Metadata : Health Department of the Governorate of Estonia’s Board
Collection
- Country:
- Estonia
- Holding institution:
- National Archives of Estonia
- Holding institution (official language):
- Eesti Rahvusarhiiv
- Postal address:
- Tartu, Nooruse 3, 50411
- Phone number:
- +372 738 7521
- Web address:
- www.ra.ee
- Email:
- tartu@ra.ee
- Country:
- Estonia
- Holding institution:
- National Archives of Estonia
- Holding institution (official language):
- Eesti Rahvusarhiiv
- Postal address:
- Tartu, Nooruse 3, 50411
- Phone number:
- +372 738 7521
- Web address:
- www.ra.ee
- Email:
- tartu@ra.ee
- Reference number:
- EAA.31
- Title:
- Health Department of the Governorate of Estonia’s Board
- Title (official language):
- Eestimaa kubermanguvalitsuse tervishoiuosakond
- Creator/accumulator:
- Board of the Governorate of Estonia
- Date(s):
- 1797/1917
- Language:
- Estonian
- Russian
- German
- Extent:
- 9,428 items
- Type of material:
- Textual material
- Photographic images
- Physical condition:
- good
- Scope and content:
-
The collection comprises materials from the Health Department of the Governorate of Estonia’s Board when Estonia was part of the Russian Empire. The Health Department was established in 1797 to monitor and support health and environment cases (e.g. to make veterinary inspections). 625 Jewish related cases have been identified from the mid-19th century and early 20th century until 1918 when Estonia gained independence and abolished imperial institutions.
Inventory 2 contains 379 Jewish-related cases from 1872 to 1917; the earliest case from 1872. Forty-four cases date from before 1900: these are medical examinations of Jews (12 cases), four sick notes, and two medical reports on mental capacity (1879, 1885). There are also three reports concerning midwives’ practices (all in the 1870s). Three Jewish medics were also recommended for awards (1889, 1893, 1898). Eight case permissions to practice medicine legally are discussed or issued. There is also one case in 1886 where a Jewish woman was accused of illegal medical activities . The Health Department also issued permits to organise production of mineral water (1883, 1886) and kvass (1887), permissions to sell coffee (1888, 1890), and to open warehouses for cloths, wool and iron (1892, 1895, 1898). Cases before 1890 are written both in German and in Russian. After 1890 the paperwork is only in Russian.
A major part of the Jewish-related cases in the inventory is from 1900-1917. These include medical examinations of Jews and their families (159 cases), reports of which usually contains general data about the person, a medical protocol with a diagnosis and a medical decision or permit to work or stay in Reval (present-day Tallinn). Medical examination also required Jewish families to spend the summer in the summer resort district Nemme (Estonian: Nõmme; 27 cases dated 1912-1916). The collection also documents eight complaints against Jewish medics. Once in 1903 a feldsher was accused of illegally issuing a medical certificate. Jewish midwives are also mentioned in five cases (1902, 1910, 1913). Issuing medical licenses is discussed in 89 cases from 1900-1917, most of which concern dental work (50 cases). There are 25 archival items on Jews opening pharmacies, including twelve pharmacies in Reval (Tallinn). There are a number of records dedicated to warehouse maintenance (17 cases) and production organisation (16 cases) regarding medications (1902, 1910), cosmetics (1908, 1909), foodstuffs (1904, 1909, 1914), and soft drinks (1907, 1911-1913, 1916).
There is correspondence of Jewish-Estonian doctor Emil Salzman (Emil (Ilja) Abram Salzman(n), 1868-1941, EAA.31.2.3398) who established a private hydropathic sanatorium in Narca-Jõesuu, Estonia. Also included are materials on the work of Isidor Brennsohn who was the author of the Handbook of Estonian medics (EAA. 31. 2. 6548; see also: Ärzte Estlands vom Beginn der historischen Zeit bis zur Gegenwart: ein biografisches Lexikon nebst einer historischen Einleitung über das Medizinalwesen Estlands. Riga, 1922).
The fourth inventory is made up of 216 cases of Jewish medics personal information between 1868 and 1917. These are cases about Jewish doctors (24 cases, 1889-1916), dentists (18 cases, 1889-1916), pharmacists and their assistants (171 cases, including 12 highly educated pharmacists called ‘provisors’) and feldshers (one, 1905-1906), masseuses (one, 1906) and doctor’s assistants (one, 1900-1905). 29 cases contain data about Jewish midwives (1906-1916) and there is one photo album of Estonian midwives (1902, EAA.31.4.1163).
- Archival history:
- The collection was transferred to the Central Archive of Estonia in the 1920s with materials from the Board of the Governorate of Estonia. The collection was then rearranged into four inventories in the 1950s after the beginning of the Soviet occupation and further archival restructuring. The inventories were uploaded to the digital Archival Information System (AIS) in 2001. Later ten cases from the collection were digitised (see: ra.ee/dgs/), among them materials on the dentist R. Feigenberg-Lurie (EAA.31.2.5445) and on R. Rokhlin (EAA.31.2.6528).
- Administrative/biographical history:
- The Health Department was established according to the decree by the Medical Board of the Russian Senate on 29 January 1797. The Department sought to control health and sanitary conditions in the governorate and military hospitals. Initially, an inspector, a surgeon and an obstetrician worked in the department. In 1865 the Health Department was reformed. The health commission and a committee for pox vaccination were soon added. The department controlled public health, sanitary conditions in factories and productions, inspected pharmacies and hospitals, conducted medical examinations and issued medical certificates. The Department was formally closed down in 1917 but continued to work until 1918.
- System of arrangement:
- The materials are arranged in 4 inventories. Jewish-related cases are found in the 2nd and 4th inventories. The 2nd inventory contains correspondence and proceedings (Kirjavahetus ja toimikud); the 4th comprises files with medics’ personal information. Both inventories are arranged in chronological order.
- Finding aids:
- Arhiivijuht I. Tartu, 2003. Lk. 261-262. Inventories are available in AIS: http://ais.ra.ee; digitised materials are located at: www.ra.ee/dgs/.
- Links to finding aids:
- http://ais.ra.ee
- Yerusha Network member:
- Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People
- Author of the description:
- Antonina Martynenko; Tatyana Shor
- Reference number:
- EAA.31
- Title:
- Health Department of the Governorate of Estonia’s Board
- Title (official language):
- Eestimaa kubermanguvalitsuse tervishoiuosakond
- Creator/accumulator:
- Board of the Governorate of Estonia
- Date(s):
- 1797/1917
- Language:
- Estonian
- Russian
- German
- Extent:
- 9,428 items
- Type of material:
- Textual material
- Photographic images
- Physical condition:
- good
- Scope and content:
-
The collection comprises materials from the Health Department of the Governorate of Estonia’s Board when Estonia was part of the Russian Empire. The Health Department was established in 1797 to monitor and support health and environment cases (e.g. to make veterinary inspections). 625 Jewish related cases have been identified from the mid-19th century and early 20th century until 1918 when Estonia gained independence and abolished imperial institutions.
Inventory 2 contains 379 Jewish-related cases from 1872 to 1917; the earliest case from 1872. Forty-four cases date from before 1900: these are medical examinations of Jews (12 cases), four sick notes, and two medical reports on mental capacity (1879, 1885). There are also three reports concerning midwives’ practices (all in the 1870s). Three Jewish medics were also recommended for awards (1889, 1893, 1898). Eight case permissions to practice medicine legally are discussed or issued. There is also one case in 1886 where a Jewish woman was accused of illegal medical activities . The Health Department also issued permits to organise production of mineral water (1883, 1886) and kvass (1887), permissions to sell coffee (1888, 1890), and to open warehouses for cloths, wool and iron (1892, 1895, 1898). Cases before 1890 are written both in German and in Russian. After 1890 the paperwork is only in Russian.
A major part of the Jewish-related cases in the inventory is from 1900-1917. These include medical examinations of Jews and their families (159 cases), reports of which usually contains general data about the person, a medical protocol with a diagnosis and a medical decision or permit to work or stay in Reval (present-day Tallinn). Medical examination also required Jewish families to spend the summer in the summer resort district Nemme (Estonian: Nõmme; 27 cases dated 1912-1916). The collection also documents eight complaints against Jewish medics. Once in 1903 a feldsher was accused of illegally issuing a medical certificate. Jewish midwives are also mentioned in five cases (1902, 1910, 1913). Issuing medical licenses is discussed in 89 cases from 1900-1917, most of which concern dental work (50 cases). There are 25 archival items on Jews opening pharmacies, including twelve pharmacies in Reval (Tallinn). There are a number of records dedicated to warehouse maintenance (17 cases) and production organisation (16 cases) regarding medications (1902, 1910), cosmetics (1908, 1909), foodstuffs (1904, 1909, 1914), and soft drinks (1907, 1911-1913, 1916).
There is correspondence of Jewish-Estonian doctor Emil Salzman (Emil (Ilja) Abram Salzman(n), 1868-1941, EAA.31.2.3398) who established a private hydropathic sanatorium in Narca-Jõesuu, Estonia. Also included are materials on the work of Isidor Brennsohn who was the author of the Handbook of Estonian medics (EAA. 31. 2. 6548; see also: Ärzte Estlands vom Beginn der historischen Zeit bis zur Gegenwart: ein biografisches Lexikon nebst einer historischen Einleitung über das Medizinalwesen Estlands. Riga, 1922).
The fourth inventory is made up of 216 cases of Jewish medics personal information between 1868 and 1917. These are cases about Jewish doctors (24 cases, 1889-1916), dentists (18 cases, 1889-1916), pharmacists and their assistants (171 cases, including 12 highly educated pharmacists called ‘provisors’) and feldshers (one, 1905-1906), masseuses (one, 1906) and doctor’s assistants (one, 1900-1905). 29 cases contain data about Jewish midwives (1906-1916) and there is one photo album of Estonian midwives (1902, EAA.31.4.1163).
- Archival history:
- The collection was transferred to the Central Archive of Estonia in the 1920s with materials from the Board of the Governorate of Estonia. The collection was then rearranged into four inventories in the 1950s after the beginning of the Soviet occupation and further archival restructuring. The inventories were uploaded to the digital Archival Information System (AIS) in 2001. Later ten cases from the collection were digitised (see: ra.ee/dgs/), among them materials on the dentist R. Feigenberg-Lurie (EAA.31.2.5445) and on R. Rokhlin (EAA.31.2.6528).
- Administrative/biographical history:
- The Health Department was established according to the decree by the Medical Board of the Russian Senate on 29 January 1797. The Department sought to control health and sanitary conditions in the governorate and military hospitals. Initially, an inspector, a surgeon and an obstetrician worked in the department. In 1865 the Health Department was reformed. The health commission and a committee for pox vaccination were soon added. The department controlled public health, sanitary conditions in factories and productions, inspected pharmacies and hospitals, conducted medical examinations and issued medical certificates. The Department was formally closed down in 1917 but continued to work until 1918.
- System of arrangement:
- The materials are arranged in 4 inventories. Jewish-related cases are found in the 2nd and 4th inventories. The 2nd inventory contains correspondence and proceedings (Kirjavahetus ja toimikud); the 4th comprises files with medics’ personal information. Both inventories are arranged in chronological order.
- Finding aids:
- Arhiivijuht I. Tartu, 2003. Lk. 261-262. Inventories are available in AIS: http://ais.ra.ee; digitised materials are located at: www.ra.ee/dgs/.
- Links to finding aids:
- http://ais.ra.ee
- Yerusha Network member:
- Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People
- Author of the description:
- Antonina Martynenko; Tatyana Shor
