Vello Karuks papers
Abstract
Correspondence between Vello Karuks and legislators in the US Congress about Estonian political prisoners in USSR. Newspaper clippings pertaining to Estonian American issues from the Seattle, WA, area.
Dates
- Creation: 1944-1993
Language of Materials
English, Estonian
ACCESS RESTRICTIONS
Open for use in the Elmer L. Andersen Library reading room.
OWNERSHIP & LITERARY RIGHTS
This collection may be protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials. Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
1927 - July 2003 Vello Karuks was born in Rakvere, Estonia where he also graduated from primary school. His family managed to escape the 1941. deportation. Joined the Home Guard as a young man. 1944 started studying in Pärnu Flight School, which was evacuated to Germany in 20.09.1944. He was sent to an air defense school in Germany, but was captured by the U.S. troops. Karuks was a prisoner of war in the town of Nanur in Belgium. After being released, lived in Hanau D.P. camp for a while. Went to Sweden in 1948, found work in a factory in Norrköping, also continued his studies in a local engineering school and married a fellow Estonian émigré, Helke Annussar. In1951 the couple went to Canada, where they first lived in Toronto and then in Vancouver, where Helke was the coach of the local gymnastics team. In 1969 they moved to Seattle, USA, where Vello worked in Alaska Copper Company until retirement. The couple actively participated in the activities of the sports society „Kalev“Participated in helping the imprisoned freedom fighters, was a long-time head of district of the Estonian American National Council, supported the Citizens Congress (Kodanike Kongress) and Congress of Estonia (Eesti Kongress) movements. One of the founders of Ritso-Kistler foundation. Wife: Helke (nee Annussar), married 1950.Sons: Matti and KunoDaughter: Meelike-Kai
Extent
5 linear inches
ORGANIZATION OF MATERIALS
Archive consists of 5 folders.
PROVENANCE
Collection transferred to the IHRC from the Estonian Archives in the U.S.A. (EAU) in 2003-2005. It was processed as part of a collaborative project between the Estonian Archives in the USA (Lakewood, New Jersey), the National Archives of Estonia (NAE), and the IHRC in March 2012. Gristel Ramler and Tiina Trumberg of the National Archives in Tallinn, Estonia, worked with IHRC staff on the project.
Topical
- Title
- Inventory of the Vello Karuks papers.
- Author
- IHRC Archives
- Date
- 2016
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding Aid in English
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Immigration History Research Center Archives Collecting Area
