Exploring the KGB Archives in Estonia Through RTA Program

This summer Jack Baptist (History) and Angelina Michalowski (International Studies) went on a Research Tutorial Abroad (RTA) to work in the former KGB Archives at the National Archives of Estonia (NAE) in Tartu with Dr. Seth Bernstein. The RTA program at the University of Florida International Center funds experiential learning for UF undergraduates, who work under the tutelage of a faculty member.

Jack and Angelina's main work was digitizing the records of the Soviet secret police. The KGB was the feared political police of the USSR and their records are critical to understanding how Soviet socialism worked. Estonia is one of the few countries to have opened their former KGB records, presenting a unique but difficult opportunity to researchers. "The most challenging aspect of being in Estonia was the archival work," Angelina said. The records were often in handwritten, cursive Russian—difficult for even native speakers to read. The two persevered and gained new vocabulary and archival skills in the process.

Much of the learning experience happened outside the archive. For a weekend trip, Jack, Angelina, and Dr. Bernstein took a bus to Riga, the capital of Latvia. They went on a tour of the Corner House, Riga's notorious KGB building, to experience the history they saw in documents. The trip also brought them to Riga's medieval old town and to the Baltic Sea coast at Jurmala. They also had the opportunity to compare Riga to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, where they participated in a meeting of the American Councils for International Education study abroad program with staff from the US Embassy in Tallinn.

Jack and Angelina adventured on their own as well. As students of Russian language and culture, they were eager to see Russia with their own eyes. They took a bus to Mehikoorma on Lake Peipus, at the very border. Jack said, "The moment we turned a corner down the path to the shore and suddenly got that view was pretty surreal." As they studied documents from the Cold War, Jack and Angelina witnessed the Russian-Estonian border in a new era of tensions between Russia and its neighbors.

The trip to Mehikoorma highlights the unique opportunity of the RTA program. "We had the freedom to do what we wanted," said Angelina. They wandered the Tartu Botanical Gardens, saw Russia from Lake Peipus, and saw the House of the Blackheads in Riga. The RTA program allowed Jack and Angelina to follow their interests and practice their skills in real life.

The RTA program demonstrates the impact of international experiences that connect faculty research, undergraduate learning, and global engagement. By supporting faculty-led research abroad, UFIC helps create opportunities for students to move beyond textbooks and classrooms and become active participants in the discovery process.

Learn more about the Research Tutorials Abroad (RTA) program and opportunities for UF faculty and students:
Research Tutorials Abroad (RTA) – UF International Center