian ethnographers, such as A. O. Heikel and A. O. Väisänen, and by A. Bani’s photographs from collecting trips in Estonia. Thus, the guiding principle in establishing the photo collection became the recording above all of old farm buildings, interior views, people in folk costume, scenes of work and celebration, village views, and other aspects of everyday life.

The first steps in building the photo collection included a homeland photography competition, photography trips, and the collecting of ethnographic photographs. In 1913 Johannes Pääsuke made the first photography trip to North Estonia and Saaremaa; in the 1920s Ernst Wittoff documented Tartumaa. These images of Estonian folk culture, architecture, and landscapes allow us to follow Estonian life and its changes over more than a century.

Fieldwork has played an important role in expanding the photo collection. Over more than 100 years, photographs taken by ethnographers and photographers participating in expeditions have brought out an immediate and vivid picture of everyday life. The collection contains many photographs of rural architecture, fishing, beekeeping, clothing, handicrafts, agricultural work, entertainment, and other aspects of village life. 1970.-80. In the 1970s and 1980s, much attention was directed to the study of other Finno-Ugric peoples; more recently, the Estonian diaspora has also been a focus.

The ERM photo collection also contains complete collections acquired from both professional and amateur photographers. For example, it includes the Soviet-era photographs of press photographers Viktor Salmre and Leopold Matt. The collection also contains a great many works by village photographers—studio portraits, records of weddings and funerals, and coverage of historical events. Particularly illustrative is the photo collection of Hans Voolmann, who owned a photography studio in Tallinn. A distinctly personal and emotional dimension is added by the photographs of amateur photographers, which reflect their personal life experiences and points of view.

Alongside its thematic diversity, the collection includes a significant body of photographs depicting the city of Tartu from the late 19th century to the present day. Especially noteworthy are systematic photographs of buildings by various authors, which make it possible to trace changes in the urban space over time. Everyone can contribute to the making of visual history through ERM’s network of photo contributors and share their own photographs with the museum.

Today the photo collection has been digitised and is accessible through searches in the Estonian museums database at www.muis.ee, where visual moments from Estonia’s past can be discovered. As a digitised and freely usable collection in MuIS, it offers much broader possibilities for use than before.

In summary, the ERM photo collection represents a rich and substantial visual chronicle that makes it possible to follow changes in Estonian society, ways of life, and environment over time. The value of the collection lies in its historical depth and its ability to bring the past vividly and directly close to the viewer of today.

ERM Photo Collection in MuIS

  • To explore the collection, use the database at www.muis.ee. Choose detailed search.
  • If you want to search the entire photo collection, enter the collection code Fk in the KT number field.
  • If you want to search by author, enter the author’s name in the Person field (for example, Linnus, Ferdinand) and enter Fk in the KT number field.
  • You can also search by subject by entering different keywords in the Subject field.

Photo Collections of Professional and Amateur Photographers

  • Evald Allas (1871–1944), the Learned Estonian Society’s 1895 photography trip to Saaremaa (Fk 187)
  • Margus Ansu (born 1969), the cultural newspaper Kostabi, film negatives 1991–1993 (Fk 2964:1–1568)
  • Göte Ask (b. 1937), photographs of older architecture in Tartu by the Swedish cultural historian and photographer, from the 1990s (Fk 2745:1–1287) – has been featured in a solo exhibition
  • Tiiu Belimova (born 1949), amateur photographer from Riisipere, 2008–2009 (Fk 2925:1–599)
  • Boris Bežanitski (1885–1949) and Vladimir Bežanitski (1912–?), glass negatives of Russian Orthodox congregations (Fk 3042:1–390, Fk 3014:87–98)
  • August Hermann Blatt (1876–1956), glass negatives from Läänemaa from the turn of the 19th/20th century (Fk 2611:1–137)
  • Jakob Bokmann (1889–1983, also spelled Bockmann, Pokmann), photographer in Ambla in the 1920s–1940s (Fk 2133:1–10237) – has been featured in a solo exhibition
  • Otto Eduard Buhgan (1859–1942), photographer from Saaremaa (Fk 84, 112)
  • Carl Osvald Bulla (1855–1929), court photographer in St Petersburg, photographs from Jämaja parish from 1909 and later (Fk 90, 579, 580)
  • Harry Duglas (born 1937), buildings in Tartu by street, 1980–1990, more than 7,800 photographs (Fk 2003, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2058, 2060, 2095, 2108, 2135, 2136, 2145, 2171, 2198, 2226, 2245, 2276, 2284, 2341, 2342, 2355, 2357, 2379, 2389)
  • Göte Ask, photographs of older architecture in Tartu (Fk 2745:1–1287) – has been featured in a solo exhibition
  • Jaak Eelmets (born 1953), Toila, film negatives (Fk 2971:1–5154), photographs (Fk 2984:1–90)
  • Elmar Einasto (1885–1976), teacher in Tartu and contributor to several publications, glass and film negatives, 1920–1940 (2955:1–1156)
  • Ella Haldre (born 1936), photographer of the Estonian Agricultural Academy, 1960–1990, film negatives (3108:1–3697)
  • Vidrik Haljasmäe (1889–1956), photographs from Rõngu (Fk 2979:1–244)
  • Elmar Haljaste (1913–1983), Tartu Cooperative shops in the 1960s, photographs (Fk 3107:1–319)
  • Kaspar Jassa (born 1973), amateur photographer, digital photographs of Tartu 2008–2025 (Fk 3110:1–5579)
  • Konstantin Kalamees, photographer, paper photographs (Fk 461:1–410)
  • Oskar Kallas (1867–1946), ERM’s first director, Learned Estonian Society photography trip to Hiiumaa in 1894 (Fk 172)
  • Oskar Kivisild (1901–1946), village photographer in Tääksi, glass negatives (Fk 3024:1–365)
  • Friedrich Kohtitky (also Kochtitsky, Priidu Kohava, 1887–1945), schoolteacher and photographer in Lihula (Fk 184, Fk 185), published in book form
  • Jaan Kristin (1863–1919), professional photographer, produced the first postcards of ERM’s picture publishing unit, photographs of Estonia from the turn of the 19th/20th century (Fk 114:1–191)
  • Jaan-Johan Kuusk (1994–1935) and Adele Kuusk (1883–1959), Mihkli parish, late 19th century to early 20th century (Fk 2056:1–6350)
  • Martin Maanso (1925–2013), amateur photographer from Puurmani, film negatives and slides, 1960–2000 (2903:1–14865)
  • Alar Madisson (born 1954), Estonian Types, digital photographs (Fk 2933:1–1361), has been shown in an outdoor exhibition
  • Leopold Matt (1911–1982), photographer for the newspaper Edasi 1949–1952, film negatives (Fk 2994:1–2266), https://blog.erm.ee/?p=8291
  • Gustav Münter (1867–1940), photographs from 1909–1913 from Virumaa and elsewhere (Fk 169, 170)
  • Leemet Nurmik (1914–2011), photographer at the photo studio of the Estonian SSR Theatre Society, actors and cultural figures, 1950s–1980s (Fk 3078:1–947), https://blog.erm.ee/?p=15850
  • August Näpp (1895–1982), teacher and photographer at Kammeri School, glass and film negatives (Fk 2879:1–484)
  • Lembit Odres (1921–2010), from the time of the establishment of Lahemaa National Park in the 1970s (Fk 3068:1–6814), https://blog.erm.ee/?p=15367
  • Ellen Pihlak (1909–2004), negatives from Rannu parish in Tartumaa, Elva, etc. (Fk 3037:1–550)
  • Valdo Pilvre (1886–1960) and Udo Pilvre (1927–1991), Tallinn, amateur photographers (Fk 2897:1–3020), https://blog.erm.ee/?p=13208
  • Johannes Pääsuke’s photo collection (Fk 213, 214, 349) – has been featured in solo exhibitions, several books published
  • Redlin, glass negatives from Vorbuse and elsewhere, 1898 (Fk 354:1–203)
  • Heinrich Riedel (1870–1932), photographer in Tartu, glass negatives (Fk 2863:1–74, 2880:1–51)
  • Madis Rukki (1887–1968), photographer in Vigala, glass negatives (Fk 1347, 1383, Fk 2889:1–567)
  • Voldemar Rumvolt (1920–2004), amateur photographer in Põltsamaa and Finland (Fk 3009:1–2597)
  • Vladimir Räss (Ress) (1901–1958), glass negatives, Värska (Fk 2864:1–600)
  • Reinhold Sachker (1844–1919), glass negatives (Fk 375:1–142 + photographs in various other series)
  • Viktor Salmre (1914–2012), photographer, contributor to Estonian and all-Union press 1960–2000 (Fk 2644:1–23944)
  • Karl Soldan (1898–1946), photographer in Puhja and Rannu, glass negatives, (Fk 3022:1–2167)
  • Rudolf Tamm (1898–1987), amateur photographer, glass negatives (Fk 2959:1–250)
  • Heinrich Tiidermann (1863–1904), photographer, ethnographic photographs 1890–1904 (Fk 147, 601, also Fk 3, Fk 142)
  • Agnes Tõldsepp (1930–1989), photographer in Aravete (Fk 2834:1–2814)
  • Robert Türn (1864–1930?), photographer in Viru-Nigula (Fk 209:1–21)
  • Oskar Tõrva (1901–1942), village photographer in Pala, 3001:1–328), https://blog.erm.ee/?p=8944
  • Ivar Vilde (1936–2013), amateur photographer, paper photographs (Fk 2777:1–1276)
  • Ernst Wittoff (Vittoff) (1889–1922), photography trip in historical Tartumaa (Fk 439, also 159, 197, 376 – nearly 700 photographs in total)
  • Hans Voolmann (VoolmaaI) (1896–1953), professional photographer (2957:1–1618), https://blog.erm.ee/?p=15607
  • Armas Otto Väisänen (1890–1969), Finnish ethnologist, photographs from Setumaa and elsewhere before World War I (Fk 350)
  • Unknown photographer, glass negatives from Tartu (Fk 2901:1–585)
  • Anton Priimägi (1880–1939), photographer in Karksi 1928–1939, glass negatives (Fk 3120:1–4094)
  • Enno Tõnu Kuus (1942–2016), views of Puka, Tallinn, Tartu, Valga, and other places, film negatives (Fk 3119)

Photo Collections and Other Collections

  • Works submitted to ERM’s homeland photography competition (Fk), https://blog.erm.ee/?p=13339
  • ERM homeland photography competition 2013 (Fk 2991:1–1233), https://blog.erm.ee/?p=4393 , https://blog.erm.ee/?p=1629
  • The photo collection of naturalist Gustav Vilbaste, including some of his own photographs (Fk 1532, 1394)
  • Manor collection (manors and manor owners) (Fk 887, 888, 889)
  • Collector Joseph Zmigrodski (1858–1936), photo collection of Tartu and Baltic German culture (Fk 457, 458, 738, 921)
  • Photo collection of Helle Kull, local historian and correspondent from Põltsamaa, around 4,000 photographs from Põltsamaa (Fk 2348, 2349, 2350, 2351, 2390, 2391, 2496, 3497, 2498)
  • Miina Härma (Fk 2646:1–242)
  • Helmi Erebi (1923–2013), photographs from Laiuse/Sadala (Fk 2637:1–612)
  • Rene Viljat’s collection of War of Independence monuments (Fk 2813:1–1754)
  • Photo collection of the Kommunaar leather and footwear factory (Fk 2953:1–3627)
  • Digital copies of photographs by Andres-Teet Merisalu (Fk 2966:1–672, 2977:1–1031)
  • Estonian Minute, photo action for the 95th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia on 24 February 2013 (Fk 3002:1–525)
  • Sergei Seeland (1935–2018), local historian’s photo collection from Pärnu-Jaagupi and Velise (Fk 3036:1–1026)
  • Institute of History, ethnography department, photographs from 1956–2012 (Fk 3105:1–6813)
  • Photographs received with questionnaires from Estonians abroad (Fk 2902:1–208, 2910:1–976, etc.)

1912 photography competition:

  • Jakob Weber from Palmse (Fk 182)
  • Anton Loit (Fk 181)
  • Mikkelsaar (Fk 165),
  • Friedrich Kohtitsky (Fk 184),
  • Johannes Paul Mihkelson Vändrast (Fk 183)

Larger and More Interesting Estonian Diaspora Collections

  • The Estonian Consulate in New York, photo collection of Ernst Jaakson (1905–1998) (Fk 2731:1–1336, Fk 2732:1–233)
  • Hans Teetlaus (1920–2010), Sweden, America, Canada, also many photographs of Estonia, negatives (Fk 2960:1–9258), https://blog.erm.ee/?p=539
  • August Kaevats (1888–1937), the Caucasus (Fk 3008:1–129)
  • Peeter Karro (1919–1991), DP camps, photographs (Fk 3025:1–214)
  • Rein Linask (born 1935), photo and film amateur living in America, negatives and slides 1948–2005 (Fk 3033:1–10856)
  • Enn Anderson (1931–2020), amateur photographer who lived in Norway and Sweden, slides (Fk 3041:1–934), https://blog.erm.ee/?p=14150
  • Local historian Jakob Nerman’s collection about Estonians in the Caucasus, 1920–1960 (Fk 2043:1–700)
  • Stockholmi Eesti Päevaleht, material on Estonians abroad and Estonia, mostly from 1950–2010, photographs, some negatives and digital photographs (Fk 3051:1–23897), https://blog.erm.ee/?p=16507, https://blog.erm.ee/?p=12694

Ethnographers on Fieldwork

  • Ilmari Manninen, Gustav Ränk, Ferdinand Linnus (Leinbock), Tamara Habicht, Tiina Võti, Aino Voolmaa, Ants Viires, Aleksei Peterson, Arved Luts, and others up to the present day.
  • Photographers participating in ERM fieldwork included Hudu Rips, Vello Kutsar, Aldo Luud, Jüri Karm, Arp Karm, and Anu Ansu, as well as Berta Jänes, who photographed under the guidance of ethnographers but also independently.
  • The ERM photo collection also includes the photo collection of the ethnography department of the Institute of History (Fk 3105).

Photo report from collecting expeditions III. A Vepsian expedition in words and pictures https://blog.erm.ee/?p=5343,

Photo report from collecting expeditions I. The journey of objects to the museum https://blog.erm.ee/?p=4897,

Photo report from collecting expeditions II. Collecting memory https://blog.erm.ee/?p=5128