How a generous bequest gave a century of assistance to the University of Latvia

Take note – story published 3 years ago

LTV's documentary series 'The Keys' has another online offering for you with English-language subtitles.

This time, the year is 1928 and self-made real estate tycoon Kristaps Mohrberg passes away. But he leaves behind him a remarkably generous legacy, not only to his relatives, but to the fledgling University of Latvia. His bequest placed some of the country's best real estate in the service of the university and provided for scholarships, allowing many students to pursue studies who might otherwise never have had the chance.

Mohrberg himself was a remarkable man who rose from humble beginnings to play a key role in the building of modern Rīga and the building of the independent Latvian state, which the documentry makes clear. There is a brief tour of some of the key properties develped by the real estate tycoon, one of which LSM has visited previously and the general picture is of one of the most impressive philanthropists the world has seen.

According to LTV "The Keys" series tells of the most important or "key" events, personalities and turning points in the history of the Latvian state from 1918 to the present. The purpose is to reveal each selected event from an unusual point of view, as if "unlocking the door" to lesser known and therefore particularly intriguing facts. 

"Such an exploratory approach, bypassing the usual stereotypes of presenting history, will allow viewers to perceive what is known to others and to better understand what has happened in the context of today's experience," says LTV.

Throughout the year, Latvian history will be told in 'mixed order' - events will not be sequenced year by year, but viewed in the exact month in which they occurred

The show is made by VFS Films, a long-time partner of Latvian Television and it is hosted by Mārtiņš Ķibilds, a distinguished cultural journalist who sadly passed away late last year.

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