"The object of the month" – a student’s crib from the 19th century

The student’s crib is selected as the object of  the month  for several reasons. First of all, several thousands new students begin their studies at the University of Latvia. They are attending their first lectures and expecting first exams later. It is well known that making cribs helps to get a profound knowledge of study material and, at exams, cribs build a sense of security, though you may often not use them at all. It was also true 150 years ago, when the University main building was the home of Riga’s  Polytechnical Institute (1862-1919). The anniversary of Riga’s  Polytechnical Institute is the second reason for this choice, because  the crib was by a student of the Polytechnical Institute getting prepared for  an English exam more than a century ago. The crib from the History Museum collection is known as the oldest one in Latvia. It proves that even at those times students were able to use efficiently almost invisible pieces of paper, and cover them with very tiny inscriptions. The excitement of  students successfully passing an exam was the same in the distant and not so distant past. The UL Science and Technical History Museum wishes all students  good academic achievements , so that cribs should become exhibits of museums rather than students’ practical tools. Not all universities across  the world can boast their own museums,  where a visitor can always obtain much knowledge. The University of Latvia Museum, with its eight branches, regularly offers to visitors not only entertaining but also educational activities. One of such regular activities will be " The Object of the month " events.  The UL Museum of History, Museum of Zoology, Museum of Geology,  Museum of Computing and Informatics, Botanical Museum, Museum of Pedagogy, F. Zander’s Memorial Museum of - Space Exploration, Museum of Pathology and Anatomy , as well as the partner -Latvian Museum  of the History of Chemistry will exhibit most interesting and still unknown items, which haven’t  ever been on public display. The idea for this activity was due to the established collaboration between the UL Museum of History and the Museum of Literature and Music, the latter introduced  “The object of the month " events in 2011. Since then new director of the Museum of Literature and Music Ilze Knoka has initiated a lot of useful changes, which can also inspire colleagues from Latvia’s other museums.

Translated by students of the professional study programme Translator of the University of Latvia.