On November 7, the traditional gathering of Anykščiai local historians „Let’s Make Friends – Let’s Communicate – Let’s Cooperate“ was held at the Anykščiai L. and S. Didžiuliai Public Library, organized since 2012. A large group of local historians gathered to chat: from Vilnius – President of the Institute of Genealogy, Heraldry and Vexillology Remigijus Bimba, former Director General of the State Security Department Gediminas Grina, judge, Dr. Irma Randakevičienė, from Kaunas – Dr. Loreta Stonienė-Sližytė with her husband Valentinas, from Šiauliai – Lithuanian Armed Forces soldier, photographer and collector Raimundas Kovas, from Klaipėda – radiologist, author of local history books Robertas Patamsis, from Utena – energy engineer Jonas Sriubas, from Panevėžys – chronicler of the town of Viešinų (Anykščiai district), photographer, compiler of eight local history books Tautvilis Uža. More than sixty researchers of the past of the Anykščiai region participated in the event.
The event was moderated by the chairman of the board of the Anykščiai Teresė Mikeliūnaitė Local History Society, museum curator Tautvydas Kontrimavičius. He first gave the floor to Vaida Juciene, deputy director of the Anykščiai Public Library, who wished everyone meaningful discussions, interesting conversations, and that pleasant feeling when you hear something and think: "Oh, I didn't know this yet.".
Anykščiai District Mayor Kęstutis Tubis, welcoming the participants of the gathering, was pleased that local historians are gathering and sharing their experiences. The mayor noted that local history is an important activity that helps fill in the blanks left by history. He emphasized that the information collected by local historians – even the „smallest crumb is worth its weight in gold“.
Deputy Chairman of the Lithuanian Local History Society Arvydas Ščiukaitis greeted the participants of the gathering and conveyed the wishes of the Chairman of the Lithuanian Local History Society, Prof. Libertas Klimka.
Tautvydas Kontrimavičius was pleased with the work carried out by the members of the society and urged every local historian to review their personal photo albums and describe the photos in them. According to the museum owner, only in this way can the information accumulated be preserved and passed on to future generations. T. Kontrimavičius also shared the news that he had been invited to read a report to the Latvian city of Maduona, with which Anykščiai has been connected for 70 years. The museum owner said: „There are things in our lives that seem insignificant, but their value becomes apparent later.“ As an example of recorded and preserved information, he presented the thoughts written in the manuscripts of the educator and cultural organizer Kazimieras Zulonas (1927–1997) about the long-standing friendship between the cities of Anykščiai and Maduona.
Local historian Raimondas Guobis, speaking about his latest publication "In the Light of the Highest Towers: The Book of Anykščiai Parish" (2026), told how he collected material for the book, how he interviewed people, and wrote down their memories.
The report „The Charmanskyi nobles: power, estates and fate“ was read by librarian and local historian Eglė Djačenko. The speaker noted that the Charmanskyi are a Lithuanian noble family, closely connected with the Anykščiai region and the Veselava manor. She introduced the representatives of this family from the 17th–18th centuries, focusing mainly on the family of the landowner, nobleman Juozapas Henrikas Charmanskys (1873–1941) and his wife Stefanija Jadvyga Charmanskienė (1882–1948), who ruled the Veselava manor. The most prominent representative of this family is their daughter Elena Natalija Charmanskytė (1906–1980), a famous artist and exile who left a bright mark on Lithuanian art. After the report, E. Djačenko introduced the exhibition „Reflections of Creativity: Elena Natalija Charmanskytė – noblewoman, artist, exile“ open at the library.
Dr. Loreta Stonienė-Sližytė spoke on the topic „Nobles Kibarta and Kavaliauskas: History Resurrected from Oblivion“. The Doctor of Science presented her research and thanked museum curators T. Kontrimavičius and Antanas Verbickas, as well as genealogy researcher Alvydas Žarskas for their help and information about her noble ancestors. During the presentation, L. Stonienė-Sližytė discussed the life and genealogy of her promante and A. Verbickas’ grandmother Bronislava Šidlauskaitė-Verbickienė (1882–1968), who is buried in the Skiemoniai cemetery, and her relatives of noble origin.
Historian Gintaras Vaičiūnas shared his thoughts on the publication being prepared „Lithuanian Partisan Bunkers and Hideouts“. The author of the upcoming book explained how bunkers differ from hideouts and secret places. Discussing the content of the book, he presented archival documents from repressive structures, diaries of Lithuanian partisans, as well as memoirs of partisans, their contacts and supporters written after 1990. The diary of fellow partisan Albinas Milčiukas-Tigras (1922–1968), which describes in detail the living conditions in the bunker, was very useful to him when preparing the publication. The historian also used the memoirs of partisan Jonas Kadžionis-Bėda (born 1928) in his book.
Signatory, educator Irena Andrukaitienė spoke on the topic „Searching for information on local history, collecting materials and discoveries“. The speaker shared her experience of the difficulties she had to face while collecting material for the documentary book „Pranciškus Tupikas“, dedicated to her colleague, signatory of the Act of Independence of Lithuania Pranciškus Tupikas. I. Andrukaitienė said that she had known educator P. Tupikas since the times of the Sąjūdis, and after March 11, 1990, they worked together in the Supreme Council. The signatory said about the preparation of the documentary publication: „The work was not easy, but very interesting“. While collecting material, I. Andrukaitienė tried to visit all the places where P. Tupikas studied, worked and lived. Anykštė admitted that she was most surprised by the news about her colleague’s literary works. It turns out that Pranciškus Tupikas, although he was not a philologist but a physical education teacher, compiled and in 2009 published three reading books "Lithuanian Chimes" for Lithuanians living abroad, which included the best texts by Lithuanian literary authors.
During the gathering, members of the society celebrating their anniversaries this year were congratulated and presented with commemorative gifts. Two new members were accepted into the society – Virginija Vilčinskienė, a teacher from Anykstė, and Robertas Patamsis, a doctor and local historian living in Klaipėda. Virginija was pleased that, having been with local historians for many years, she would now be among them.
New member Robertas Patamsis presented several of his prepared books to the library readers and emphasized that his published monograph „Lithuanian Resistance“ (2019) talks not only about partisan, but also about spiritual and cultural resistance. The Anykštė resident, who arrived from Klaipėda, noted that the work of local historians is extremely valuable, because in the accumulated material they also touch on „dark topics“ that historians hesitate to research. The youngest local historian, schoolboy Saulius Felčikas, who is researching the history of the town of Andrioniškis, was also introduced to the audience of the gathering.
The participants of the gathering had the opportunity to get acquainted with the books of local historians from Anykštė published in 2026: Dr. Bronius Šablevičius' publication "Erelis žuvininkas", the book "Gyvenimo istorijos" by writer Milda Telksnytė, the book of fairy tales "Kur voras žiemojo" by writer Vygantas Račkaitis, and the publication of local historian Tautvilis Uža "Sugrėžimai į Viešintas".
Folk artist and bard Algimantas Baronas entertained with guitar sounds and songs. The event was captured by photographer and local historian Tautvilis Uza.
The text was prepared by Birutė Venteraitienė, librarian of the Regional Documents and Local History Department of the Anykščiai L. and S. Didžiuliai Public Library.
Photos by Tautvilis Uza.
