Liisi Esse
Curator for Estonian and Baltic Studies
As Curator for Estonian and Baltic Studies, I develop Stanford’s collection of Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Finnish material in all formats, including books, periodicals, manuscripts, and electronic resources. I also run various Baltic projects, including digitization projects, and organize Baltic events and exhibits at Stanford.
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Liisi Esse
Curator for Estonian and Baltic Studies
As Curator for Estonian and Baltic Studies, I develop Stanford’s collection of Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Finnish material in all formats, including books, periodicals, manuscripts, and electronic resources. I also run various Baltic projects, including digitization projects, and organize Baltic events and exhibits at Stanford.
Education
- Ph.D., History; University of Tartu, Estonia (2016)
- M.A., Estonian history; University of Tartu, Estonia (2012)
- B.A., Estonian history; University of Tartu, Estonia (2009)
Professional activities
Selected publications
Rahi-Tamm, Aigi; Esse, Liisi (2022). “In spite of everything, life is still beautiful!” War and postwar experiences in Estonia through the example of Oskar Nõmmela’s life story (1893–1969). Journal of Baltic Studies, 2, 249–269. DOI: 10.1080/01629778.2022.2052916.
Esse, Liisi; Kasekamp, Andres; Kivimäe, Jüri; Kuldkepp, Mart; Kõll, Anu Mai; Nurmis, Kristo; Toomaspoeg, Kristjan (2020). Foorum: Milline on Eesti ajalooteaduse tulevik? Acta Historica Tallinnensia, 26 (1), 190−208
Esse, Liisi (2019). Estonian soldiers and the others in World War One: imagining and encountering friends and foes. First World War Studies, 9 (2), 151−166. DOI: 10.1080/19475020.2019.1583120
Esse, Liisi (2019). Estonian Soldiers in World War I: A Distinctive Experience of a Small Nation in the Russian Army. In: Laurie Stoff, Anthony J Heywood, Boris I. Kolonitskii, John W. Steinberg (Ed.). Military Affairs in Russia’s Great War and Revolution, 1914–22, Book 1: Military Experiences (39−61). Slavica Publishers, Inc.
Esse, Liisi (2017). Arvustus: Esimese maailmasõja mitmetahuline mõju Eesti kultuurile [Review: The multifaceted influence of the First World War on Estonian culture]. Sirp, 3, 32−33
Esse, Liisi (2016). „Nii oleme 20 aastat sunnitud olnud kiratsema omariikluse juures...” Esimese maailmasõja invaliidide toetused ja ühiskondlik positsioon 1920.–1930. aastate Eestis [“And so we have been forced to languish throughout the 20 years of nationhood...” The welfare and social status of World War I invalids in interwar Estonia]. Tõnu Tannberg (Toim.). Esimene maailmasõda ja Eesti II (507−533). Tartu: Rahvusarhiiv. ( Eesti Ajalooarhiivi Toimetised = Acta et commentationes Archivi Historici Estoniae)
Esse, Liisi (2016). Eesti sõdurid Esimeses maailmasõjas: sõjakogemus ja selle sõjajärgne tähendus [Estonian Soldiers in the First World War: The War Experience and its Postwar Meaning]. (Doktoritöö, Tartu Ülikool). Tartu: Tartu Ülikooli Kirjastus
Esse, Liisi (2016). Arvustus: Sisukas täiendus Esimese maailmasõja alasele eestikeelsele ajalookirjutusele [Review: A Significant Addition to Estonian World War I Historiography]. Tuna. Ajalookultuuri ajakiri, 4, 127−129
Esse, Liisi (2015). Suure sõja mäletamine. Kirjad, päevikud ja mälestused eestlaste sõjakogemuse avajana [Remembering the Great War. Letters, diaries and memoirs illuminating the war experiences of Estonian soldiers]. Tannberg, Tõnu (Toim.). Eestlased ilmasõjas. Sõdurite kirju, päevikuid ja mälestusi Esimesest maailmasõjast (21−32). Tartu: Eesti Rahvusarhiiv
Esse, Liisi (2015). Esimene maailmasõda kui unustatud sõda [The First World War as a forgotten war]. Sirp, 37, 2−3
More about me
I earned my Ph.D. from the University of Tartu in 2016. My doctoral dissertation, “Eesti sõdurid Esimeses maailmasõjas: sõjakogemus ja selle sõjajärgne tähendus” (“Estonian Soldiers in the First World War: The War Experience and its Post-War Meaning”) relies on Estonian soldiers’ letters, diaries, and memoirs, as well as materials of veterans’ organizations, and analyzes various elements of the war experience of Estonian soldiers who served in the Russian Army during the First World War. I have worked as Curator for Estonian and Baltic Studies at Stanford University Libraries since 2013. I also serve as the Administrative Executive Director of the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies (AABS) and as Reviews Editor for the Journal of Baltic Studies. I served as AABS’ Vice President for Conferences from 2016–2018 and organized the 2018 AABS Conference at Stanford University.