DACE KEZBERS AND "LITTLE LATVIA" IN 1949, Dace Kezbers and her family fled their home and came to the united states of america aboard the marine tiger. but She brought latvia with her.

As a result of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, a non-aggression agreement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, the USSR occupied Latvia in 1940 and reoccupied the country in 1943 during World War II.

In the fall of 1944, thousands of Latvians left their homes fearing the Soviet repressions.

This picture shows Dace's great-grandfather in chains in Siberia during the Czar period in Russian Empire. Many Latvians feared the repetition of history.

"My father was a journalist. That is not a good idea. If you want to live under a Nazi or communist or any kind of oppressive regime, they don't like people who can think," said Mrs. Kezbers. "So people who left were professors, teachers, ministers, lawyers, all educators, writers, artists, all of those who can think for themselves."

After the enactment of the Displaced Persons Act, approximately 45,000 Latvians found themselves in the United States. Coming to the USA was facilitated when an organization or a sponsor provided a Displaced Person with a job and a place to live. Kezbers’s family initially settled in Jacksonville, Illinois, where they worked on the farm for a wealthy person who sponsored them.

"My father was not a farmer. He was an intellectual, Bohemian type," says Mrs. Kezbers. “He was, in fact, scared of cows."

Two years later, the Kezbers family relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, aligning with the migration of fellow Latvians to the area. In 1953, Dace and her family attended the first Latvian Song Festival in the U.S. hosted in Chicago. Following the event, the family moved to the Windy City, which became their home.

At the age of 80, Mrs. Kezbers calls a two-story residence on Ridge Avenue in Evanston, Illinois, her home. Despite her age, she maintains a bustling schedule—working on a book chronicling the Latvian community in Chicago, organizing archives filled with documents, records, and photographs, and providing care for two elderly Latvian American artists, among other responsibilities.

Her home can be described as a "musuem," filled with Latvian symbols, books, diaries, paintings, and crafts. Among them are hand-crafted traditional costumes, knitted mittens and dolls, each serving as a cherished reminder of her mother's skilled handiwork.

Dace's father, Karlis Kezbers, was not only a journalist but also a prolific writer. In 2006, he departed this world, leaving behind a literary legacy of 17 books written in Latvian.

Mrs. Kezbers said that career-wise she followed in her father's steps, earning a B.A. degree in English from Indiana University and M.A. degrees in English Literature and Linguistics. During her time in Bloomington, Indiana, she met her partner Alan Barr, currently a retired professor of English literature and film. "That's why we have a few books here," Mrs. Kezbers said.

When I first started out in school, I said to my father, 'What should I study?' And he said, 'study what you want, and make it work.'

Frequently, Mrs. Kezebers and her partner are not the sole occupants of their home. They routinely welcome Latvian artists, musicians, journalists, writers and actors who visit Chicago. "I have many relatives (in Riga). Some I keep up with, others - I don't. More close to me are our friends that I've met -these actors and writers and people from Latvia visiting here," said Kezbers.

Mrs. Kezbers affectionately refers to the downstairs rooms dedicated to visitors as "Little Latvia," where subtle signs - Latvian ancient symbols, folk costumes and "tautumeitas" (folk maiden dolls) - showcase the charm of Latvian culture.

In appreciation for welcoming them into her home, guests frequently express their gratitude by leaving thoughtful and creative gifts. Mrs. Kezbers holds a special fondness for this painting by Silvija Steiners Jegens. Silvija and her brother, two elderly Latvians, are under Dace's care.

Located downstairs is a book, documenting notes and messages from all those who have had the opportunity to visit Dace's "Little Latvia."

The rooms of Little Latvia are filled with paintings, books, records, notes, and various items given to Mrs. Kezbers by older Latvians. As the first generation of Latvians ages, there's uncertainty about how to manage and preserve this cultural heritage.

We have unbelievable things. 20 years full of handwritten minutes from the Chicago Milwaukee Latvian Press Club, handwritten notes in a thick book. What am I supposed to do with this? So anyway, there's a lot of it downstairs.

During her leisure time, Dace has a strong passion for both Shakespearean literature and cars. "I'm a big fan of 50's cars. I hate the regular cars that we have now. Because you can't tell one from the other. When people say what kind of car do you drive? I say a blue one," said Kezbers.

As a Latvian American, Dace has managed to preserve her ethnic roots and heritage. She actively participates in various Latvian organizations throughout the Chicagoland area and consistently attends community events within the Latvian community. On the other hand, Dace said her family is "very integrated into American society," actively participating in protests and expressing their opinions.

Before I left, Mrs. Kezbers retrieved a lottery ticket from her bag and told me: “I occasionally participate and hope to win a million dollars so we can create a large Latvian museum where to store all the things that I have.”