How did the materials reach us?

In today’s age of technology and search engines, it is both easy and difficult to find information. We were found by the right people with valuable information!

It all began on 8 March 2023, when we received an email from a woman previously unknown to us, Audrey Nelson from the USA, with the following content:

“Hello!

I am the person who discovered 13 letters from Juris Fetler. He was a penpal of my husband’s aunt from 1937-1941 when he was a teenager.

I have finalized my plans to visit Riga April 2nd-6th and I was suggested to reach out to you to arrange a tour of the Fetler’s museum at the Latvian Biblical Center you are connected with.

Please let me know if it is a possibility to meet with you and/or to tour the museum. I am also hoping to tour the Salvation Temple Church, if possible.

I am so looking forward to being in Riga very soon!

Hope and Joy Always,

Audrey Nelson.”

Sometime later, we suddenly received a phone call from Astrid Holm, she is Robert Fetler’s granddaughter. It turned out that Astrid previously corresponded with Audrey Nelson, who in turn invited and asked her to visit the William Fetler’s Museum at LBC together with her.

Eventually, in a phone call, Astrid expressed her willingness to come and meet us before Audrey’s visit and to give us some Fetler’s family heirlooms. Later we met Audrey and Astrid and had a wonderful and interesting time together at LBC and Salvation Temple Church.

In this miraculous way, we received many original photographs and portraits from the Fetler’s family archives, which are in this showcase.

Here is a compilation of Robert Fetler’s life prepared by Astrid Holma (in Latvian) and presented to the LBC on 12 September 2024.

Enjoy the history in pictures!

Donations by Robert Fetler’s granddaughter Astrida Holma

1. Portrait of William Fetler, June 1911.

2. Obverse: William Barbara and first-born son Daniel.

Reverse in handwriting: For our dear friends of Tukums. 6 September 1914 (19 September new style)

3. Portrait of William Fetler.

4. William Fetler’s New Testament of the Welsh Revival times, in Welsh and English. It is possible that this New Testament was the gift of William F. in those days. Unidentifiable handwriting on the inner front cover.

5. Latvian Mission and Bible School graduation picture, school year 1925/26.

William Fetler in the middle of the front row. Original postcard.

6. Robert Fetler (third from the right in the front row) with some preachers. The date of the picture and the men in it are unfortunately not deciphered. Original postcard.

7. William and Robert Fetler at the scaffolding of the Gospel House. Their age suggests this photo was taken years after the erection of the well-known Gospel House in Petrograd (St Petersburg). Unfortunately it is unknown where the photograph was taken.

The Gospel House is the first and until 1917 the only Baptist church building in St. Petersburg. The address at that time was Vasilievsky Island, line 24, number 11. The present address is: Vasilievsky Island, St. Petersburg, 24th line, 3-7, A.

© Fetler family archive

8. Robert Fetler (third from right in the front row) with preachers. The date of the picture and the men in it have unfortunately not been deciphered. Original postcard.

© Fetler family archive

9. Portrait of William Fetler 1911

10. William Fetler’s “Poetry and Writings”, signed by him, first collection 1913, second edition. Publisher of useful writings.

11. Portrait of Robert Fetler.

12. From left: Irma – Vallija Fetlers, Nellija Melany Fetlers, Robert Fetlers, ~1913.

13. Family photo of Robert and Tatjana Fetler with their children.

Oldest son Boris – born 1921, second son Georgs (Juris) – born 1922, and daughters Irina – born 1924, Mirta – born 1928 and Margarita – born 1931.

14. Robert and Tatiana Fetler with their children in front of the Bible School building, now the LBC building.

15. A tea glass holder (called “podstakannyk” in Russian) presented to Robert Fetler.

Engraving on the obverse: ‘R.F.’

Engraving on the reverse: ‘To a Counselor R. A. Fetler, from the Baptist Community of Vladivostok. On the 23rd of April 1925.

16. Family photo of Robert and Tatjana Fetler with their first three children.

17. Irma (Robert Fetler’s sister) and William Fetler’s children, Daniel, Timothy and Lidija at Gideon’s House in Riga.

18. The families of Robert and William with their mother Margareta Bace-Fetler in Jurmala (sea-side of Latvia), 1925.

19. William Fetler at his mother’s funeral.

Burial at Riga Great Cemetery, 1931.

20. A book – Sentenced to Siberia. 14th Edition. Life story of Pastor Malov (William Fetler).

Price: $1.00

Rear cover:

“Lord, help me to accomplish
the greatest possible good
in the shortest possible time!”

21. “A collection of favorite spiritual hymns” belonging to Robert Fetler’s wife Tatiana Fetler, entitled “Песни странника” – Songs of a Pilgrim, third edition 1927.

Publishing house “Useful Literature”, Riga, Bolshaya Myasnickaya Nr. 4.

22. Members of the family of William Fetler (first from left, top row) attended the opening of the Gospel House in Petrograd (now St Petersburg). Father Andrei Fetler (first from right, second row), sisters Antonia and Melania, brother Robert (first from right, first row) with donors including Baroness Elisabeth Chertkova (centre).

23. William Fetler with his wife Barbara and children in Jurmala (Riga Bay seaside city).

24. Collection of the monthly publication/magazine “Гость” – “Guest” 1923 – 1930.

Property of the Latvian congregation of the Temple of Salvation, transferred to the LBC Museum.

Fetler family heirlooms

How did the materials reach us?

Donations by Robert Fetler’s granddaughter Astrida Holma