Žiburėlis (

diminutive A diminutive is a root word that has been modified to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment. A (abbreviated ) is a word-formati ...

of ''žiburys'' meaning 'light', 'beacon') later Lietuvos žiburėlis was a charitable society providing financial aid to gifted

Lithuanian Lithuanian may refer to: * Lithuanians * Lithuanian language * The country of Lithuania * Grand Duchy of Lithuania * Culture of Lithuania * Lithuanian cuisine * Lithuanian Jews as often called "Lithuanians" (''Lita'im'' or ''Litvaks'') by other Jew ...

students. The society grew out of the Lithuanian National Revival, hopes of creating Lithuanian

intelligentsia The intelligentsia is a status class composed of the university-educated people of a society who engage in the complex mental labours by which they critique, shape, and lead in the politics, policies, and culture of their society; as such, the in ...

, and frustration over financial hardships faced by many young students. It was established in 1893 by

Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė Gabrielė Petkevičaitė (; 18 March 1861 – 14 June 1943) was a Lithuanian educator, writer, and activist. Her pen name Bitė (''Bee'') eventually became part of her last name. Encouraged by Povilas Višinskis, she joined public life and start ...

and Jadvyga Juškytė, and led by

Felicija Bortkevičienė Felicija Bortkevičienė ''née'' Povickaitė (1 September 1873 – 21 October 1945) was a Lithuanian politician and long-term publisher of ''Lietuvos ūkininkas'' and ''Lietuvos žinios''. She became active in social life after she moved to Vil ...

from 1903 until its dissolution in 1940.

History

It was established in 1893 by

and Jadvyga Juškytė with help from

Vincas Kudirka Vincas Kudirka (; – ) was a Lithuanian poet and physician, and the author of both the music and lyrics of the Lithuanian national anthem, "". He is regarded in Lithuania as a national hero. Kudirka used the pen names V. Kapsas, Paežeri ...

and

Jonas Jablonskis Jonas Jablonskis (; 30 December 1860, in Kubilėliai, Šakiai district – 23 February 1930, in Kaunas) was a distinguished Lithuanian linguist and one of the founders of the standard Lithuanian language. He used the pseudonym ''Rygiškių Jonas' ...

. The meeting took place in Jablonskis' home in Mitau ( Jelgava); at the time he worked as a teacher at Jelgava Gymnasium. At the time it was an illegal organization as all Lithuanian organizations were banned after the Uprising of 1863. Petkevičaitė-Bitė was the driving force of the society; she was helped by many other wealthier women but their involvement was usually short. The funds were raised by various means, including donations from the public and

Lithuanian Americans Lithuanian Americans refers to American citizens and residents who are Lithuanian and were born in Lithuania, or are of Lithuanian descent. New Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has the largest percentage of Lithuanian Americans (20.8%) in the United ...

, card games among intellectuals, various events. For example, the first public Lithuanian theater performance '' Amerika pirtyje'' in 1899 donated some of the proceeds to Žiburėlis. In 1904, Povilas Višinskis suggested to publish and sell postcards. Up to 1900, the society distributed 3,258

rubles The ruble (American English) or rouble (Commonwealth English) (; rus, рубль, p=rublʲ) is the currency unit of Belarus and Russia. Historically, it was the currency of the Russian Empire and of the Soviet Union. , currencies named ''rub ...

(1,629 U.S. dollars). By 1906, the amount grew to almost 8,000 rubles. In 1903,

took over the society and headed it until its dissolution in 1940. The death of Višinskis from

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...

that he had contracted as a student at the Saint Petersburg University became an impulse to legalize and expand the society. The society legalized its activities and became an officially registered organization on 14 January 1907. After Lithuania became independent, Žiburėlis grew and strengthened. It collected funds from membership fees, donations, proceeds from various events, including lotteries and concerts. After graduation, former aid recipients repaid their support. In 1921, it established a 30-room dormitory in

Kaunas Kaunas (; ; also see other names) is the second-largest city in Lithuania after Vilnius and an important centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the largest city and the centre of a county in the Duchy of Trakai ...

. The society had sections in other cities, including Šiauliai,

Ukmergė Ukmergė (; previously ''Vilkmergė''; pl, Wiłkomierz) is a city in Vilnius County, Lithuania, located northwest of Vilnius, with a population of about 20,000. Etymology and variant names The city took its original name ''Vilkmergė'' from th ...

, Panevėžys. The society ceased to exist when Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940.

Supported students

During its existence the society supported some 300 gifted students many of whom who later became prominent figures in Lithuania, including forester Povilas Matulionis, writer

Jonas Biliūnas Jonas Biliūnas (11 April 1879 – 8 December 1907) was a Lithuanian writer, poet, and a significant contributor to the national awakening of Lithuania in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Biography Early life Biliūnas was born near A ...

, painter and composer

Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis ( pl, Mikołaj Konstanty Czurlanis – ) was a Lithuanian painter, composer and writer. Čiurlionis contributed to symbolism and art nouveau, and was representative of the fin de siècle epoch. He has been ...

, jurist

Rapolas Skipitis Rapolas Skipitis (31 January 1887 – 23 February 1976) was a Lithuanian attorney and politician. In 1920–1922, he was Minister of the Interior and was later elected to the Second and Third Seimas. After the 1926 coup d'état, he chaired the ...

, diplomat

Jurgis Šaulys Jurgis Šaulys (; 1879–1948) was a Lithuanian economist, diplomat, and politician, and one of the twenty signatories to the 1918 Act of Independence of Lithuania. Šaulys attended secondary school in Palanga and attended the Kaunas Theologi ...

, doctor

Petras Avižonis Petras Avižonis (17 April 1875 – 17 October 1939) was a Lithuanian ophthalmologist, rector of the University of Lithuania (1925–1926) and a political figure. Avižonis studied biology at the Saint Petersburg University but transferred to th ...

, linguist Kazimieras Būga, operatic tenor

Kipras Petrauskas Kipras Petrauskas (November 23, 1885 as Ciprijonas Petrauskas – January 17, 1968) was a Lithuanian operatic tenor (created around 80 roles), professor, and Lithuanian Association of Artists member. The national opera foundation is associated ...

, painter

Adomas Varnas Adomas Varnas (January 1, 1879 in Joniškis, Lithuania – July 19, 1979 in Chicago, United States) was a prominent Lithuanian painter, photographer A photographer (the Greek φῶς (''phos''), meaning "light", and γραφή (''grap ...

, sculptors

Petras Rimša Petras Rimša ( pl, Piotr Rymsza, 3 November 1881 in Naudžiai, Vilkaviškis district – 2 October 1961 in Kaunas) was one of the first professional Lithuanian sculptors and medalists. Biography Rimša was born to a family of farmers in Suvalk ...

and

Juozas Zikaras Juozas Zikaras (November 18, 1881 – November 10, 1944) was a Lithuanian sculptor and artist, who created the design for pre-war Lithuanian litas coins. He is considered to be one of the first professional Lithuanian sculptors. Biography He was ...

, priest Antanas Viskantas, Prime Minister

Ernestas Galvanauskas Ernestas Galvanauskas (20 November 1882 – 24 July 1967) was a Lithuanian engineer, politician and one of the founders of the Peasant Union (which later merged with the Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union). He also served twice as Prime Minis ...

, Soviet revolutionary Vincas Mickevičius-Kapsukas, poet Julius Janonis.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ziburelis Organizations established in 1893 1893 establishments in the Russian Empire Organizations disestablished in 1940 1940 disestablishments in Lithuania Lithuanian educational societies Scholarships Defunct organizations based in Lithuania